A new dawn and a new day for Abu Dhabi Art with debut initiatives

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the 16th Abu Dhabi Art takes place from November 20 to 24 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. Organised by Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Art features Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem as its Visual Campaign Artist, acknowledging his role in shaping the UAE’s art scene for more than two decades. The Visual Campaign Artist creates the visual identity for the fair each year. This edition of the fair features over 100 local and international galleries from 31 countries. It introduces new sections featuring modern regional artists and showcasing works from Central Asia and the Caucasus, fostering cross-cultural exchange. The event also presents collections of historical artifacts and collectibles, appealing to art and collectibles enthusiasts worldwide.

Three new Focus sections are being organised: Something Bold, Something New, a spotlight on modern artists from the region; The Collectors Salon, bringing together galleries presenting artefacts, historical objects, manuscripts and artworks for the first time at Abu Dhabi Art; and Silk Road: Drifting Identities, which brings together galleries and artists from Central Asia and the Caucasus. The gallery section, Emerge, has also expanded to include nine galleries, all selling works priced under US$3,000 and the long-standing sector Bidaya (“Beginning” in Arabic), introduces two gallery newcomers to the regional art scene which are Perve Galeria and Wusum Gallery. Rizq Art Initiative from Abu Dhabi takes part in Bidaya, alongside Bawa from Kuwait.

Dyala Nusseibeh, Director, Abu Ahabi Art.

Something Bold, Something New, curated by Myrna Ayad, considers seminal artists who have played a pivotal part in the art histories of the region. From Tunisia and Egypt to Palestine and Lebanon, through to Saudi Arabia and nearby Iran and up north to France, participating galleries showcase modernists, including pioneering female artists, operating from the early 1960s to the early 1980s. The Collectors Salon is the place where, for the first time, manuscripts, astrolabes, historical objects and rare books are featured. Created by Roxane Zand, it is where book dealer Peter Harrington Rare Books offers exceptionally rare and significant literary treasures.

Silk Road: Drifting Identities was put together by Elvira Eevr Djaltchinova-Malets, who noted that “the artists exhibited in this sector come from various regions of the Silk Road – from the Mongolian steppes through Central Asia and the Caucasus hills. These threads (they draw) come together in the framework of an art bazaar which in my view seems apt; after all, the current art fair model is nothing more than a replicated model of mediaeval Silk Road bazaars, places of clashes and meetings of otherness.” Beyond: Emerging Artists programme commissions new work by up-and-coming UAE-based artists each year. This year, it is curated by Lorenzo Fiaschi, co-founder of Galleria Continua. Participating artists are Fatma Al Ali, Dina Nazmi Khorchid and Simrin Mehra Agarwal.

Mohammed Kazem is a pioneering Emirati artist.

Farjam Foundation is sponsoring Abu Dhabi Art Talks along with hosting the exhibition ‘Arab Presences. Modern Art and Decolonisation. Paris 1908-1988 - Farjam Collection Close-Up’, co-curated by Morad Montazami and Madeleine de Colnet. Dr Farhad Farjam is the founder of the eponymous Foundation. The exhibition and its accompanying book traces artistic trajectories from countries including Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, among others, revealing stories of exile, undermined legacies, fleeting fame, internationalism, and artistic solidarity.
The House of Artisans has designed the Community Partners exhibition under the theme of Crafts as a Language. The House brings the rich history of Emirati craftsmanship to the forefront; community partners are encouraged to explore a new language and narratives through crafts that have shaped our society in the past and are continuously shaping our present and future. Community partners include Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, 81 Designs, Kalimat Foundation, Zayed University, College of Arts and Creative Enterprises, MFA in Art and Media, New York University Abu Dhabi and 1971 Design, Sharjah.

The Art + Tech: Where Creativity Meets Technology section connects art and technology. The initiative encourages students to explore innovative ways of integrating the two disciplines through hands-on workshops and projects. The Abu Dhabi Art Pavilion Prize invites university students in the UAE to propose visionary architectural designs. This year’s winners are Omar Darwish, Abdulla Abbas and Salama Alhammadi from the American University of Sharjah; they will see their design come to life at the heart of the fair. Gateway exhibition, curated by Odessa Warren and Carine Harmand, explores connections between the Arab world and Latin America. Titled Otra Orilla (English: Another Shore), it brings together contemporary artists who open windows into the flows and exchanges between the two regions. A trilingual publication is also being released, featuring interviews with the artists and essays by academics and cultural scholars.

Dyala Nusseibeh, Director, Abu Dhabi Art said “this is our biggest edition to date. In the last few years, new collectors who have moved to the UAE, are bringing their footfall. Museums too are acquiring works and we are happy to connect them and artists to each other. As for myself, I like to speak to new galleries, see new work ... it is a continual rediscovery.” Abu Dhabi Art is a catalyst for the burgeoning UAE art market, increasingly culturally networked with the Global South. It is the culmination of the fair’s year-long programme, which includes artist residencies, artist commissions and exhibitions, and educational outreach.