We watched jealously from the aisles as Doha’s Mathaf Museum of Modern Arabic Art opened last November: the chance to see 500-plus artists in one visit is something we can only dream of. Apart from, of course, during one week every November when canvas-gazers can get their fill at Art Abu Dhabi. Just can’t wait? Don’t worry – our neighbours have got us covered. Next week Madinat Jumeirah will become a vast museum of art, with more than 500 artists (take that Mathaf!) represented in 81 galleries from 34 countries. That’s almost too much art to take in on one visit – which is why we recommend you head to Dubai and make a weekend of it; you and more than 18,000 other visitors.
What can I do?
Be a part of a discussion of art and fashion
From March 16-18, the Global Art Forum will present a series of talks (more suitable for those with an active interest in art) under the titles ‘Fascination: When Art Met Fashion’, ‘On Collecting’ and ‘Changing Audiences’. Speakers include editor-in-chief of Art Forum Jack Bankowsky, ‘the artist with a camera in his head’ Wafaqa Bilal and superstar curator Hans Ulrich Obrist among many others. This free initiative, now several years old, has rendered Art Dubai an event where many ideas converge and develop.
2pm-5pm, March 16-March 18, Fort Island, Madinat Jumeirah
Buy art that you can afford
New to Art Dubai this year is the DXB store, a not-for-profit space selling limited edition products, artists’ multiples and newly commissioned objects. It will likely be the best museum store you’ve ever visited.
Running throughout Art Dubai
See site-specific installations
Site-specific is a fancy way of saying a piece that is designed with the location in mind. Three young artists have been commissioned by the fair to create installations examining the nature of art fairs. The three are the Iranian Abbas Akhavan (pictured below painting his gold leaf map of Dubai); the Jordanian Oraib Toukan, known for her mixed media works that critique political structures, and Syrian photographic artist Hrair Sarkissian: his haunting images of the empty sites of capital punishment in three different Syrian cities stand out.
To be found around Art Dubai throughout the fair
Get on the bus
Stepping outside of the Madinat Arena, the Art Bus is a great initiative because a) it means you don’t have to stress about finding all the galleries and b) the guided tours mean you’ll learn a lot more than if you were to take yourself around the city’s exhibitions, sans-guide. The bus itself is a work of art – its exteriors feature exclusive works from Emirati artists Zeinab Alhashemi, Sheikha bin Daina and Saeed Al-Madani. On March 16-19 buses will be running to the Sharjah Biennal, departing Souk Madinat Jumeirah at 10am and heading to Al Qasba which houses the Maraya Art Centre, the Barjeel Art Foundation and the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. After lunch it will head to the Sharjah Biennial, a great chance to see the commissioned artist projects. One bus will head back at 5pm, and the other after the Biennial’s evening performances. From March 17-19 there will also be two buses: one heading to Al Quoz, and one to Al Bastakiya and DIFC – both leave at 10am and feature lunch stops as well as more than a dozen galleries.
See www.artinthecity.com for more or visit www.timeouttickets.com to buy a ticket for Dhs50 (that doesn’t include lunch though).
See very expensive art
The Abraaj Capital Art Prize is the only prize specifically aimed at the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, and the only prize in the world to reward proposals rather than completed works. This year five (it’s normally three) creative minds have been tasked with taking their share of the Dhs3.7 million prize money and creating something special. This year we’ll see works from Kuwaiti artist Hamra Abbas, Iraqi Jananne Al-Ani, Pakistani-Indian Brit Shezad Dawood, Tunisian Nadia Kaabi Linke and Iranian/German Timo Nasseri. The works will cover all media and are sure to be something special. Works are unveiled at the start of the fair and they will be dotted throughout the Madinat Jumeirah.
See www.abraajcapitalartprize.com for more information.
The low-down
Tuesday, March 15
7pm-9.30pm – Patron’s Preview (invitation only)
Wednesday, March 16
11.30am-3pm – Ladies’ only preview
4pm-9.30pm – Opening night (invitation only)
Thursday, March 17
4pm-9.30pm – Public Day
Friday, March 18
12pm-7.30pm – Public Day
Saturday, March 19
12-m-5.30pm – Public Day
Art Dubai is held at the Madinat Arena, admission Dhs50, and tickets can be bought at the door. For more information see www.artdubai.ae or pick up Time Out’s Art Week supplement.
