Focal Point 1

About

Vasl Artists’ Association was honored to be invited by the Sharjah Art Foundation to participate in their 2018 publishing event, FOCAL POINT. Celebrating itself as an itinerant art book fair, FOCAL POINT aimed to showcase, engage with, circulate, sell, and distribute a diverse range of printed materials to audiences in Sharjah, the wider UAE, and the Middle East. Recognizing the limited platforms within the Middle East—particularly in the UAE—that support the interdisciplinary scope of publishing, the event sought to address this gap by presenting a broad spectrum of art publishing practices. It featured both independent and alternative publishers alongside select established publishing houses.

The three-day event combined a traditional fair layout with dynamic programming, including talks, performances, and screenings. These activities fostered dialogue around independent publishing and highlighted the community of creators behind it.

Housed within the heritage building of Bait Al Shamsi—originally constructed in 1845 and renovated in the late 1990s—the venue provided an intimate setting for the event. The building’s two floors and courtyard, previously used as artist studios and exhibition spaces, have hosted multiple interventions during past Sharjah Biennials.

As part of Vasl’s ongoing role as a platform for thinkers and the public to connect, Hoor Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation, invited us to participate in the curated tables section of FOCAL POINT. Each participant was assigned a personal table to collaborate with small and independent publishers from their networks, sourcing printed materials such as books, zines, editions, and posters. Participants had the creative freedom to explore what it means to read, write, mediate, edit, or publish within the realm of art, using content in any language. It was important to note, however, that the audience comprised diverse linguistic backgrounds, including English, Arabic, Hindi/Urdu, and other languages from the MENASA region.

Vasl Artists’ Association collected and presented over 200 publications from across Pakistan for the event. We also welcomed contributions from artists, institutions, organizations, museums, galleries, and private libraries. These diverse printed materials—some created independently by Vasl—were displayed in the EDIT section, across six curated tables alongside participants such as Chimurenga, African Art Book Fair, Khoj, Terremoto, and the Sharjah Art Foundation. The program featured book launches, lecture performances, art installations, workshops, and the Asia Art Archive Symposium, creating a vibrant platform for exchange and exploration in the world of art publishing.