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Shot In The Arm For Culture
What is happening in the United Arab Emirates is nothing short of being remarkable. While its growing skyline has captivated the world, it has also managed to position itself as the cultural hub of the region.
Amidst the construction boom, UAE leaders realised it would take more than the breathtaking towers and larger-than-life projects to sustain development in a meaningful way.
Developing culture, it was thought, would cultivate creativity amidst a burgeoning population.
Amel Makkawi, founder of the ArtSawa art gallery, has seen first hand the change in cultural focus in the UAE.
Having travelled widely in the
“The UAE is the ‘capital of the region’, and it’s unfortunate that older Arab countries are losing out due to political and economic problems,” she said.
“The UAE is gaining reputation for promoting art and culture. We have seen this happen in many civilisations when a country or city becomes wealthy, they seem to always attract the thinkers. This place is like a magnet. The UAE indeed is the ‘light’ of the region,” she added.
Hassan Sharif, regarded by many as a true pioneer of contemporary art in the UAE, agrees the country has been doing its best to encourage local art.
“We can see ourselves through other cultures. We are not imitating the West; we are learning from other societies by educating ourselves,” he said.
“We want to showcase the concept of art…without ignoring heritage.”
Each segment of the UAE has seen its arts, entertainment and cultural projects grow at a fast pace - with each emirate offering its own flavour. Nowhere is this more visible than
The capital is building a highly ambitious project - a cultural district just off the coast of Abu Dhabi, known as Saadiyat Island (Arabic for Island of Happiness), the like of which has never been seen in the Arab world.
Celebrity architects Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel and Tadao Ando have designed the three museums being built here. Zaha Hadid has designed a sprawling, spaceship-like performing arts centre. Gehry has designed the
Nouvel has designed a classical museum, an outpost of the
Ando is working on a maritime museum reflecting the history of the
If completed according to plan, consultants predict it could be the world’s largest single arts and culture development project. Gehry while speaking to the media after appearing at an exhibition to showcase his model for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, said: “It’s an opportunity for the world of art and culture that is not available anywhere else because you’re building a desert enclave without the constraints of it being in a city.”
So when His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, decided to launch the ambitious Khor Dubai cultural initiative, he aimed at establishing
The project, which will make the Dubai Creek one of the most comprehensive cultural destinations in the world, reflects
The project features a complex of low-rise buildings modelled on local architectural concepts housing museums, galleries, performing art centres, workshops for painters and sculptors, luxury hotels, residential blocks, bazaars, and marinas.
The project is expected to house 72 new cultural icons, including 10 museums, nine public libraries, 13 theatres, and a world-class opera house.
The project aims to preserve the UAE’s culture and heritage - to keep the past in touch with the vibrant present and a promising future.
Launching the project, Shaikh Mohammed said: “The Khor Dubai cultural project will epitomise a futuristic model of an international city. It will convey a singular message of pride in our tradition, culture and national identity as part of our ethos to foster harmonious co-existence, and achieving peace and prosperity for global communities.”
Apart from these major projects, some smaller, privately owned art galleries have also sprung up across the emirate - a sign of changing times.
While comprehensive projects will bring together scattered art communities, it is the grassroots movement that has been truly at the forefront of the country’s cultural movement.
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