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ADAI works with artists across the Middle East and North Africa to ensure their work is seen, understood, and contextualized. Representation on ADAI means supporting artists through curated visibility, research, and digital presentation, connecting their work to audiences, exhibitions, and broader cultural conversations.
Artists featured on ADAI are not exclusively signed or commercially represented— instead, ADAI provides a platform to showcase your practice, highlight your perspective, and situate your work within the evolving landscape of MENA art.
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Representation is about visibility, context, and community - helping your art reach the right audiences while respecting your autonomy as an artist."
Often referred to as the era of Al-Ruwad (The Pioneers), this period marks the birth of modern Arab art. Many of these artists were sent on government-sponsored scholarships to study in European capitals like Paris and Rome. Upon returning home, they blended Western academic techniques (such as Impressionism and Realism) with local subjects, landscapes, and the emerging concept of national identity.
This period was heavily defined by regional political turmoil, most notably the 1967 Six-Day War (the Naksa or 'setback'), the Palestinian exodus, and the Lebanese Civil War. Art became a crucial tool for resistance, political commentary, and documenting human suffering. Existential angst and national trauma led to an emotionally charged, often somber, figurative expressionism.
The Hurufiyya (Letterism) movement is arguably the most significant and cohesive modernist movement to emerge from the Arab world. Artists deconstructed Arabic calligraphy, liberating the letters from their linguistic and religious functions to use them as purely abstract, rhythmic, and visual elements. This allowed them to engage with global abstract expressionism while remaining deeply rooted in Islamic and Arab heritage.
Driven by globalization, the diaspora experience, and new technologies, Arab art in this era expanded well beyond traditional painting and sculpture. It became heavily characterized by video, photography, installation, and performance art. Operating on a global stage, these artists tackle complex themes of post-colonialism, migration, memory, borders, and gender identity.
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Maya Art Space gallery is proud to announce Jonas Al Sayed's solo exhibition that'll stay on view till June, 1st.
From a young age, Jonas Alsayed had an innate passion for art. He explored various forms of artistic expression such as painting, music, and nature photography in his hom etown Damascus. His love for the arts led him to pursue formal education at the Institute of Dramatic Arts where he honed his skills further.
In the year 2014, an unfortunate incident caused him to sustain a grave injury to his feet, which rendered him immobile for an extended duration. However, this adversity presented itself as a chance for him to immerse himself in the world of drawing and literature with the utmost dedication. He sought solace in reading art philosophy along with various artistic and intellectual movements that aided his creative journey while enhancing his artistic experience.
Jonas finds inspiration in the human body, both when it’s at rest and during times of chaos that come with everyday living. He strives to express this through poetry. What truly ignites Jonas’ passion for art is its ability to pose questions, even if they challenge societal norms. To him, art serves as a tool for intellectual growth and expands one’s understanding of others by allowing them to communicate on a deeper level while embracing reality with all its emotions and ideas. As time progresses, his artistic portfolio flourishes and transforms, positioning him as a noteworthy creator to keep an eye on.
" There is no tomorrow in this desert except what we saw yesterday “
“ Now Here ” is a part of the “ Long Night ” project, which addresses in three exhibitions my vision of the social, economic, and political reality of the Middle East region. The first part focused on the personal aspect and was held at the “ Tajaliyyat Hall ” in Damascus in 2021 under the title “ Between Silence and Anxiety “. As for the second part titled “ The Table ”, it focused on the social aspect, and was exhibited at the “ Hideout Gallery “ in Dubai in 2023.Today, the third exhibition “ Now Here “ focuses on the political aspects. The title of this exhibition was borrowed from the novel by the Saudi thinker Abdul Rahman Munif, through which he expressed the politically tense situation experienced by Arab nations. This work was published fifteen years after the publication of his first novel, “ East of the Mediterranean ” , confirming that the passage of time in this region of the world has not affected the relationship between the authorities and the citizens.
