News and Media

Published: Sep 30, 2010

The Museum of Arts and Design in New York celebrated the U.S. premiere of the 2010 Abraaj Capital Art Prize exhibition, unveiling work by the duo of SCAD executive director of exhibitions Laurie Ann Farrell and renowned Algerian artist Kader Attia.

Farrell and Attia were awarded the Abraaj Capital Art Prize in September 2009, and the work resulting from their proposal, "History of a Myth: The Small Dome of the Rock," debuted internationally in March 2010 at Art Dubai. "History of a Myth" then made its U.S. premiere on Aug. 31 at the Museum of Arts and Design, where it remains on display through Oct. 10.

Farrell and Attia began their artistic partnership after meeting in Paris in 2005. In 2009, SCAD exhibited Attia's solo exhibition, "Signs of Reappropriation." It featured a site-specific installation of Attia's 2007 "Untitled (Skyline)," a recent film and a newly commissioned body of photographs that Attia created during a brief residency at SCAD Atlanta.

After being awarded the prize in September 2009, Farrell and Attia went to work transforming their ambitious winning proposal into a reality. Farrell said, "Attia's commission for ACAP is one that draws heavily upon his personal history while simultaneously providing a poetic space for reflection. We believe the work will resonate with local and global audiences."

"This prize is so vital, because it enables Attia to bring relevant new work into the world and share it with the many visitors. On behalf of SCAD, I am deeply humbled and honored to work on this project and be a co-recipient of this esteemed prize," Farrell said.

Farrell is an art historian, curator and executive director of exhibitions at the Savannah College of Art and Design, which operates galleries in Atlanta and Savannah, Ga.; Lacoste, France; and Hong Kong. Previously, Farrell was curator of contemporary art at the Museum for African Art in New York from 1999-2007.

The Abraaj Capital Art Prize was established to raise awareness of the under-represented work being created by artists from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Announced in 2008, the prize annually awards $1 million to three duos of artists and curators to create new work and is the world's most generous art prize.

Along with Farrell and Attia, other winners featured in the 2010 exhibition are Egyptian artist Hala Elkoussy, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam Curator Jelle Bouwhuis, Lebanese artist Marwan Sahmarani and Lebanese-Spanish curator Mahita El Bacha Urieta. For more information about the Abraaj Capital Art Prize exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design, visit www.madmuseum.org.