New museum opens its doors for art connoisseurs

Dubai: A private museum that aims to support artists and collectors here and abroad has opened in the Al Quoz area of Dubai.

The Salsali Private Museum (SPM) opened its Al Sarkal Avenue doors to the public and to more than 700 guests on its opening night.

Hundreds of artists, connoisseurs and collectors were treated to an exquisite display of a variety of works from paintings to photography, installations and sculptures.

Called Show Off, the exhibition highlighted works by Reza Derakshani, Nazzy Beglari, Sara Rahbar, among others.

It also featured works that were shown to the public for the first time such as The Divided Landscape of a Blue Monarchy, a commissioned work by Derakshani which shows the fall of Iran's royal couple, Farah Diba and Shah Reza Pahlavi.

"We called it Show Off to provoke the thinking that opening a museum is a show off," Ramin Salsali, founder of SPM, told Gulf News.

"Opening a museum is just as simple as it is, as the simplicity of this hall, the simplicity of the way that we are here, it shows that you [anyone] can do it. "And Show Off is the message that should go to the heads of other people [to let them know] that having a museum, having a collection, is not at all anything special, it's not a show off on the contrary."

Every year, at least two exhibitions will be held at SPM, free of charge.

Salsali said that SPM also has a unique feature reserved for Dubai's growing art scene.

Completing the chain

"We have here the first collector centre in the whole of the world," he said.

"This is the first time that collectors will have a space to come, to meet, to chat — we will support them free of charge — and introduce them to the artists, to galleries.

"Dubai needs a museum in order to complete the chain of the art [cycle] consisting of galleries, artist residency programme, and now a museum."

Salsali said that while Dubai has a lot to offer its visitors, not many of them get to engage and experience art and culture in the Emirate.

"Dubai is not only about shopping, not only about hotels, not only about restaurants, but shall also become a hub for art and culture," he said.

Information

Pieces on display

Salsali Private Museum will exhibit works of internationally renowned and emerging artists not only from the region but also other parts of the globe.

What: Show Off — an exhibition of various artworks from Ramin Salsali's private collection

When: Running until January 14

Where: Salsali Private Museum, Unit 14, Al Sarkal Avenue, Al Quoz