Shereen Shalhoub

Shereen Shalhoub has been working in the arts since 2006. She began with painting and shifted to sculpture as she saw less limitation and more dimension in her the work that she desired to create. Since her shift to ceramics, she has developed an interest in installation art and has had the opportunity to showcase three installations in Dubai. She has been working with ceramics since 2017 and continues to research the world of ceramics and all the possibilities it holds. 

Previously, she owned an art gallery representing various renowned artists with exhibits curated by Sam Bardaouil. In 2008, Shereen enrolled in art appraisal at New York University while assisting in the marketing department at Bortolami Gallery and attending egg tempera and oil painting lessons with artist Jack Faragasso at the Art Students League of New York. Shereen was Bbrn in Amman, Jordan in 1978,

PRAXIS STATEMENT

I have been inspired by pouring the liquid form of clay as it runs through the sculpted surfaces forming organic pathways like a natural water runoff. The resulted dripping effect has been my latest study as I have been experimenting with various forms and densities of clay as one of the most versatile and natural artistic mediums. 

Being a ceramicist and working with such a responsive yet fragile medium, I have a constant urge to explore and push through the limitations of clay through the creations of my sculptures. My trust in the possibility of creating any desired shape enables me to work through setbacks that may occur as part of the process.

Lately, I have been searching for the most ideal method to strengthen my ceramic pieces to ease handling and transportation. I have experimented with all the available types of clay and am looking at the most favorable results when combined with other material such as, wood, brass and resin.

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

I am an expat of mixed roots living in Dubai for many years with my hometown being in Jordan, where I was born and raised. The inability to reach home; where my family resides, in the year 2020 stirred the longing for my roots. 

My research about my roots took me to tiling as a reflection of communication, history and culture. I began with exploring "The Mosaic Map of Madaba" as a representation of our interconnectedness with the use of tiling in the form of mosaics and evolved to the geometric shapes introduced in the early 1990's to the region. Upon studying the period of the end of the Ottoman Empire, my findings shifted my focus to the changes that occurred in the region as a result of the introduction of tiling during that period of time. 

Questions about the use of geometry in tiling as opposed to floral shapes emerged in the process. This expanded my understanding of how those shapes may have come about. Thoughts and ideas related to community, culture, and interconnectedness arose as I combined my recent knowledge with my artwork, as well as the methods of delivering my findings and messages in my work. This is a vast topic that can get confusing and overwhelming, especially with the intense use of geometry in the artwork.

EXHIBITIONS & RESIDENCIES

2021 Finalist at the 5th edition Dubai Ceramics Award.

2021 School of Visual Arts Residency Program.

2020 Winner of 4th Edition Dubai Ceramics Award.

2020 Projecto 'ace residency program. Buenos Aires, Argentina.

2019 Amman Design Week. Amman, Jordan.

2019 Fann A Porter Art Gallery. Dubai, U.A.E.

2018 Sikka Art Fair. Dubai, U.A.E.

2018 Al Jalilah Cultural Centre. Dubai, U.A.E.