Art Dubai is set to unfold from March 1-3 at the enchanting Madinat Jumeirah. As one of Dubai’s most anticipated art events of the year, ahead of this eagerly awaited event, we sat down with the annual exhibition’s artistic director, Pablo Del Val to delve into the intricacies of this year’s showcase. From the genesis of its overarching themes and the meticulous artist selection process to the burgeoning influence of technology in the art world, we explore every facet of the 17th edition of Art Dubai.
To begin, could you share with us the inspiration behind centering this year’s focus on Global South artists?
The core of Art Dubai’s mission lies in the celebration and exploration of art and communities from the Global South– encompassing Latin America, the Middle East, Africa to South and South East Asia– all of which contribute to the identity of Dubai. Alongside curating and showing the top modern and contemporary art, Art Dubai undertakes the responsibility to continually question, challenge, and redefine art history by shining the light on the unexplored. One of our key objectives has been to distinguish Art Dubai from other international art fairs by being a platform for true discovery. How do we go about it? We aim to amplify the voices and energies of artists not commonly featured in mainstream Western fairs. While most fairs allocate just 5% to art from these regions, Art Dubai has over 65% Global South representation, and in doing so, we’re redefining what it means to be a “global” art platform.
Amidst the array of Art Dubai editions, what sets this year’s installment apart?
Over the last 17 years, Art Dubai has played an instrumental role in shaping the artistic landscape of the region, particularly from the perspective of the Global South. This year, our commitment goes even further as we delve into questioning the very definition of the Global South. Is it merely a geographic region, or rather a community united by a shared history and creative expression? We are presenting more than 120 presentations drawn from over 60 cities and spanning more than 40 countries across our four sections: Contemporary, Bawwaba, Art Dubai Modern, and Art Dubai Digital. Each section proudly showcases the stories and voices of artists from the Global South, representing cities such as Sao Paulo, Cairo, Tehran, Beirut, New Delhi, London, Paris, and New York, among others.
Could you shed some light on the meticulous process you underwent to select the artists for this year’s showcase? What were the guiding principles behind your choices? Could you walk us through the curation process behind this year’s Art Dubai?
Art Dubai sets itself apart from other art fairs with its distinctive and meticulously curated approach to presenting art. Each participant applies to a specific fair section, goes through a rigorous selection process and pays a participation fee. Applications are reviewed by the fair’s management team and Selection Committee comprised of experts who assist us in decision-making, including Andrée Sfeir-Semler, founder of Sfeir-Semler Gallery; Priyanka Raja, co-founder of Experimenter; and Ursula Krinzinger, founder of Galerie Krinzinger. Upon selection, galleries pay for floor space at the fair. Our Artistic Director and team work closely with galleries to ensure top-tier curation that meets international standards.
How do you envision this year’s theme sparking meaningful dialogue, and what specific conversations do you hope to foster through the exhibition?
The fair is an important forum for critical cultural dialogue, and we do so through our programme of talks and conferences, the largest at any international art fair. At the forefront is the fair’s flagship two-day thought -leadership conference, the Global Art Forum, commissioned by Shumon Basar, which will bring together leading artists, creative thinkers, and critics to discuss the environment on a macro and philosophical scale, particularly in the context of the UAE’s recent hosting of COP28. From discussions and polemics to lectures, the forum will serve as a meeting place for renowned speakers such as Dr. Stephanie Rosenthal, director of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project; Anne Holtrop, architect of Muharraq; artist Monira Al Qadiri; Samir Bantal, architect and director of AMO at OMA; Nadia Christidi, researcher and arts practitioner at MIT, Cambridge; and others.
Complementing our Art Dubai Modern section are a series of Modern Talks, presented in partnership with Dubai Collection, will bring out important yet overlooked aspects of art history, bringing to the forefront the greats of modern art from regions such as Syria, Uganda, Azerbaijan to Sri Lanka, who traveled and studied in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s, bringing back and shaping new modernisms in their home countries. On the other end, the Digital Summit will build upon the foundations laid by Art Dubai Digital. It will bring together international and local industry leaders to discuss and debate the expanding digital art ecosystem, highlighting Dubai’s unique position within it.
Similarly, we’re keen to foster passion for collecting and to educate the growing community of art buyers about the art scene. The fair will have a series of Collector Talks featuring leading individual and institutional collectors who are driving cultural shifts in emerging centers, including Sunil Munjal, Mohammed Afkhami, Nisreen Bajis, and Hiba S. Nesr. They will share insights into the role of patrons in creating and sustaining dynamic art ecosystems, as well as address pertinent themes such as identity, representation, and cultural heritage. Not just this, the fair will host a children’s programme in collaboration with A.R.M. Holding– the largest of its kind– led by international artists, encouraging children to use art and creativity to engage with society around them. This year, Indian artist Sahil Naik will run workshops on ecology and nature, exploring how younger generations imagine, design, and participate in future cities. Post-fair, this programme will expand to over 100 schools, reaching more than 15,000 students across the seven emirates, making it the most ambitious education initiative in the UAE.
What overarching themes or concepts did you aim to explore through the selection of artworks for this exhibition?
Throughout Art Dubai 2024, there will be a focused examination of themes such as healing, which is woven, starting with our Bawwaba section. Curated by Emiliano Valdes, Bawwaba will have 10 powerful artist presentations that look at personal and societal transformations through a range of artistic practices, including painting, sculpture, video and performance. Artists include Debashish Paul, a contemporary Indian visual and performance artist, Nicolas Janowski, a lens-based artist and anthropologist from Buenos Aires, and Afghani-Indian artist Arshi Ahmadzai, the section will also feature Laxmipriya Panigrahi, Mirna Bamieh,
AVAF—Assume Vivid Astro Focus, Manuel Chavajay, Manjot Kaur, and Abul Hisham, each contributing their unique perspectives and mediums to the overarching theme of healing. For the first time, the theme of healing will be incorporated into Art Dubai Commissions, featuring performances and experiences created by leading artists such as Cecilia Bengolea, Sajan Mani, Debashish Paul, Mirna Bamieh, Mithu Sen, and Hashel Lamki. Each artist will explore various facets of the healing process, advocating for both internal and external change, with the aim of creating spaces for contemplation and introspection.
Other major commissions at the fair, which draw on themes of introspection, moments of deep observation, and healing, include the Swiss wealth management group Julius Baer commissioning the renowned multidisciplinary artist Krista Kim to create a new and highly immersive digital installation titled “Heart Space” which maps heartbeats and reflects them on screen. Additionally, Clinique La Prairie has commissioned a new sculpture inspired by sunsets from Syrian artist Sara Naim, and BMW has commissioned Asma Belhamar to design a large projection room.
How do you see the role of technology evolving in the curation and presentation of art exhibitions in the future?
It’s a key aspect of our lives and contemporary art. This year, digital art experts and curators Alfredo Cramerotti and Auronda Scalera, will curated Art Dubai Digital, highlighting intersection of technology and the “phygital” dimension of reality through AR, VR, robotics and immersive installations, featuring cutting-edge art and artists working with advanced technologies from the Global South, including many women.
Art Dubai retains its status as the first and singular global art fair with a designated digital section. We saw what was once a trend and has now turned into an enduring part of contemporary artistic expression– and the aim of the section is to offer a 360 view into the digital art world.
At the fair, we’re tracing the history of digital art through presentations by pioneers such as Manfred Mohr, Claudia Hart, and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, showcased by Bitform Gallery; Immaterika Gallery’s spotlight on the father of Video art and digital art, Fabrizio Plessi; and MORROW collective’s showcase of Kevin McCoy, credited as the artist behind the world’s first NFT titled “Quantum.” Additionally, new rising talents such as IX Shells, Genesis Kai, Vakki, and Florencia Bruck are highlighted, showcasing the untapped potential of female creators in reshaping the artistic landscape.
How do you navigate the delicate balance between preserving the integrity of individual artworks and creating a cohesive narrative or experience within the exhibition space?
I have always believed that structuring the fair to provide visitors with a clear guide helps them navigate it more comprehensively. Creating distinct sections with a specific focus allows them not to get lost in the gallery halls, creating a more cohesive experience. Public programmes including talks, workshops, performances and guided tours also help in enriching and inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the world of art.
What strategies do you employ to ensure that the exhibition reflects and engages with contemporary social and political issues?
Engaging with social and political issues is a choice of the artists. It is not up to us or the gallery that represents the artists to encourage or suggest. Every act and move we make in life is a political act. What an artist comments or decides not to comment is a social and political stand. You just need to open your eyes and make your own readings.
What’s one thing you can tell MILLE about this year’s edition?
If you leave prejudgments home and attend Art Dubai with open eyes you will discover a world of endless connections as humans. The fair is a huge canvas where you find parts of deep and true connection. From healing to global warming, from social isolation to displacement… your eye, your choice.
Who do you think are the most promising up and coming artists from the region? Could you name a few and why do you think so?
With over 400 artists exhibiting at the fair, and a good proportion of those from the region, it would be extremely difficult to highlight just one or two– especially as the scene here is growing and maturing so quickly. I would highly recommend visitors make a special effort to visit “Encounters,” which will be an important exhibition of Emirati artists at the fair, drawn from Dubai Collection and it’s a who’s who of the biggest and most established names, as well as some of the best young talent.
