Aboard Zak Ove's Star Liner

Step inside a world between the past and the future, yet far from the present

- Felicity Stokes

Most recognised for his 40 giant sized graphite troops stood outside London’s Somerset House, Zak Ové’s art enters Lawrie Shabibi Gallery in Dubai for the first time. The Nubian-black statues from his installation, Black and Blue: The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness at 1:54, London have ventured over the pond to UNTITLED Miami Beach art fair, before landing with their feet firmly on the sand in the Middle East.

Zak Ové is a British-Trinidadian artist whose work is profoundly packed with the concern of loss of culture and identity. He gives tribute to African history by presenting ancient mythologies through contrastingly modern materials and futuristic objects. Zak’s exhibition, Star Liner is able to remove us from the present and teleport us to a new fantastical world that is between the past and the future.

Stepping inside Lawrie Shabibi’s exhibition space, visitors are immediately met face-to-face with Zak Ové’s ‘Invisible Men’. Dressed to impress, Zak wanted to offer his ‘Invisible Men’ masquerade personas, differing from his London military-styled installation. Their masquerade costumes convey intense flocking colour-blocks, allowing them to scream silently within the room so they cannot be ignored. The combination of their ‘hands-up’ body language and vibrantly coloured dress, encourages observers to engage with the sculptures, giving way to create a friendly relationship with his ‘Invisible Men’.