Material Journey

Waddington Custot Dubai is delighted to present its new exhibition 'Material Journey,' featuring works by Etel Adnan, Kenia Almaraz Murillo, Enrico Castellani, Michael Glancy, Jean-François Fourtou, Yves Klein, Joan Mitchell, Takis, Tomàs Saraceno, Pablo Reinoso, Joana Vasconcelos and Sophia Vari.

'Material Journey' invites the visitor to experience a synesthetic adventure, activating all their senses through the artworks. Auditory, visual, olfactory, and tactile works create an oneiric voyage, led by the artists and the use of their materials of predilection. Artists are by essence adventurers, and while a journey is immaterial, artifacts, and the sensory responses they activate, allow for a dream to emerge.

While our five physical senses are known and something we have become accustomed to, 'Material Journey' seeks to awaken an intangible sixth sense: the sense of the imaginary. Imagination is heavily tied to our senses, Vasconcelos’ perfumes may remind you of a person, Almaraz Murillo’s lights may transport you to a living dream, Joan Mitchell’s textures may invite you to gaze at a landscape, Fourtou’s natural fiber may recall a garment. Through this exhibition, viewers will experience a personal odyssey, oscillating between distant memories and the creation of new ones.

With this emphasis on the sense of journey through matter, Waddington Custot Dubai has found importance in showing works that use materials from all over the globe. The Middle East has a rich history of trading outposts and routes, with spices and precious materials from distant lands finding their way here before continuing their voyage.