Bawa launched five years ago today. Throughout this time, the gallery has operated within a primitive context, driven by the desire to test what an art platform could look like in Kuwait and abroad. We have had the flexibility and community support to experiment with various gallery models, and have explored nearly all scenarios without a brick-and-morter exhibition space.
Kuwait still has the same number of galleries, if not fewer, than when Bawa started. Despite incredible creative depth, the wider structures needed for sustainable growth remain thin. I still believe they can be built from the ground up, DIY, but right now I am more excited about other things, and would prefer to pause here instead of continuing to work within these structures.
“Discovering” artists is not a hidden talent. Curation is not a sacred role. You do not need to have studied it to do it. It just needs time and consistency, and anyone who would like to champion the artists they admire has the ability to create their own platforms.
The gallery may return when the time is right. Until then, I'm open to offering guidance to anyone considering building their own platform, to avoid the valuable mistakes I made throughout.
I had the privilege to work with many artists who made the gallery what it was. I cut down this list to thirty who I deeply believe in, respectable artists creating powerful work, and who I have genuinely enjoyed working with. Some we represented, some we worked with once or twice, and some who were included in projects that never really came to life. Some are currently represented by different galleries, some are looking for representation, and some are probably not, but all are worth following and supporting.
(In no particular order other than alphabetical)
Ahmed Mater
Ahmed Sofi
Alia Ahmad
Alymamah Rashed
Amani AlThuwaini
Aseel AlYaqoub
Dalia Sadeq
Danah Osamah
Deema AlGhunaim
Faris AlShafar
Hamad AlMuzaini
Hind AlSaad
Hisham Sharif
Jaafar AlHaddad
Jassim AlNashmi
Moothy AlNwaisir
Nasser AlMulhim
Omar Abdullah
Omar AlNakib
Rajaa AlHajj
Rashed AlAraifi
Roudha AlMazrouei
Rua AlAwadhi
Salmah AlMansoori
Sara Orfali
Shady AlHady
Shaima AlHarthi
Yasmeen Sudairy
Zarrin-Fatima Shamsi
Zayn Qahtani
Our team's efforts will now turn fully to Souq Bawa, an Arab design store covering gaps I feel are more urgent.