Behind the many doors that were closed by the pandemic, many of the UAE’s art spaces did not stop working. Warehouse421 was no exception.
The Abu Dhabi art and design centre reopened this month after shuttering in March. During that five-month closure, it was able to launch a Covid-19 relief fund for artists, a residency programme, a podcast and a focus-group initiative, all while pushing ahead with its annual Salama bint Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship (Seaf) exhibition.
“A lot of the projects that we launched were not an immediate reaction. There was a lot of thought behind them,” Faisal Al Hassan, head of Warehouse421, says. “We started to think of different modes of connectivity and the work that we do and not immediately go for an aggressive online dump of everything we have,” he adds.
In May, Warehouse421 created the Project Revival Fund to help keep local and regional artistic production going. The centre received more than 150 applications from which 30 projects were chosen and granted packages of up to $2,000 (Dh7,300) per applicant.
The accepted applications came from all over the region, including Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria and Turkey. Six projects from Sri Lanka were chosen, one of which will be included at 2021's Colomboscope, a contemporary arts festival.
“We weren’t looking for anything in return for these projects. We wanted to make sure that creative production continues while we are struggling to restart,” Al Hassan says, which means that the works were not acquired by Warehouse421 and were not required to be shown at the space.
Shortly after, Warehouse421 kicked off its first residency programme. Already in the works before Covid-19, the programme initially called for Menasa artists to complete the residency in Abu Dhabi. But because of the pandemic it was transformed into a “home-bound” residency, focusing on artists working on digital and research-based projects. The programme offers each resident a production budget of Dh30,000. Details on the residents and projects will be announced next month.
Al Hassan says the adjustment allowed creative practitioners to rethink the boundaries of who they could work with. “It provided a richer opportunity to get to a wider network of people, regionally and internationally. We were also able to pair the artists with mentors from all over the region,” he explains.
How we do complement the physical experience with the digital? The visitor experience now starts from home
Perhaps one of Warehouse421’s most innovative developments during lockdown was its weekly focus group programme, where the centre brought together artists, designers and curators for internal online discussions on challenges within the regional art scene and the impact of the pandemic on their practices.
Al Hassan says that one of the key issues artists raised was the struggle to find affordable studio space in the UAE, a problem that hinders their production. Other discussions centred around the new era of social distancing and how it affects collaborations between artists.
“We’re creating reports out of these focus groups that will inform our five-year strategy for 2021 to 2026,” he says. In this regard, Warehouse421’s focus group programme could be a significant example of how art spaces can be more engaged with local and regional creative communities.
The centre has also been busy preparing for its annual Seaf exhibition, a fellowship programme that has run for more than six years. Aimed at emerging artists in the UAE, it includes a 10-month educational programme with the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) that culminates in an annual show called Community and Critique.
Typically, the cohorts – the word Warehouse421 uses to describe the selected artists – meet with academics, attend lectures and go on studio visits and trips abroad. This year, however, those activities have been taken online.
Despite these changes in teaching modes, Al Hassan says that one of the positive outcomes of the situation was the involvement of previous Seaf fellows in online lectures and discussions. “We started to see a lot of the Seaf alumi come in and engage with the current fellows during the teaching weeks,” he says.
The show is scheduled to open on Saturday, November 7. When it comes to running an exhibition, Al Hassan says there are many things to consider in the age of coronavirus. This is where the digital world can be a big help. "Moving forward, how we do complement the physical experience with the digital? The visitor experience now starts from home," he says.
2020 is the year of coping, and we're starting to look at 2021 as the year of experimentation. This is the new reality that we are living in
Physical art spaces may no longer be the sites where discussions take place. The days of exhibition openings, where artists, writers and visitors gather to talk about the works, may be over – at least for the foreseeable future. Instead, Al Hassan imagines that visitors will read about the show online, come to the centre to see it and then continue with talks and other programming online.
For Al Hassan, it is about striking the right balance. “The physical experience of the exhibition is sacred to us, and that is a main challenge – how do we stay connected with our audiences and provide them with a rich experience that was not overbearing and not a disruption to them?”
Currently, Warehouse421 is operating at 40 per cent capacity, with thermal cameras and disinfection tunnels installed at the centre's entrance. As a new addition, the centre has commissioned artist Khalid Mezaina to illustrate Covid-19 precautionary guidelines that are shown in the space.
Emirati artist Hashel Al Lakmi's show The Cup and The Saucer, which opened in March, is still on view. It includes playful and otherworldly sculptures and installations that investigate ideas of individualism and collectivism. The show will run until Sunday, October 25.
There is also The Stonebreakers, a group show curated by Murtaza Vali, which explores maritime landscapes, specifically on the ship-breaking yards in South Asia. It is on view until the end of the year.
As Warehouse421 rolls on with its programming, Al Hassan and his team continue to reflect on how the ongoing pandemic will shape the way artists make art and the way visitors will experience it.
“The year of 2020 is the year of coping, and we’re starting to look at 2021 as the year of experimentation. This is the new reality that we are living in. Even post-Covid, things will not be the same,” he says. “We just need to be patient until we find the right formula where we can continue to have a physical space, go back to being social beings, but also making sure that the experience is right, with the digital and physical working together.”
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures and results:
Monday, UAE won by three wickets
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Virtual banks explained
What is a virtual bank?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.
What’s the draw in Asia?
Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.
Is Hong Kong short of banks?
No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The view from The National
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
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
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Nations League
League A, Group 4
Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
Company%20Profile
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FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate
Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
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