After years of displaying works of prominent contemporary Swiss artists as part of their Art Collection, Julius Baer has commissioned Chourouk Hriech, a French artist of Moroccan origin, to create and curate an exclusive exhibition in its lounge. Chourouk, who will reveal her artworks for the very first time in Dubai, has been selected as a part of the Bawwaba programme, the newly introduced gallery section at Art Dubai featuring works by artists from, based in, and/or focused on projects about Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Central and South Asia.

For her exhibition titled – ‘A Journey Drawn Through an Archaeology of the Present’, Chourouk focuses on creating a bridge between Switzerland and Dubai following Julius Baer’s growth story.  Through her monochromatic artworks, the artist depicts Julius Baer’s journey from its origins in Switzerland dating back to 1890 to expanding and establishing a strong foothold in the Middle East, especially Dubai. Julius Baer (Middle East) Ltd., was one of the first organisations to be licensed by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) over 15 years ago highlighting the organisation’s progressive vision towards the region.   

Commenting on the sponsorship, Régis Burger, Head Middle East, Julius Baer (Middle East) Ltd., said: “We are proud to be associated with several arts-related initiatives across our various locations including Art Dubai. Our Art Collection, which features over 5,000 works carefully selected by an expert Art Committee, is a testament to our ongoing commitment to the Swiss art scene. In addition to our support through the Julius Baer Art Collection, we focus on fostering a dynamic blend of both emerging and firmly established artists in our core markets such as Dubai. We are very excited to collaborate with Chourouk Hriech and provide her with a platform to showcase her creative vision at our lounge at Art Dubai.”

Commenting on her participation at Art Dubai, Chourouk Hriech said: “I am very honoured that I can exhibit in Dubai for the first time. While researching on Dubai and the UAE, one of the things that struck me was that it is the country of the possible. I am also proud to be working with Julius Baer, the leading Swiss wealth management group and an organisation known for its long-standing commitment to supporting contemporary art and emerging artists.” 

With a professional practice across Europe, Chourouk Hriech draws exclusively in black and white with thematic elements of places of long-gone memories of her family and childhood. Through her drawings, she attempts to create a connection between different stories and dimensions of time and space. Born in France in 1977, Hriech lives and works in Marseille and studied at the National School Fine Arts De Lyon.