Shorts!
Alliance Francaise presents a free, two-day festival of short movies. As well an Oscar winner (witty animation Logorama) and a street art masterpiece (Blu’s mesmerising Big Bang Big Boom), and a handful of Emirati films, including The Philosopher, which stars legendary French actor Jean Reno.
Free. June 1 & 2. CineStar, Marina Mall. See the full programme at www.af-aboudabi.net
Symphony of Letters and Colors
Abu Dhabi’s Abdul Aziz Al Fadli displays a selection of his brightly coloured paintings, inspired by the works of Arabian and Turkish calligraphy masters. Though his background is mostly in theatre, poetry and writing, Al Fadli’s relatively recent foray into painting has already drawn a huge amount of praise, so get down early if you fancy nabbing a piece for yourself.
Free. Til June 19. Khalidiya Palace Rotana
Truth
A month-long showcase of three established and upcoming Middle Eastern artists, whose work aims to channel personal experiences and discoveries. Emirati Fatema Al Mazrouie, who works mainly in mixed-media collage, will be displaying new work, while British-Iranian Kourosh Salehi and Iraqi-Dutch Nedim Kufi are also on the bill.
Free. Til June 17. Salwa Zeidan Gallery
Experiments & Objects: 1979-2011
Very few Emirati artists can boast bodies of work as extensive as Hassan Sharif’s. For the past thirty years, the enigmatic and mildly eccentric creative has been experimenting with all manner of domestic items, from sponge footballs to rubber sandals, typically crafting them into distorted, amorphous bundles. This, his first ever Abu Dhabi solo show, is a collection of the most intriguing. Sure, it won’t be to everyone’s taste, but those with an open mind ought to agree that it’s the most fascinating exhibition the capital has enjoyed in ages.
Free. Until June 17. Qasr Al Hosn, Al Nasr Street
Splendours of Mesopotamia
Months after the show was first announced, the wait is finally over for Abu Dhabi’s history buffs. This new exhibition boasts scores of priceless ancient artefacts discovered in the area covering modern day Iraq and Syria, including decadent golden jewellery, intricately carved statues and massive stone reliefs. Such heavyweight shows are a rarity in the city, so get stuck in while you can.
Free. Til June 27. Manarat Al Saadiyat
