Held from 16 November to 31 December
- Amir Soleymani: With Legacy in Resonance, we aim to honor the visionary leaders who have shaped this extraordinary nation we proudly call home
Dubai, UAE – November 18, 2024 – Mondoir Gallery proudly announces the opening of its landmark exhibition, Legacy in Resonance, a tribute to the United Arab Emirates and its esteemed rulers. Two years in the making, the exhibition is open to the public from November 16 to December 31, 2024. In celebration of the UAE’s 53rd National Day, Mondoir unveils 10 masterpiece artworks—sculptures and paintings—publicly shown for the first time after over two years of meticulous design, composition, and refinement.
The exhibition features masterpieces by renowned artists Abdul Qader Al Rais, ASPENCROW, Diaa Allam, and Elnaz Asgharzadeh, celebrating the UAE’s rich cultural heritage and visionary leadership. A centrepiece of the exhibition is the unveiling of hyper-realistic sculptures of prominent UAE leaders, meticulously crafted by acclaimed sculptor ASPENCROW. These exclusive sculptures, showcased publicly for the first time, will later become part of private collections, museums, and the esteemed Mondoir Vault.
UAE’S ENDURING COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS
The United Arab Emirates has consistently demonstrated a profound commitment to nurturing the arts and supporting artists from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. By cultivating a dynamic cultural landscape and fostering an environment that inspires creativity, the UAE has emerged as a beacon for artists, creatives, collectors, and patrons of the arts.
A TRIBUTE TO THE FOUNDER
Expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the United Arab Emirates, Amir Soleymani, founder of Mondoir Gallery, emphasized the nation’s vital role in nurturing creativity and artistic expression. “The UAE has provided us with an unmatched environment in which to flourish,” Soleymani noted. “With Legacy in Resonance, we aim to honour the visionary leaders who have shaped this extraordinary nation we proudly call home. These hyper-realistic sculptures are our tribute to their exceptional leadership and the lasting impact they’ve made, not only within the UAE but also on the global stage. It’s our way of showing appreciation for the opportunities they’ve created for artists like myself and for inspiring a future rich in innovation and cultural growth.”
ABOUT LEGACY IN RESONANCE
Legacy in Resonance represents the culmination of meticulous artistry and deep respect for the UAE’s visionary leadership. The creation of these sculptures involved an exhaustive process to achieve the highest realism and fidelity to each leader’s likeness. From in-depth photo analysis and precise mathematical sculpting to the application of lifelike skin textures and individually placed hair strands, every detail was crafted with unmatched dedication and attention.
ABOUT MONDOIR GALLERY
Founded in 2023 by visionary collector and artist Amir Soleymani, Mondoir Gallery is situated in the vibrant heart of Downtown Dubai. The gallery houses one of the world’s most sought-after collections of physical and digital art, featuring over 2,800 rare and significant pieces carefully curated over the past 15 years. With a dedicated team of skilled curators, art historians, and tech specialists, Mondoir Gallery presents groundbreaking exhibitions that resonate with both traditional art connoisseurs and modern enthusiasts. The gallery represents a unique fusion of traditional and digital art, reflecting Soleymani’s passion for bridging art with technology. His extensive personal collection includes over 700 paintings and sculptures from renowned international contemporary artists and more than 2,000 pieces of digital art by the world’s leading digital artists.
EXHIBITION DETAILS:
- Title: Legacy in Resonance
- Dates: November 16 – December 31, 2024
- Location: Mondoir Gallery, Downtown Dubai
- Artists Featured: Abdul Qader Al Rais, ASPENCROW, Diaa Allam, Elnaz Asgharzadeh
MONDOIR FOUNDER: AMIR SOLEYMANI
Amir Soleymani, known as Mondoir, is a prominent artist, collector, and gallerist in contemporary and digital art. As the founder of Mondoir Art Gallery in Downtown Dubai, he fosters collaborations to promote art and culture in the UAE and the Middle East. In October 2024, he debuted his first solo exhibition as a physical artist with “V2,” featuring 15 works to be showcased internationally in 2025. With a collection of over 2,000 digital artworks and 700 physical pieces, he is committed to advancing the position of the UAE on the global art stage through strategic investments, partnerships and novel exhibitions and artistic ventures.
ABOUT ARTISTS
ABDUL QADER AL RAIS
Abdul Qader Al Rais is a renowned Emirati artist celebrated for his abstract works that intricately blend geometric forms with Arabic script, notably featuring floating squares as a signature element. Initially focusing on watercolor depictions of local scenery, he evolved his style to explore artistic authorship and individual expression. By incorporating geometric motifs that create illusions of depth, he elevated these forms to hold equal importance with his subjects. His vibrant canvases juxtapose calligraphic abstraction with geometric patterns and realistic imagery. In 2015, his artwork adorned the carriages of the Dubai Metro during the Dubai Arts Season, and in 2016, his pieces were showcased in the Berlin exhibition “Art Nomads – Made in the Emirates,” highlighting contemporary Emirati art and culture.
ASPENCROW
Born in Lithuania in 1987, ASPENCROW is a professional artist renowned for his hyper-realistic and controversial sculptures that reinterpret public figures in unexpected and often shocking ways. Growing up during the tumultuous 1990s in post-Soviet Lithuania, he grappled with internal conflicts spurred by the influx of Western capitalist pop culture, profoundly shaping his artistic vision. After studying at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, he moved to England and earned a BA in Fine Art from Birmingham City University in 2013—a pivotal period during which he adopted his pseudonym and gained “freedom in thinking and action as an artist.” His notable works include “Begging Queen,” “ICON,” “MILF,” “Diamond Dog,” “US Candy,” “Polar Kid,” and “Cheese,” all characterized by a commercial industrial pop style with a distinctive dark touch. After a decade of studying and working in the UK, USA, and Germany, ASPENCROW returned to Vilnius, where he continues to create art from conception to final product, showcasing strong technical skills across various materials and scales, and supports charitable organizations through his art sales.
DIAA ALLAM
Diaa Allam is a multi-disciplinary artist renowned for revolutionizing traditional Arabic calligraphy by fusing ancient techniques with innovative approaches, effectively bridging history and future. With over a decade of expertise in Arabic calligraphy, mural painting, 3D calligraphy, and digital design, he leverages new technologies like NFTs, AI, and augmented reality to promote the beauty of Arabic script in the digital age. Winner of the 2016 Al Dar Calligraphy competition, Diaa has collaborated with prestigious global brands such as Rolls Royce, Dior, and Apple, and his work has featured in significant events like Expo 2020 Dubai. In 2024, he was nominated by UNESCO and Dubai Culture as a laureate of the 20th UNESCO-Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture for promoting intercultural dialogue. His art has garnered significant media attention and a large social media following, reflecting his commitment to enhancing the value of his work through exclusive memberships and philanthropic endeavors.
ELNAZ ASGHARZADEH
Elnaz Asgharzadeh, born in 1984, is an Iranian artist specializing in hyper-realistic oil painting. Growing up in an artistic family, she began painting at the age of seven, inspired by her cousin who is now a prominent artist in Austria. Her talent was recognized early when she sketched a family portrait at nine. Self-taught in oil painting and pencil drawing, she began co-teaching painting classes at 17 and opened her own art school at 18. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Iranian miniature painting, Elnaz taught various art forms at her private gallery in Tehran from 2000 to 2015 and conducted courses at the non-profit Jordan University. She appeared as an oil painting instructor on the TV program “Returning Home” in 2015. Since 2018, she has operated her private gallery in Istanbul, Turkey, where she continues to teach and showcase her artwork.