Dubai art exhibition creates world without borders

Dubai - Sheikh Hamdan visited the venue and toured the galleries prior to the opening on Tuesday

The region's biggest annual art fair and exhibition, Art Dubai, will open to the public today and go on till March 18 at the Madinat Jumeirah. Touted as the largest and most international edition of the fair till date, the event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, visited the venue and toured the galleries prior to the opening on Tuesday.
The fair also has a new director this year, former arts writer and journalist Myrna Ayad, helming the event along with International Director Pablo del Val, who is former artisic director of Zona Maco, Mexico City's International Contemporary Art Fair.
Emphasising its position as the most diverse art fair globally, this year's edition will see works by 94 galleries from 43 countries. The fair is divided into two exhibitions: Art Dubai Contemporary with 79 galleries; and Art Dubai Modern will showcase museum-quality works by modern masters from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
At the inaugural Press preview and opening event on Tuesday, all the speakers highlighted the effect an increasingly globalised world with fast disappearing borders had on an event like Art Dubai. "In a place like the UAE, with over 200 different nationalities ... we continuously grow our programming, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of our hometown Dubai, and contributing to its cultural landscape," Ayad noted.
Del Val also spoke about the works of the different galleries coming together and the effect of the "various creative energies" in a melting pot like Dubai.
"Visitors will see more tightly curated exhibitions in the gallery halls this year. In addition, we are introducing new galleries and countries to the fair this year, with our highest-ever number of galleries from Latin America, and galleries from Algeria, Peru and Uruguay attending for the first time."
Other speakers spoke about the key role the event played in bringing together talents and artists who otherwise lacked a common platform, or belonged to countries that had conflicting interests.
One major highlight this yeat is the Abraaj Group Art Prize, the region's most important prize for artists from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. The 2017 prize is curated by Berrada and the winner, London-based Bangladeshi artist Rana Begum's colourful installation takes pride of place at the Madinat Jumeirah, right on the creek framing a view of the Burj Al Arab.
marypaulose@khaleejtimes.com
Highlights of Art Dubai 2017
> When: March 15-17
> Where: Madinat Jumeirah
> Main exhibitions: Art Dubai Contemporary and Art Dubai Modern at the two gallery halls
> Global Art Forum, titled 'Trading Places', and exploring the way trade shapes and reshapes the world
> A surrealist dining experience by Beirut-based art collective Atfal Ahdath at The Room; a visual and gastronomic experience, inspired by Salvador Dali
> Sheikha Manal Little Artists Programme - for children and teenagers, with Discovery Tours and drop-in workshops
> Campus Art Dubai: School for artists, curators, writers, designers and cultural producers based in the UAE
 

• UAE
• Dubai