Dubai: An extensive showcase of art works and a diverse schedule of programmes begins on March 16 with the launch of the 10th edition of Art Dubai.
The one-stop annual fair that reflects the art world and runs for four days from March 16 to March 19 will be a great attraction for art lovers from around the region and the world, who are ready to discover the works of more than 500 artists representing 70 nationalities.
A total of 94 galleries coming from 40 countries will fill up the three main halls — Contemporary, Modern and Marker — making the fair the largest global edition to date, said Antonia Carver, fair director of Art Dubai
Revealing more details about the artists and the halls ahead of the opening, she said the third year of Art Dubai’s Modern gallery programme, which includes 13 galleries from nine countries, will be devoted to masters from South Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
“Works this year start from the 1900s to the 1990s, taking in various modern moments of cities that include Jeddah, Karachi, Tehran Baghdad, Damascus, Tunis, and Beirut, to name a few,” she said.
More than half the booths in the contemporary hall, which include 76 galleries from 35 countries, are solo and two-person shows this year, she added. “We tend to work with the most established renowned galleries but we are also very committed to seeking out the most exciting young upcoming art spaces from across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia.”
Like every year, the Marker gallery programme focuses on a particular geography or theme. This year 15 young and emerging Filipino artists represented by four artist-run spaces in Manila will showcase a wide range of works from photographs and video paintings to works on paper, textile works, installations and sculptures.
Ringo Bunoan, curator of the Marker exhibition, said: “These artist-run spaces from Manila have long been important for the development of contemporary art in the Philippines because they allow artists to create works which go against commercial and institutional expectations.”
Another special project in the contemporary hall is a special exhibition by Atassi Foundation from Damascus. They will present a multimedia exhibition of the recent history of Syrian art, Carver said.
Alongside the exhibition, new works and performances will explore the theatrical nature of the fair as part of Art Dubai’s not-for-profit programme. The Abraaj Group Art Prize Exhibition will present the $100,000 commission by the winning artists and works of three shortlisted artists.
One of the main highlights of this year is the Wedding Project. Eight artists and collectives will turn two rooms in Mena Al Salam into a wedding hall and create an 11-course banquet.
The Global Art Forum, among other community art programmes and educational programmes, is titled ‘The Future Was’ and will include 32 live talks, panels and performances by 50 international and regional thought-leaders.
Art Dubai is being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in partnership with Abraaj Group and Dubai Culture. As part of Art week, Dubai will see as a whole line-up of cultural events starting with Art Dubai, Design Days Dubai, Sikka Art Fair and also many gallery exhibitions, museum shows and art festivals around the country.
The event:
What: Art Dubai
Where: Madinat Jumeirah
When: March 16-19, (There will be a ladies preview on Wednesday from 1pm-4pm)
