As part of the public program of its current exhibition, Speculative Landscapes, The NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Art Gallery in collaboration with Cinema Akil will present On Wellbeing Economies.
On Wellbeing Economies is a film series selected by one of the exhibition’s four UAE-based artists, Raja’a Khalid. Khalid’s installation a.quiet.wave, commissioned by the NYUAD Art Gallery, is rooted in her research on color forecasting and consumer trends in the Yoga industry. The proposed film series invites us to view the new economy of spiritual and physical health through a critical lens.
The series includes three films: The Cleanse, Yoga Hakwon, and A Cure for Wellness, and one movie per screening will show on October 19 and November 23 at NYU Abu Dhabi, and on November 3 at Cinema Akil.
The films featured in this program cast a sideways glance at the emergence of the new economy of mind and body. With varying degrees of nuance, each finds something askew in our quest for a healthy life, a perfect physique, an unburdened mind, and inner peace.
Speculative Landscapes is on view at the NYUAD Art Gallery until December 7, 2019. Curated by Executive Director of the NYUAD Art Gallery and the University’s Chief Curator, Maya Allison, this exhibition features four new installations by UAE-based artists: Areej Kaoud, Ayman Zedani, Jumairy, and Raja’a Khalid. Each offers a distinct lens into the UAE and the region, and their work is gaining international recognition for its conceptual speculations on our contemporary world. Together the exhibition offers a landmark presentation of these important artists, both in terms of the scale of the new projects, and the distinct voice and perspective they offer.
Film Series Listings Information:
The Cleanse
Saturday, October 19 at 2:30pm at NYUAD Arts Center Screening Room, B101
Directed by: Bobby Miller
2016 | Canada, US | English | Comedy, Horror | 15+ | 81 min
Johnny Galecki (TV's "Big Bang Theory) plays Paul Berger, an unemployed, down and out, heartbroken man searching for happiness. When Paul sees an ad for a spiritual retreat promising to restart your life, he immediately signs up, hoping to cleanse himself and fix his broken life. But after only a few days, he discovers the cleanse is releasing more than just everyday toxins... a lot more. Also starring Anna Friel, plus Oliver Platt and Academy Award (R) Winner Anjelica Huston (Best Supporting Actress, Prizzi's Honor, 1985) as the leaders of the retreat, THE CLEANSE is a darkly humorous, weird, and soulful fantasy that examines the inner demons in all of us.
Register for tickets: https://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/events
Yoga Hakwon
Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30pm at Cinema Akil, Dubai
Directed by: Jae-yeon Yun
2009 | South Korea | Korean, English sub. | Horror, Thriller | 15+ | 97 min
After the co-host of a shopping channel TV show loses her job to a younger rival, she enrolls in an intensive yoga course. The very strict trainer informs her students that there will be serious consequences if they do not follow her rules.
Register for tickets: https://www.cinemaakil.com/
A Cure for Wellness
Sunday, November 3 at 8pm at NYUAD Arts Center, Screening Room, B101
Directed by: Gore Verbinski
2016 | USA, Germany | English, German | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi | 15+ | 146 min
An ambitious young executive is sent to retrieve his company's CEO from an idyllic but mysterious "wellness center" at a remote location in the Swiss Alps. He soon suspects that the spa's miraculous treatments are not what they seem. When he begins to unravel its terrifying secrets, his sanity is tested, as he finds himself diagnosed with the same curious illness that keeps all the guests here longing for the cure. From Gore Verbinski, the visionary director of THE RING, comes the new psychological thriller, A CURE FOR WELLNESS.
Register for tickets: https://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/events
Exhibition Listing Information:
Title: Speculative Landscapes
Exhibition dates: On view until Saturday, December 7 2019
Address: NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Times: Mondays – Saturdays, 12pm – 8pm
Admission: Free
Website: www.nyuad-artgallery.org
For the screenings at NYU Abu Dhabi, an RSVP is required through https://www.nyuad-artgallery.org/events For the screening at Cinema Akil, tickets can be purchased at: https://www.cinemaakil.com/
