Platform Africa is proud to be a partner of the Mauritius International Art Fair (MIAF) 2023, which is back for its third edition from 27 to 30 September 2023, at the Vivéa Business Park, Moka Smart City.
This initiative will be made possible thanks to the collaboration of Moka Smart City, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Afrasia Bank and Phoenix Beverages Group.
The theme of this edition, “Embracing our past – Enlightening Our Future”, represents an ode to diversity and inclusion, highlighted by the two pillars of recognition and innovation. Just as our ancestors drew their wisdom from their past, shaping the present that we inhabit today, artists are called upon to use their creations as catalysts. They are invited to embrace the fabric of their personal stories and to project a vision of a society in harmony with our collective destiny.
For this great international art festival, more than 100 artists from regional and international countries as well as local artists will be invited to participate, thus promoting a rewarding cultural exchange. The MIAF is organised by ZeeArts Ltd, based in Dubai and Mauritius, by the founder and initiator of the MIAF, Zaahirah Muthy.
The MIAF will focus on four axes, in particular the international art exhibition with opening scheduled for 27 September, which will be open to the public from 28 to 30 September. The Conference on “Harnessing Art as an Investment to Catalyze Creative Ecosystem Transformation” will take place on 28 September, to be followed by a cultural visit with the participating artists and invited panellists at the House of Digital Art in Edith, Port-Louis on 29 September.
Another important event of this festival, ‘Tribute to our deceased artists’, will take place at the Eureka house in Moka during the evening of 29 September, in order to pay tribute to artists who are no longer with us, such as Roger Charoux, Said Hossanée, Tristan Bréville and Vaco Baissac. This commemoration will be carried out in collaboration with the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) thanks to a mini-documentary presenting the works of these illustrious artists, which will be launched on the day of the ‘Tribute to our deceased artists’ event at Eureka House.
The MIAF 2023 will close on Saturday 30 September with two special events, ‘Little Picasso’ and ‘Avenue of Artists’. The ‘Little Picasso’ Workshop is a socially committed initiative dedicated to the development of children’s artistic talents in disadvantaged regions of Mauritius. Our young artists will benefit from the tutelage of local and international talents, thus creating an environment conducive to their artistic development, with the support of the ENL Foundation. The ‘Little Picasso’ Workshop has already made its mark in the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Bangladesh, as well as at the 1st and 2nd edition of the Mauritius International Art Fair in Port Louis, and the initiative will be renewed this time in Moka. This year’s ‘Little Picasso’ aligns with one of the three axes defined by the ENL Foundation, which aims to promote the well-being of children and vitality in neighbourhoods. At the same time, ‘Artist Avenue’ offers a creative platform where artists explore our responsibilities to the ecosystem of the planet through art. At Vivéa Business Park, the artists have a unique space to express their messages to the world, promoting connections between them, inclusion and reflection on the stimulating theme of “Sustainability in action”.
The conference on the theme “Harnessing Art as an Investment to Catalyze Creative Ecosystem Transformation” is at the heart of this event. It is with great pride that ZeeArts invites for the first time Christie’s, a world leader in art and luxury, renowned for its auctions both live and online, as well as for its private tailor-made sales, to participate in this event. Meagan Kelly Horsman, the Managing Director of Christie’s, will be the guest of honour of the MIAF 2023 and will participate in the conference by sharing her expertise. The conference aims to merge art and investment, while exploring how these fields intertwine to shape the evolution of creative thematic ecosystems. The themes addressed during this day of discussion and reflection will be “Transformative Investments: The Artistic Catalyst for Ecosystem Evolution”, “Curating Wealth: The Mastery of Art Collection” and “Navigating Sustainable Investments: Exploring the SDGs through the arts.”
For this artistic and cultural event, the MIAF is delighted to share the immense pleasure with the Mauritian public to join them and participate in the activities. The founder of ZeeArts, Zaahirah Muthy, adds: “We express our sincere gratitude to our partners, sponsors and stakeholders for their unwavering support, which has made MIAF the cornerstone of real cultural innovation. The presence of Christie’s among us, as an internationally recognized institution specialised in art, is a blessing for Mauritian art. Join us to weave together stories, bring generations closer together and provoke change through the unifying language of art.
After the success of the MIAF 2022, the MIAF begins a new chapter while remaining determined to position Mauritius as a primary destination for art and culture in the region. Thanks to cultural tourism and investment in art, Zeearts encourages the creation of a thriving artistic ecosystem that resonates beyond our borders. The MIAF 2023 would like art to tell stories through its transformational power to bring new perspectives about the past and the future. The MIAF 2023 has already taken its first steps during the launch of the project ‘SDGs Through Arts’ in Rodrigues, in collaboration with 17 artists from the region.
According to Zaahirah Muthy, “We have effectively conveyed the message of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to esteemed artists in the region. Thanks to this dynamic and collaborative workshop, these artists are engaged in painting, the exchange of ideas and have embraced the power of inclusion.” The success of this project is due in part to the generous support of the Commission de l’Art et de la Culture and the British Council Mauritius, which played an essential role in the realisation of the project ‘SDGs Through Arts’ in Rodrigues. Mr Jean Alain Wong So, Acting Commissioner for Arts and Culture, and Mrs. Hafiza Jepaul, Director of the British Council Mauritius, supported the event by their presence.
The 3rd edition of the MIAF therefore seeks to move forward with the motto “Accessibility and Appreciation for the arts”. Zaahirah Muthy firmly believes that art is a universal language for connecting people and being a catalyst for social change.
The partners which made the third edition of the Mauritius International Art Fair possible are: Moka Smart City, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Oficea, AfrAsia Bank, Phoenix Beverages Limited, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, Zethical, British Council, Museum, House of Digital Art, Engen, Eureka, Vivo Energy, Biocom, Orijin Consulting, Ravior and Platform Africa.
Find out more about the event at: https://www.mauritiusartfair.com
