Cutting-edge art from around the globe; live discussions and presentations by well-known art professionals; and an array of interactive art projects — art lovers can look forward to all this and much more at the sixth edition of Art Dubai, to be held at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai from March 21 to March 24. This year 75 galleries from 32 countries will bring the work of more than 500 contemporary artists to the city.
Interesting exhibits to look out for include video and photographic art from Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan brought by Laura Bulian Gallery, Milan; a politically charged show by The Running Horse, Beirut; and a tribute to M.F. Husain by Grosvenor Vadehra Art Gallery, London.
Along with exhibiting the works left behind by Husain, the legendary Indian artist, who spent his last years here in Dubai, the British gallery will also screen the short film Through the Eyes of a Painter, which was written and directed by the artist and won him a Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival. Also worth visiting is the Marker section, which focuses on contemporary Indonesian art through concept stands by five Indonesian galleries.
Art Dubai has commissioned Alia Swastika, curator of the upcoming Jogja Biennial and an artistic director of the 9th Gwangju Biennial, to curate this segment, featuring new work created for Art Dubai.
"We want Art Dubai to be the most globalised art fair and a centre of discovery for art lovers. Hence we always try to bring a good mix of established galleries that are regulars at the fair and refreshing new spaces from around the world.
"This year we chose to put the spotlight on Indonesian art, because the country has a dynamic art scene that is rarely showcased at international events. Besides offering our visitors something new to discover, this is also a great way to initiate a cultural dialogue between the world's largest Muslim country and the Arab world," says Antonia Carver, Art Dubai fair director.
Art Dubai partner Abraaj Capital and sponsor Cartier will add their special touch to the fair. The winners of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize will unveil their new projects on the opening night of Art Dubai. The prize, instituted in 2008, is the only one meant for artists from the MENASA region, and this year's winners are Palestinian artist Taysir Batniji, Egyptian artist Wael Shawky, Raed Yassin from Lebanon, Risham Syed from Pakistan and Lebanese duo Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige.
These artists have been working with the Dutch curator Nat Muller to develop their projects, which will be showcased around the world as part of the Abraaj Capital Collection. Cartier will also showcase art of another kind — through a display of fine jewellery. Although Art Dubai is a commercial fair, it also organises a variety of non-commercial activities as well, which extend beyond the four days of the fair to other cities in the region.
These include the Global Art Forum, held in Doha and Dubai, free public seminars and workshops, an internship programme, residencies for artists and curators, and various commissioned projects.
"It is our responsibility to educate the local community and involve people of all ages in art. Our goal is to be on everybody's radar as the meeting point of international art and the Middle Eastern and South Asian art scenes," Carver says.
Jyoti Kalsi is an arts enthusiast based in Dubai.
Highlights of Art Dubai's not-for-profit programme: The Global Art Forum
The Global Art Forum
The sixth edition of the Global Art Forum will be hosted by the Qatar Museums Authority at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha on March 18 and March 19. It will then move to Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, from March 21 to March 24, with support from Dubai Culture. Directed by writer Shumon Basar, the forum will discuss ‘The Medium of Media', looking at the multiple meanings of ‘media' with reference to art and news reportage. In view of the recent events in the region, one can expect interesting discussions on the way the Arab Spring has been produced and consumed as media. Besides well-known artists and art professionals, leading personalities from many other fields are slated to participate.
These include novelist and artist Douglas Coupland; writer and critic Sukhdev Sandhu; art market reporter Georgina Adam; Demotix founder Turi Munthe; commentator Sultan Suood Al Qasimi; blogger Hind Mezaina; and filmmaker Sophie Fiennes with a special screening of her film ‘Over Your Cities the Grass will Grow'.
In Doha, the forum will discuss the relationship between newsmakers and history-making in the Arab world and the growing trend of artists turning to feature-film-making. The topics to be discussed in Dubai range from Marshall McLuhan's legacy and the Beatles' last ever concert to the future of Net Art and how news shapes art and financial markets.
The live discussions will be complemented by various commissioned projects such as a Dictionary of the Mediatized Gulf by Qatari artist-writer Sophia Al Maria; a series of publications titled ‘Some Medium Stories'; a media-archiving blog by Mariam Wissam Al Dabbagh; an interactive Arabic art glossary, and an artist's residency at Al Jazeera news network, Doha. Other forum initiatives include the Forum Fellows programme for young writers from the region; the Terrace Talks on the relationship between the Gulf and wider Asia; and the The Big Idea, a fast-paced presentation of ideas by young UAE-based artists and designers.
Jam Jar gallery’s ArtBus
This unique shuttle service, launched by Jam Jar gallery in 2007, during the first edition of Art Dubai, provides guided tours of the city’s prominent galleries, studios, art centres, alternative art spaces, art fairs and other cultural events, such as film festivals. It also organises special services for events in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
During the Art Week, the ArtBus will run daily services to art galleries in Al Quoz, DIFC, Downtown Dubai, Jumeirah and Bastakiya. It is also running free shuttle services between Dubai and Sharjah from today to March 19, and on March 25 for those who want to attend the March Meeting and other Art Week events in Sharjah. Visit www.artinthecity.com for timings and details.
Art Week
- Art Dubai is part of Art Week — a region-wide programme of cultural events being held until March 25. Highlights include:
- Design Days Dubai: The region’s first fair dedicated to limited-edition and collectible design will run from tomorrow to March 21 in Downtown Dubai.
- Sikka Art Fair: Organised in Bastakiya by Dubai Culture, it will showcase newly commissioned works by UAE-based artists and feature music performances, research areas, food gatherings, educational activities and an open-studio event by Art Dubai’s artists in residence.
- Dubai Galleries Night on March 19: This will feature the opening of new exhibitions at more than 40 galleries across Dubai; performances by musicians; and the opening of five galleries in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz.
- Sharjah Art Foundation: This will host the fifth annual March Meeting, a gathering of artists, art professionals and institutions, along with new shows at the emirate’s non-commercial art spaces.
- Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Festival (ADMAF): This begins on March 11, with performances and productions around the city.
- Museum exhibitions in Doha: Exhibitions by Cai Guo-Qiang, Takashi Murakami, Louise Bourgeois and the opening of ‘The Gift of the Sultan: The Arts of Giving at the Islamic Courts’.
- A comprehensive Art Week Guide will be available at all Art Week venues, and in select hotels, restaurants and universities.
Fair timings
- March 21:
- Ladies’ Day: 11.30am to 2pm
- Opening Night (by invitation only): 4 to 9.30pm
- March 22: 4 to 9.30pm
- March 23: Noon to 7.30pm
- March 24: Noon to 5.30pm
- March 21 to March 24: 2 to 5pm; Global Art Forum – open to all.
- Tickets: Priced at Dh50, tickets will be available at the venue from March 20.
For more information visit www.artdubai.ae
Art Dubai projects
More than 40 international and UAE-based artists are involved in this programme of new works and performances that explore the fabric, economy and theatrical nature of an art fair. It includes residencies for artists and curators, commissioned performances and site-specific installations, live radio broadcasts, a performance night, educational events, video screenings and projects for children.
Site-specific commissions include ‘Pseudophobia’, an interactive, fortress-like structure made from sandbags, textiles, pins and mirrors by Indonesian artist Setu Legi to represent a refuge from the pressures of the world; ‘Oil and Water’, a collaboration between Dubai-based artists James Clar and UBIK, based on an architectural model of a Dubai landmark; and UBIK’s ‘Portrait of an Artist Through his Statements’, an edible project that documents the relationship artists share with their bank balance.
Radio for Example (a collaboration with L’Appartement 22, Rabat and the Pavilion Downtown Dubai) will present live transmission of conversations with leading art professionals around Dubai. Art Dubai’s inaugural performance night, titled Trace, will be hosted on March 22 by not-for-profit art space Traffic.
Manila-based Carlos Celdran and Koken Ergun from Istanbul have been invited to conduct the artists’ tours. Celdran will perform seven acts in seven parts of Art Dubai, commenting on issues of geopolitics, arts and culture. Ergun’s project involves surprise performances throughout the fair, employing musicality as a means of communication. Art Dubai is also introducing The Hatch — a stairwell transformed into a screening room for curated video programmes and artists’ talks and presentations.
Moroccan artist Yto Barrada, along with designers Zid Zid Kids, has created an interactive, educational installation and a series of workshops, titled Morocco to the Moon, for families and children.
