Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here show hails Richard Mille Art Prize finalists

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Louvre Abu Dhabi and luxury Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille opened the fourth edition of the Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here exhibition on September 18. Running till December 15, it showcases five artworks shortlisted for the Richard Mille Art Prize, under the theme ‘Awakenings’. The show highlights contemporary artworks, acting as a platform for both emerging and established artists from the GCC and North Africa. It promotes cultural dialogue and innovation and the diverse range of pieces points to the region’s notable and dynamic contemporary art practices.

Set beneath the museum’s iconic dome, Art Here (2024 edition) showcases five sculptures and installations, featuring artists from the UAE, Tunisia and Egypt. The exhibition’s theme explores three key concepts reflected in Louvre Abu Dhabi’s three official languages: awakenings (English), overtures (openings, French) and afaq (horizons in Arabic). The selected artists have created site-specific installations centered around these concepts, depicting moments of transition from unconsciousness to consciousness, offering their own interpretation of these temporal concepts. Their works invite viewers to explore awareness, openness and vision through artistic narratives. The dome of the museum, under which the works are displayed, creates an interplay of shadows, reflections and light, enhancing the art experience.

  Ferielle Doulain-Zouari at the presentation.

Franco-Tunisian artist Férielle Doulain-Zouari’s Tilling the Soil is a multi-dimensional exploration of memory and landscape through installations, sculptures and weavings. Her work reveals how personal and environmental elements intersect and evolve over time. Emirati artist Lamya Gargash’s Debutante Ball transforms UAE sand into a two-metre beach ball sculpture that explores her personal evolution as an artist and person, and also Arab identity and cultural heritage, through the symbolism of sand. The art piece embodies the warmth and hospitality central to Arab culture.

  Lamya Gargash at Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr presents themes of bravery and resilience through The Brides of the Sky, reimagining historical cresting structures on fortresses that symbolise women’s courage during conflict. The installation bridges past and present, emphasising the strength of women. Tunisian artist Nicène Kossentini’s work Landscapes is an exploration of disappearance through the slow alteration of landscapes. The installation invites viewers to contemplate the often invisible transformations of life and environment.

Nicène Kossentini takes a rest.

Sarah Almehairi, who is an Emirati artist from Abu Dhabi, presents Shared Motion, which explores the movement within stillness by showcasing the word “wind” in the Arabic, Farsi, Hindi and Urdu languages. Through the composition, Almehairi highlights the interaction of language, culture and history. It offers a new perspective on the region’s ongoing evolution. The five finalists were selected by a five-member jury led by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Chairman of UAE Unlimited, an art collector, and a patron of the Centre Pompidou, the British Museum and Sharjah Art Foundation; Dr. Guilhem André, Director of Scientific Curatorial and Collection Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi; Simon Njami, Art Here 2024 exhibition guest curator; Nujoom Alghanem, renowned Emirati poet, artist and multi-award-winning film director; and Maya Allison, founding director of the Art Gallery and Chief Curator at New York University Abu Dhabi.

  Sarah Almehairi smiles at the camera.

Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “Displaying the work of contemporary artists from the Arab World at the museum is a core mission for us, and Art Here offers them a unique opportunity to interact with us and share their perspectives with a global audience.” Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said that “the Richard Mille Art Prize was established to spotlight and empower some of the most exceptional talents in this region. This year, we are thrilled to see the prize expand into North Africa, setting a new precedent in the history of art prizes across this region.”

 Moataz Nasr’s work praises courage of women.

Guilhem André said: “Under guest curator Simon Njami’s expert guidance, the jury has selected artists who are presenting works that beautifully display the interplay between transformation, cultural dialogue and the nuanced relationship between heritage and modernity.” Simon Njami said that “by widening the scope of applicants, we have expanded the possibilities for aesthetic confrontations, dialogues and challenges … One particularity of this project is that it is tailored to be in harmony with the shelter represented by Louvre Abu Dhabi.”

The jury received over 200 submissions from artists across the regions participating in the event. The winner of the Richard Mille Art Prize will be announced at a ceremony in December 2024 and awarded USD 60,000. Louvre Abu Dhabi was designed by Jean Nouvel and opened on Saadiyat Island in 2017. The museum is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture and its monumental dome creates a rain of light effect. It celebrates the universal creativity of mankind and its collection spans thousands of years of human history, including prehistoric tools, artefacts, religious texts, iconic paintings, and contemporary artworks. The permanent collection is supplemented by rotating loans from 19 French partner institutions, regional and international museums. The Louvre Abu Dhabi also hosts a Children’s Museum. Horologist Richard Mille’s combination of watchmaking and artistic initiatives is reflected in the brand’s partnerships in support of contemporary art and artists. They include sponsorship of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris; the contemporary art Biennale Desert X; collaborations with choreographer Benjamin Millepied, composer Thomas Roussel and the acquisition of Éditions Cercle d’Art, a publishing house created with the support of Pablo Picasso in the 1950s.