500 artists are coming to one huge location for a four-day celebration of talent both old and new. But why should you visit Art Dubai?
Whether you’ve never set foot in a gallery or could spot a fake Mona Lisa at a hundred paces, Art Dubai offers the chance to polish your understanding and appreciation of art in its many mediums. Taking place at Madinat Jumeirah from March 19 to 22, Art Dubai offers visitors the chance to see works by more than 500 artists from over 35 different countries. Since the fair first began eight years ago it has welcomed more than 200,000 visitors, and the organisers are hoping that this year will attract even more than last year’s impressive 25,000-strong crowd.
For the first time in its eight-year run, the fair is divided into three distinct gallery halls, titled Contemporary, Marker and Modern. Contemporary is the international part of the show, with around 70 galleries from across the world participating and exhibiting works for sale. You can expect to see galleries from destinations ranging from Jeddah, Casablanca, Jakarta and Seoul to Paris, Berlin, New York, London and Dubai.
The ‘Marker’ section represents Art Dubai’s commitment to cultural diversity and history, and this year is focussed on the Central Asia and the Caucasus. With some of the most influential and important artworks from the region forming part of the exhibition, you’ll enjoy the rare opportunity to see and learn about the culture of the Caucasus and the relevance of Central Asia to the Muslim world and the Middle East.
Brand new to this year’s event is ‘Modern’ – a special section entirely dedicated to art from the twentieth century.
What to see
Watch moving images
An Arab-centric collaboration between the Dubai International Film Festival and the Sharjah Art Foundation, a selection of films will be screened during the fair which explore the relationship between art and cinema. The screenings will take place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai and at the Mirage City Cinema in Sharjah. For more information visit www.artdubai.ae/film/2014
Attend a free forum
Taking place from March 19 to 21 during Art Dubai, the Global Art Forum 2014 focuses on a theme of ‘Meanwhile… History’. Described as a journey through known and unknown histories, the forum – commissioned by Shumon Basar, Omar Berrada and Ala Younis – intends to create a timeline of turning points in history, looking closely and significant decades, years, days, minutes and seconds that altered our understanding of the world. Entry is free and open to all.
Check out never-before-seen artwork
Make sure you don’t miss the works from the five artists selected to create special commissioned pieces for an exhibition at Art Dubai in The Arbaaj Group Art Prize 2014. Iranians Abbas Akhavan and Kamrooz Aram, Anup Matthew Thomas from India and Moroccan artist Basim Magdy, were awarded the special accolade on June 11 last year. Since then, the prize winners have been working closely with 2014’s guest curator, Naza Raza, on their special projects which will be on display for the first time at Art Dubai.
Tune in to a special radio station
For a better understanding of the artworks and participants in Art Dubai, tune into the free digital radio, which will be running throughout the week. A special guest presenter will be conducting interviews and holding discussions with both local and international artists and curators from the fair, as well as airing special sound art projects that have been created specifically for Art Dubai. You can tune into the web stream on Art Dubai’s website.
View art after dark
On Monday March 17, art galleries across the city will host late-night openings of new exhibitions as part of Galleries Nights, which also sees performances by local musicians and other celebrations of art taking place across town. The events take place across the city’s more than 40 galleries in Al Quoz and Dubai International Financial Centre.
For more information on all of these, visit www.artdubai.ae.
Essential attending info
Opening times
Wednesday March 19
1pm-4pm Art Dubai Ladies’ Preview
3pm-6pm Global Art Forum
4pm-9.30pm Art Dubai Opening (invitation only)
Thursday March 20
3pm-6pm Global Art Forum
4pm-9.30pm Art Dubai Programme and Gallery Halls
Friday March 21
2pm-9.30pm Art Dubai Programme and Gallery Halls
3pm-6pm Global Art Forum
Saturday March 22
Noon-6.30pm Art Dubai Programme and Gallery Halls
Admission fees
One-day pass Dhs50
Three-day pass Dhs80
Free for children under the age of 18, free for university students who present their student ID.
Location
Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Road, Umm Suqeim, Dubai www.artdubai.ae (04 358 7121).
