Abu Dhabi Art opens on November 8

Abu Dhabi - A total of 47 galleries from 18 countries are taking part in this year's edition

Exhibitions, specially commissioned installations across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, as well as live performances and street art programmes are part of the ninth edition of Abu Dhabi Art, opening this week in Abu Dhabi.
The art fair is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The event will open to the public on Wednesday at Manarat Al Saadiyat, on Saadiyat Island. A total of 47 galleries from 18 countries are taking part in this year's edition, and the fair will feature galleries from Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East. Director Dyala Nusseibeh told Khaleej Times that more countries are represented than ever-before and audiences will witness the largest and most international exhibition of the art fair to date. "It's a fantastic chance to discover new artists and come across museum quality work. It's a chance to engage in the culture scene here and with international peers."
She said Abu Dhabi has blossomed into a cultural and artistic hub, welcoming all artists, creative thinkers and art lovers alike. "If you look from a global perspective, opening a museum takes decades, and the fact that the Louvre Abu Dhabi was announced in 2007 - and ten years later, it is here - is amazing. I think we are going to see a rapid pace of transformation. "It really is a gift for the next generation, and that is beautiful."
Saif Saeed Ghobash, director-general of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCTA), said this year will be an exceptional one and a starting point for the UAE's new artistic world and vision.
This year's edition will not only present dynamic art, but a rich and interactive experience, which will "invite everyone to witness art in a different manner. Abu Dhabi Art connects and merges our unique national identity with the global artistic scene as a whole. As the eyes of the world turn to Abu Dhabi once again, this year's edition of Abu Dhabi Art holds special significance, as we undertake a pivotal moment in the cultural journey of the UAE, the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, the first universal museum in the Middle East," Ghobash said.
This year's edition includes 15 solo artist presentations, as well as a strong exhibition programme, both within the art fair and in off-site commissions. A new curated section by Dr Omar Kholeif entitled 'Focus: Beyond Territory, 'Street Art,' curated by Fabrice Bousteau, will see artworks by Philippe Baudelocque, Amitabh Kumar and Pierre Seinturier on public buses, and the unveiling of large scale sculptures and installations throughout Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi