Dubai: The 2015 edition of the Abraaj Group Art Prize – part of Art Dubai – will be more competitive, as only one artist will be eligible to win the prize money.
In addition, the Abraaj Group Innovation Awards has also been launched that will reward five artists with a scholarship award to attend the Royal College of Art in London’s two year post graduate program.
“The group prize winner will also have a curator to assemble a body of their works, to show their journey as an artist and how it has evolved,” said Frederic Sicre, managing director at Abraaj Group, who said more details will be revealed in the next few months.
The winners of the this year’s Abraaj Group Art Prize are Abas Akhavan and Kamrooz Aram from Iran; Basim Magdy from Egypt; Bouchra Khalili from Morocco; and Anup Mathew Thomas from India. All artists will have their works showcased at the exhibition Bagh O Bahar: Garden and Spring, at Art Dubai from March 19-22.
More than 500 artists from over 80 galleries across 35 countries will be participating at the eighth edition of Art Dubai, which will take place at Madinat Jumeirah on March 19-22.
Art Dubai is part of Dubai’s inaugural Dubai Art Season, launched by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, which runs from March 14 to April 15.
“Dubai Art Season showcases the talent of our emerging artists, providing them a platform to engage with the community through a culturally enriching roster of events,” said Saeed Al Naboudah, Acting Director General, Dubai Culture.
Dubai Art Season will have a presence in various areas across the city, including Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood, Dubai Mall, Mohammad Bin Rashid Boulevard in Downtown Dubai, The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence, Al Serkal Avenue, and Dubai International Financial Centre, among other landmarks.
This year’s edition of Art Dubai includes galleries presented in three distinct programmes – Contemporary, Modern, and Marker. It has launched a new gallery programme dedicated to Middle Eastern and South Asian modern art from the 20th century.
A number of children’s programmes will also be available, including the Shaikha Manal Little Artists Programme of discovery tours and workshops for children.
“This year’s art works is dedicated to Central Asia and the Caucasus, and features works from Arab, Iran, and Pakistani artists. [Visitors] will be able to see the threads between the cities and artists, which connects the modern with contemporary halls,” said Antonia Carver, Fair Director, Art Dubai.
Art Dubai, held under the theme, ‘Meanwhile….History’, reflects on significant decades, years and minutes that brought shifts in the understanding of the world and history within the Middle East region and the Caucasus.
