This year’s series of artist talks will offer audiences an opportunity to explore the practice, stories and achievements of international and regional artists. Featuring both established and emerging names from across the fair programme these intimate talks will offer a platform for meaningful discussion giving visitors close-up access to these artists, their creative worlds, and the contributions they make to today’s cultural landscape.
4:00-4:45pm
CONVERSATIONS WITH ARTISTS: POOYA ARYANPOUR
Moderated by William Mullally, Arts and Culture Editor, The National
Pooya Aryanpour (b. 1971, Tehran, Iran) is an artist, art instructor, and university lecturer based in Tehran, Iran. While he is best known for his artistic practice and impact on Iran’s contemporary art scene, he is also an innovative interior and studio designer, curator, and artistic consultant. One of the pioneering artists of his generation, Aryanpour has created a large body of artistic work as well as an extensive discourse and has a wide-ranging influence as an instructor and educator in visual arts.
5:30-6:15pm
CONVERSATIONS WITH ARTISTS: DIANA AL-HADID
Moderated by William Mullally, Arts and Culture Editor, The National
Diana Al-Hadid examines the historical frameworks and perspectives that continue to shape discourse on culture and materials today. With a practice spanning sculpture, wall reliefs, and works on paper, the artist weaves together enigmatic narratives that draw inspiration from both ancient and modern civilizations. Al-Hadid’s rich allegorical constructions are born from art historical religious imagery, ancient manuscripts, female archetypes, and folkloric storytelling. Al-Hadid’s work can be found in numerous institutional collections worldwide, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, Greece, among others.
4:00-4:45pm
CONVERSATIONS WITH ARTISTS: DEEKAY KWON
Moderated byWilliam Mullally,Arts and Culture Editor, The National
DeeKay is an animator and digital artist recognised for his distinctive style, which blends simplicity and dynamism while drawing inspiration from retro games. With a 10-year background as a motion designer at renowned companies like Google and Apple, he took the leap into becoming a full-time artist, embracing the world of fine art and dedicating himself to creating his own digital art to convey narratives. DeeKay’s works embody his artistic philosophy that “Art is for everyone” and he consistently creates his own art to tell stories that can resonate with people of all ages.
2:30-3:15pm
CONVERSATIONS WITH ARTISTS: ALYMAMAH RASHED
Moderated by William Mullally, Arts and Culture Editor, The National
Alymamah Rashed is a Kuwaiti visual artist whose practice explores identity and the natural environment through the story of her own body, oscillating between Eastern and Western perspectives. Her work negotiates female subjectivity in relation to regional folklore, everyday objects, and botanical discoveries from her local surroundings. She received her MFA in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design in 2019 and her BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in 2016. While based in New York, she participated in various exhibitions, including those at the Czech Center, Parsol Projects, and The New School. Her work has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Vogue Arabia, Architectural Digest, Farfetch, The Visionary Project, and 7 Days: Expanded Edition by AC Books.
