10 December–18 January 2008

A member of the Bahrain Arts Society, Abdul Rahim works in a range of a media and has produced twenty-five livres d'artiste. He has participated in group exhibitions in the Middle East, Europe and the Far East since 1992 and has had eleven solo exhibitions in Arab countries since 1999. His awards include the 2nd Prize of the 4th Biennial of Sharjah, 1999; the Jury Prize in the 3rd Egyptian International Print Triennial, 1999; and first prizes in Mini Print Internationals in Spain and Argentina, both in 2005. His works are in private and public collections in the Middle East and Spain. He lives and works in Bahrain.

29 January–26 March 2008

In 1991, he graduated from Marmara University in Istanbul, Turkey. He graduated from the university's College of Fine Arts with honors. He continued his education earning a Master of Arts degree in 1993. Acar found an interest in rotogravure, wood press and various other forms of artistic expression. He has been influenced by some of the most creative minds of his time including M. Plevneli, Mustafa Aslier and various other professors considered to be among the best in the world. Acar was also able to study with David Salle and improve upon his exhibition preparation tactics. Awarded the coveted 'Most Successful Artist in Turkey' in 2004, galleries in Turkey as well as across the globe showcase his work. His paintings have been sought after for private collections and housed in art museums. Ismail Acar's paintings draw in the wandering eye and then capture it in scenes where the east meets the west. History seems to find a contemporary place where modernized paintings capture culture and religion taking care to be most expressive. Known for his generosity as much as his artistic talent, Ismail Acar has donated one-part of all of his income from his artistic exhibitions since 2001 to various charities and organizations. His exhibitions include displays in Geneva, Prague, Switzerland, Japan and Paris among various others. His more notable exhibitions include the 1991 Exhibition for the Benefit of Homeless Children and the 1994 Youth and Art Gallery Exhibition in the 1994 BP Exhibition in Istanbul. In 1999, he was the subject of a highly acclaimed documentary by Executive Serpil Boydak where his work and life were highlighted. Ismail Acar's paintings hang in private collections around the world including all of the European countries, Mexico, Canada, America, Russia, Ukraine, China, Korea, and Japan. He currently resides in Turkey where he continues to work in Istanbul.

2–25 April 2008

Ali Omar Ermes and Nja Mahdaoui are both internationally recognized as the leading Arabic artists alive today, whose work is held in the leading International public collections globally.

Meem, supporting the exhibition, Word into Art, held at the British Museum - which includes the work of Ali Omar and Nja, brings them together for the first time for Nasaim by Meem - a celebration of the greatest Arabic artists alive today.

30 April–12 June 2008

Abdulla Al Muharraqi is recognised as being the founding father of Modern Arab Art in The Gulf. Born in Bahrain - his work is held in the highest esteem by the leading collectors throughout the GCC. He is not only Bahrain's artist - he is the Gulf's artist. His work embodies the Arabian Peninsula like no other - chronicling the movement in time from yesterday to today. His paintings exhibit a level of raw emotion not exhibited by any other artist from The Gulf. The artist believes his pictures tell you more than words ever could. Qatar has honoured the artist Abdulla Al Muharraqi with a hall devoted to his work in the Museum of Modern Arabic Art. He is the only Arab artist to recieve such an honour.

28 June–15 September 2008

Working in partnership with The American University of Dubai and Zayed University and working with the leading selected students from American University of Dubai, Zayed University and The American University of Sharjah we have been able to bring together for the first time in the history of The United Arab Emirates a collective exhibition highlighting the leading work by the leading talents of the Universities of The United Arab Emirates.

The Summer Exhibition is a culmination of an idea that has now turned into a confirmed programme and reality. The journey started in early 2007 when the faculty heads of AUS, AUD and ZU sat down together at Meem Gallery in order to discuss showcasing the work of their leading graduates and existing students. This meeting was mutually organised by Mark Pilkington of AUS, Mike Bray of AUD, Janet Bellotto of Zayed University and Charles Pocock of Meem Gallery. The idea that was born was how to bring the students together how to make them competitive and above all how to make them interact with each other and each other's work for the betterment of their work and the art scene in the UAE.

20 October 2008

The collection contained in Volume 1 contains a series of works, regarded by leading collectors of Modern Arab Art, as some of the most important complete series - these being The Petra Tablets by Mona Saudi - the internationally recognized Lebanese Sculptress, the Red Square series by the Tunisian painter Nja Mahdaoui, The Walls of Gaza by Laila Shawa, Fairuz by Jamal Abdul Rahim and Harf Al Kaf and Blue Haa by Ali Omar Ermes - with the Harf Al Kaf lithograph held in the Islamic collection of LACMA in Los Angeles - the Internationally respected Museum.

All the work exhibited for Arab Print Volume 1, have been produced using the screenprint technique, a form of lithography. Further volumes of Arab Print will include the work of Dr Ahmed Moustafa, Dia Azzawi, Mohammed Melehi, Rafa Al Nasiri, Issam El Said and leading Arab artists and printmakers.

23 November–14 December 2008

Hamza Bounoua’s work displays a particularly unique approach to the use of the Arabic letter in contemporary art as he uses plexiglas in the execution of works. Inspired by the North African glass-painting technique Mareedeen, originally practiced in Tunisia and Morocco as window painting, Bounoua paints and etches onto the reverse-side of perspex, creating a glossy veneer for the surfaces of his pieces. With his art, however, Bounoua aims to create a universal visual language, drawing inspiration from a medley of cultural traditions, including the art of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, Berber calligraphy, African tribal masks, totemic figures, graffiti, and East Asian and Arabic penmanship.