“2–3 Weeks”: A Transcontinental Dialogue in Art at Gallery 350
Gallery 350 is currently hosting “2–3 Weeks”, a thought-provoking art exhibition that spans oceans and time zones, connecting artists in the Maldives with counterparts in Chicago, USA. The exhibition’s title refers to the average time it takes for a parcel to travel between the two locations—a subtle reminder that distance and delay are not barriers, but part of the creative exchange.
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Running initially from 18 July to 18 August, the exhibition in Malé has been extended until the end of the month due to strong public engagement, while its Chicago counterpart at The Plan Gallery concluded as scheduled. Curated by Aishath Huda and Philip Spangler, “2–3 Weeks” opened at the same local time in both cities, creating a shared, simultaneous experience despite the geographical divide.
Collaboration Across Oceans
The exhibition pairs seven Maldivian artists with seven artists from Chicago. Each pair exchanged images and brief statements about their work, inspiring response pieces created across continents. The resulting works, ranging from paintings and felt art to journal layouts and handicrafts, reflect not only the original pieces but also the way artists perceive and interpret their partner’s vision.
Similar to the one hosted in Gallery 350, “2-3 Weeks” hosted in The Plan Chicago art gallery showcased art pieces by Chicago artists, and responses to them by Maldivian artists.
“‘2–3 Weeks’ is in reference to how long it usually takes for something to be sent from here to the US or from the US to here. It took essentially two weeks to send our works and three weeks to receive theirs,” according to Nabeel Gasim, Assistant Curator at Gallery 350.
The artist pairs include:
Samah Ahmed with Judith Mullen
Ismail Ashwad (Eday) with Sheldon Till-Campbell
Fathmath Azleina with Gretchen Jankowski
Mohamed Ikram with Olivia Zubko
Moosa Mamdhuh with Makayla Lindsay
Afzal Shafiu with Katelyn Patton
Aishath Huda with Philip Spangler
Artist Talks and Audience Connection
The exhibition has sparked curiosity and conversation among local audiences, many of whom are encountering contemporary art in diverse mediums and experimental approaches for the first time. To further engage the public, Gallery 350 will host three artist talks over the coming days: Sheldon Till-Campbell joins Aishath Huda this evening at 9:00 pm to discuss his studio practice, followed by talks with Judith Mullen on 25 August and Katelyn Patton on 28 August.
“2–3 Weeks” offers a unique opportunity to witness how distance, dialogue, and creative interpretation converge, highlighting the evolving global conversation in contemporary art.
