When people think of Dubai, they usually think of ‘the world’s tallest tower’ but forget that Dubai’s burgeoning art scene is booming. As the official home to the region’s most prestigious (and critically acclaimed) art fair, ART Dubai – it’s firmly cemented Dubai on the international art map.
This year’s ART Dubai—the 12th edition and largest to date—will run from March 21st until the 24th, welcoming over 105 galleries from a gargantuan 48 countries.
The Middle East’s most influential art fair is also on a mission to support and promote art from the entire region, with representation from galleries across North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, such as Sfeir-Semler Gallery (Beirut, Hamburg), Athr Gallery (Jeddah), Galerist (Istanbul), Selma Feriani Gallery (Tunis, London) and Gypsum Gallery (Cairo), to name but a few.
Whether you’re a contemporary art connoisseur or a rookie, art fairs can be nothing short of overwhelming, so MILLE rounds up this year’s must-sees
Residents
Residents is ART Dubai’s latest addition. The new section—which debuts this year— sees a number of emerging and established international artists present a body of work across varying mediums that represents their time spent immersed in the UAE, where they’ve been engaging with the local communities during 4-8 week residencies over the last few months.
The Room – Good Morning GCC
Khaleeji art collective GCC are taking over The Room— an interactive, immersive installation that takes place at the fair—this year with their immersive performance piece that sees the collective recreate a live TV show on site every day of the fair.
The Global Art Forum
The Global Art Forum is a unique art conference, where culture is critically observed and examined by bringing together multi-disciplinary experts from the art industry and academia, who will debate about our era’s current issues. This year’s discussion is entitled I Am Not a Robot – an exploration of the opportunities, challenges and limits of technological development and A.I in respect to the art world.
We recommend:
I AM NOT WESTERN AI: ANIMALS, ALIENS, AND ALTERNATE PHILOSOPHIES OF MIND
A lecture and conversation hosted by Noah Raford.
(21 March, 2.45pm ART Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah, Fort Island)
I AM/NOT A ROBOT
Performance by artist and dancer Isabel Lewis and artist Asad Raza.
(22 March, 6pm, ART Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah, Fort Island)
Alserkal Avenue Galleries
Alserkal Avenue, Dubai’s art hub located in Al Quoz, which is home to endless warehouses and galleries is the official off-schedule ART Dubai spot you shouldn’t miss.
We recommend:
Carbon 12 Gallery
Carbon 12 Gallery is well known for promoting and nurturing established and emerging artists on the UAE contemporary art scene.
The gallery will be exhibiting Umbra, a solo show by Portuguese painter Cortesão, whose paintings complicate the spectator’s status, as he becomes tangled up by its proximity to it.
Carbon 12 can also be found at Booth 1 ART Dubai, exhibiting seven artists from its comprehensive program. Be sure not to miss Iranian-German artist Anahita Razmi’s installation Breaking #1, where an installation of cathode ray tube televisions projecting the word ‘NEWS’ in high contrast, on a continuous loop will be on display.
If you’re hungry, head to Hapi for a bite – it’s the MILLE team’s favourite food spot in Alserkal.
Sharjah Art Foundation
The Sharjah Art Foundation, located in Sharjah’s historic heritage site, opens up with five exhibitions on 16th March by artists Latif Al Ani, Anna Boghighuian, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim and Zineb Sedira.
We recommend:
March Meeting 2018 – Active Forms (17-19 March 2018)
Active Forms is an exhibition that explores issues of resistance. Over the three days of March Meeting 2018 (an annual gathering of artists, art professionals and institutions), the foundation will present a series of presentations, talks and performances examining the idea and ideology of resistance.
Inked Dubai – La Casa Azul
Inked Dubai—the creative platform that offers food in conceptual ways—is hosting a series of pop-up dinners from March 19th until the 24th that will use a 360° multimedia immersive food experience to recreate the universe of Frida Kahlo.
