A digital commission by Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem and a series of performances and site-specific installations by Mexican artist Hector Zamora are among the highlights to expect at this year's Art Dubai.
The fair will take place place at Madinat Jumeirah from April 18 to 20, with invitation-only previews on April 16 and 17. More than 120 exhibitors will be participating at the event.
"For nearly two decades, Art Dubai has played two complementary roles, as the region’s leading commercial art platform and as a unique institution that is rooted in and significantly contributes to the local cultural ecosystem,” says Pablo del Val, artistic director of Art Dubai.
“This year’s programme continues this long-term approach, working in partnership with local institutions, business and government to create new opportunities for artists, and enhancing Dubai’s reputation as a centre of innovation and thought leadership.”
Art Dubai has now revealed the first details of its talk programme, as well as the commissioned works that will be revealed at the fair.
The works
Transformation is a focus of the Art Dubai Commissions programme this year. Zamora has interpreted this idea with sculptural pieces and group performances that interact with the terracotta objects. The artist will also unveil a site-specific installation at Alserkal Avenue. The work marks a new partnership between Art Dubai and Alserkal as the two organisations co-commission an artist whose practices are rooted in performance.
A series of digital artworks, meanwhile, reflect on the theme: After the Technological Sublime. The works examine how technological advancements instill awe for human achievements, but they also evoke anxiety as the systems go beyond our control and distract us from vital environment, social, cultural and political challenges.
Ouchhh Studio, for instance, will return to the fair to present MotherEarth. The AI-driven data sculpture transmutes raw climate data – such as air quality and CO2 emissions – into a sensory experience. Breakfast, a data artist living and working in New York, will exhibit Carbon Wake, a kinetic installation that is digitally controlled and makes use of real-time energy data collected from around the world to show the impact of individual choices.
Other highlights include Retreat by Italian artist Jacopo Di Cera. The work underscores climate issues by showing the melting of the Brenva glacier in the Italian Alps in a four-metre-tall piece comprising more than 30 screens. Dubai's Hybrid Xperience, meanwhile, will give audiences a chance to visualise their dreams using AI technology.
In Kahrabaa, Arabic for electricity, Ania Soliman presents a large-scale installation that was created in response to Beirut’s ongoing energy crisis. Soliman, who has Egyptian, Polish and American backgrounds, presents her work on a five-metre-high canvas, which features technological and organic materials.
Total Arts at the Courtyard will present Reconstructed Landscape, a work that brings together various found objects from UAE’s mountains and urban environments into an imagined topology.
Kazem will unveil a digital commission presented by Swiss wealth management company Julius Baer. The installation is titled Directions (Merging). The work places Dubai’s co-ordinates in the centre of a walled, immersive space. The walls present a collection of static co-ordinates against a backdrop of rolling waves. The work touches upon resource exchange and the interconnectedness in the modern world, while also reflecting on Dubai’s evolution as global hub.
Piaget is also returning to the fair to present a commission by Kuwaiti artist Alymamah Rashed. The work will be in Rashed’s idiosyncratic surrealist style and will be part of Piaget’s exhibition Play of Shape, which will present boldly designed jewellery and watch collections.
The talks
Art Dubai is also known for its talk programme. This year, its Global Art Forum will examine the ever-changing nature of the modern world and how it may instill uncertainty and anxiety about the future. The forum will be held under the title The New New Normal.
Panels will tackle developments in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, gamified economics and cultural geopolitics. They will also look at beauty and luxury industries and the impact of social media on personal and political spaces. Cultural figures taking part will include architect Rem Koolhaas and artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan.
The Digital Summit will also return for its second year. A part of Art Dubai Digital, the sessions will explore the theme After the Technological Sublime. The programme will be a platform to discuss how art and technology are meeting critical environmental, social, cultural and political issues.
The Collector Talks will, on the other hand, explore whether the practice and motivation of collecting has shifted recently. The sessions will examine whether contemporary collectors have bolstered goals beyond personal gratification, and are now instead motivated by other drivers.
Finally, Art Dubai’s Modern Talks will also return. The programme has been a staple of the fair and is dedicated to promoting scholarship and highlighting art histories that have not had their due attention. The talks will explore cultural connections between West Asia, North Africa and Latin America. It delves into their shared experiences and explores how artists today are using heritage as a tool to reflect upon contemporary realities.
Both Art Dubai’s Collector and Modern Talks are presented in partnership with Dubai Collection, the city’s institutional collection of modern and contemporary art.
Other talks include a new Conversations with Artists series, which will highlight the processes of artists participating at the fair, and a conversation series by Huna – a food, art and culture platform – that will have leading cultural voices from the UAE discuss their lives and practices.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20profile
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Healthy tips to remember
Here, Dr Mohamed El Abiary, paediatric consultant at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, shares some advice for parents whose children are fasting during the holy month of Ramadan:
Gradual fasting and golden points - For children under the age of 10, follow a step-by-step approach to fasting and don't push them beyond their limits. Start with a few hours fasting a day and increase it to a half fast and full fast when the child is ready. Every individual's ability varies as per the age and personal readiness. You could introduce a points system that awards the child and offers them encouragement when they make progress with the amount of hours they fast
Why fast? - Explain to your child why they are fasting. By shedding light on the importance of abstaining from food and drink, children may feel more encouraged to give it there all during the observance period. It is also a good opportunity to teach children about controlling urges, doing good for others and instilling healthy food habits
Sleep and suhoor - A child needs adequate sleep every night - at least eight hours. Make sure to set a routine early bedtime so he/she has sufficient time to wake up for suhoor, which is an essential meal at the beginning of the day
Good diet - Nutritious food is crucial to ensuring a healthy Ramadan for children. They must refrain from eating too much junk food as well as canned goods and snacks and drinks high in sugar. Foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins and proteins, like fruits, fresh meats and vegetables, make for a good balanced diet
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The schedule
December 5 - 23: Shooting competition, Al Dhafra Shooting Club
December 9 - 24: Handicrafts competition, from 4pm until 10pm, Heritage Souq
December 11 - 20: Dates competition, from 4pm
December 12 - 20: Sour milk competition
December 13: Falcon beauty competition
December 14 and 20: Saluki races
December 15: Arabian horse races, from 4pm
December 16 - 19: Falconry competition
December 18: Camel milk competition, from 7.30 - 9.30 am
December 20 and 21: Sheep beauty competition, from 10am
December 22: The best herd of 30 camels
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)
Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)
Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)
Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
FIXTURES
Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)
Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
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The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
