ART IN ABU DHABI

ABU DHABI WELCOMES ART FOR THE ELEVENTH YEAR
BY SARA DARLING

Think of Abu Dhabi, and contemporary art might not be the first thing that springs to mind. However the ultra modern skyscrapers, mega shopping malls, and the vast Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, sheltered beneath white-marble domes, featuring an immense Persian carpet and crystal chandeliers- demonstrates it is a country that is not shy of expressing itself.

This November sees the eleventh art fair, which takes place across the city. More than a traditional art fair, the local culture is celebrated and there is an emphasis on contemporary and emerging local artists- with workshops, talks and events, to celebrate this unique and fast-changing city.  

The annual showcase presents both contemporary and established artists from more than 40 international galleries and the 2019 edition will include Dubai-based artists Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian, who will be leading the Beyond: Emerging Artists programme; Paolo Colombo, the internationally renowned curator of Gateway programme; Dr Omar Kholeif, who will return to Abu Dhabi Art to curate the Focus sector for the third year; Jerome Sans who will curate a new section called New Horizons China, as well as gallerist Ashwin Thadani who will introduce new galleries from India to Abu Dhabi for the first time, in New Horizons: India.

With Abu Dhabi Art’s participating galleries showcasing photography and paintings by emerging artists- as well as limited edition prints by established artists; There will be a range of workshops offering an introduction for first time art buyers, which offer an accessible way for interested parties to discover and engage with the art world.

Outside of the main show space, there are site specific installations commissioned around the city. Oliver Beer and Leandro Erlich are two artists who have produced site-specific contemporary art to attract new audiences to historic sites in Al Ain.  

There will also be After Dark nocturnal robots, which will leave Europe for the first time, and enable web users anywhere in the world to control and roam Abu Dhabi Art after it has closed to visitors.

The show takes place across the city from
Thursday 21 November to Saturday 23 November 2019
Venue: Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Cultural District
https://www.abudhabiart.ae/en/Artfair.aspx