With the pandemic at play, the art world came to a halt for months on end. The Middle East’s scene witnessed the same fate, with the region’s biggest events having been cancelled, postponed—or at best, readapted to the digital realm. That was the case for Art Dubai’s, which held an entirely online edition last March.
As for this year, the art fair announced that it will make a return with a physical fair for their 2021 edition, which is set to take place in March 17-20. But ahead of it all, Art Dubai announced a new online solo artist exhibitions programme to give viewers a peak into the upcoming fair.
The new programme, which kicked off on September 29 and is entitled ‘Art Dubai Portrait Exhibition’, will run a solo exhibition every two weeks featuring some of the Global South’s best artists, with a particular focus on the Middle East and its diaspora.
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Kicking it off is ‘A Universal Alphabet’, a showcase by artist Timo Nasseri featuring his latest works, featuring works that explore geometric patterns and their meanings. The exhibitions that follow will showcase the works of Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, London-based pioneering Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi, who is known for pushing the modern Arab art scene forward, as well as Amman and Dubai based artist duo Naqsh Collective.
For their physical edition in March, Art Dubai will return to its home of Madinat Jumeirah. But it’s moving beyond it too, part of the fair’s programme will be presented in different cities across the UAE to celebrate the Gulf nation’s 50th anniversary. Taking into consideration the necessary safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the fair will take a new format with a host of outdoor events.
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Main image: Dia al-Azzawi, After Sunset, 2018, Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 150 cm
