Latest news with #AbuDhabiArtFair
Al Etihad
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi Art unveils three new talents for Beyond Emerging Artists 2025 exhibition
16 July 2025 00:35 Abu Dhabi (ALETIHAD)Abu Dhabi Art has announced the artists participating in the annual 'Beyond Emerging Artists' programme, which commissions new work by up-and-coming UAE-based artists to exhibit at the fair each year's edition will be curated by internationally renowned artist Issam Kourbaj, who has invited Alla Abdunabi, Salmah Almansoori and Maktoum Marwan Al Maktoum to develop new commissions to be exhibited at the Abu Dhabi Art Fair, which will take place on November 19 to 23 at Manarat Al Saadiyat. The new works will also be exhibited internationally after the fair ends. Beyond Emerging Artists seeks to give UAE-based artists exposure, enabling them to benefit from a mentorship programme offered by the guest selected artists will share artwork that spans installation, sculpture and conceptual storytelling, exploring themes of identity, memory, materiality and the layered histories of place. Curator Kourbaj commented on the selection: 'It was challenging to select just three participants for the programme from amongst so many exciting emerging artists put forward. Like many creatives around the world, young artists in the region are directing their gaze toward excavating the present and engaging with urgent matters of our time, whether environmental, social or historical. 'I very much look forward to working with the three selected artists and guiding their visual voices as they develop a body of work inspired by Al Ain, both as a source and a canvas for new ideas.' Alla Abdunabi Abdunabi is a visual artist working in sculpture and installation. Her practice explores the afterlives of objects through storytelling that merges historical, personal and fictional narratives. She reflects on shifting histories and the material memory of place.'I'm honoured to be part of Beyond Emerging Artists this year,' said Abdunabi. 'With the support of Abu Dhabi Art and curated by Issam Kourbaj, I'll be exploring object histories in my presentation at the fair. In addition, through the Al Ain commission, I look forward to creating a site-specific work that listens to the buried histories of the land.'Marwan Al MaktoumAl Maktoum is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work explores the human condition through themes such as value, time, belief systems and the psyche. His practice is influenced by lived experience, folklore, storytelling, surrealism, language and metaphor.'I am honoured to have been selected as part of the Beyond Emerging Artists programme,' he said. 'I especially look forward to the mentorship of Issam Kourbaj and continuing the world-building approach of my work within the context of an art fair, as well as investigating the archaeological histories of our country in sites such as the ones found in Al Ain.' Salmah Almansoori Almansoori is a multi-disciplinary artist, whose practice spans painting, sculpture and installation. Her work documents what is being erased - abandoned places, forgotten objects and fading traditions. By collecting fragments from these sites and transforming them into abstract yet intimate narratives, she explores themes of displacement, identity and emotional inheritance.'I'm grateful to be part of Beyond Emerging Artists this year. This opportunity allows me to deepen my exploration of memory and place, and to share stories from my hometown that are often overlooked. With the guidance of Issam Kourbaj, I look forward to developing a new body of work that reflects on transformation, loss and belonging.' she Emerging Artists is sponsored by Abu Dhabi Art's global partner HSBC and supported by Friends of Abu Dhabi Art, a group of philanthropists committed to supporting the art ecosystem in the UAE and chaired by Asma Seddiq Al-Mutawa. Hong Kong Exhibition Abu Dhabi Art's global partner HSBC has announced that it will present works by the 2024 cohort of Beyond Emerging Artists in Hong Kong and London this year. The international exhibitions will feature works by the artists Fatma Al Ali, Dina Nazmi Khorchid, and Simrin Mehra Agarwal in a group show first curated by Lorenzo Fiaschi for Abu Dhabi Art last year. The exhibition will take place at Sotheby's Maison in Hong Kong from July 15 to 27 and afterwards in London. Spanning sculpture, sound, and textiles, the works reflect transformation, memory and the emotional connection between people and place. The travelling exhibition marks the Beyond programme's sixth international presentation and its first in East Asia. Afra Almteiri, Acting Abu Dhabi Art Programmes Unit Head, said: 'We are proud to present the 2025 edition of Beyond Emerging Artists in Hong Kong for the very first time, marking an exciting milestone in the programme's journey. 'With the generous support of HSBC, this exhibition not only showcases the creativity and vision of emerging UAE-based artists but also builds a vital cultural bridge between the UAE and Hong Kong. It reflects our commitment to fostering dialogue, discovery, and the global reach of contemporary art from our region.'
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Culture for Humanity and Beyond: Abu Dhabi Culture Summit debates the future of culture
The seventh annual Abu Dhabi Culture Summit will take place from 27 to 29 April, bringing designers, artists and culture leaders from around the world to the United Arab Emirates. The 2025 edition of the summit, supported by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, will explore 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond' as its central theme, questioning what the cultural landscape of the future could look like. The event will aim to uncover 'new perspectives as we navigate global technological transitions and build a sustainable future together', Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said in a statement. 'From heritage to creativity, culture is an expression of humanity that connects us through time. This year's theme challenges us to examine how technology has transformed this age-old relationship', said Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, which partners the summit. Other global partners include the Design Museum, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and the Recording Academy. The three-day event will feature conversations with artists including four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood and digital and mixed-media artist Refik Anadol, known for incorporating data and AI in his work. Experts will also gather for panels on issues like the role of AI in creative industries, culture as an instrument of global governance, and the preservation and rehabilitation of cultural heritage. The annual Culture Summit is part of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates' increasing efforts to become leaders in the global cultural conversation. In 2024, the Abu Dhabi Art Fair organised its largest-ever edition, welcoming 104 galleries, up from 92 in 2023. Abu Dhabi has also been investing in its Saadiyat Cultural District, with the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum in 2017 and the long-delayed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project. 'We believe that culture is the building block of any forward-thinking society. We believe it is principle for our youth', Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak told Euronews.
Euronews
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Culture for Humanity and Beyond: Abu Dhabi Culture Summit debates the future of culture
ADVERTISEMENT The seventh annual Abu Dhabi Culture Summit will take place from 27 to 29 April, bringing designers, artists and culture leaders from around the world to the United Arab Emirates. The 2025 edition of the summit, supported by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, will explore 'Culture for Humanity and Beyond' as its central theme, questioning what the cultural landscape of the future could look like. The event will aim to uncover 'new perspectives as we navigate global technological transitions and build a sustainable future together', Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said in a statement. 'From heritage to creativity, culture is an expression of humanity that connects us through time. This year's theme challenges us to examine how technology has transformed this age-old relationship', said Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO , which partners the summit. Other global partners include the Design Museum, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and the Recording Academy. The three-day event will feature conversations with artists including four-time Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood and digital and mixed-media artist Refik Anadol, known for incorporating data and AI in his work. Experts will also gather for panels on issues like the role of AI in creative industries, culture as an instrument of global governance, and the preservation and rehabilitation of cultural heritage. The annual Culture Summit is part of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates' increasing efforts to become leaders in the global cultural conversation. In 2024, the Abu Dhabi Art Fair organised its largest-ever edition, welcoming 104 galleries, up from 92 in 2023. Abu Dhabi has also been investing in its Saadiyat Cultural District, with the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum in 2017 and the long-delayed Guggenheim Abu Dhabi project. 'We believe that culture is the building block of any forward-thinking society. We believe it is principle for our youth', Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak told Euronews.
Al Etihad
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Bassam Freiha Art Foundation launches exhibitions by Italian artist Stefano Simontacchi (The Prism)
18 Mar 2025 15:41 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Bassam Freiha Art Foundation (BFAF) on Saadiyat Island, will host two new exhibitions by Stefano Simontacchi, the Italian artist more commonly known as 'The Prism.'Curated by PhD philosopher and contemporary art theorist Marco Senaldi, the exhibitions Project Oneness and Trust, Gratitude and Love Journey will showcase The Prism's perspective and extensive creative depth. The exhibitions will transform light and space to create memorable and immersive experiences. Featuring dynamic interplays between form and colour, circular compositions, and reflective surfaces that allow viewers to incorporate their own image into the pieces, the two exhibitions will also be accompanied by a series of engaging public on wellbeing, self-reflection and mindfulness, community members will have the chance to take part in sound healing sessions, guided meditations, yoga experiences, artist talks and interactive and Director of Exhibitions at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, Michaela Watrelot PhD, said, 'Project Oneness and Trust, Gratitude and Love Journey are dedicated to the work of The Prism, also known as Stefano Simontacchi, an artist who has a unique talent for utilising light and space in new and interesting ways. Whether through the use of illuminated panels or polished metallic surfaces, he uses light to transform his work into dynamic, interactive experiences, and we are excited to see how his pieces will challenge perceptions, initiate conversations, and bring the community together here at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island. Visitors will also have the chance to engage further with the exhibitions through various experiences that are focused on wellbeing, self-reflection and mindfulness, and we hope The Prism will further reinforce the connection between art and the people of Abu Dhabi, enhance awareness, and connect with family members of all ages.'Stefano Simontacchi, aka The Prism, said, 'Following the success of our appearance at Abu Dhabi Art Fair and The Prism's exhibitions in Italy and New York, I am immensely excited to bring my works to the beautiful Bassam Freiha Art Foundation. Designed to help viewers reconnect with their inner universe, discover a new appreciation for life, and feel inspired to discover their true purpose, all my pieces are drawn from deep contemplation and artistic reflection. Based on circular emblems and innovative use of light and space, I want the exhibitions to bring the community of Abu Dhabi closer to art, and help every individual find inner peace.'The first part of The Prism at BFAF explores the notions of perception and interconnectedness through an immersive, multi-room experience that challenges the typical notions of form, light and symbolic across three interconnected rooms, the first part of Project Oneness focuses on the concept of duality and emphasises mankind's connection with the second part then presents a space where colour, form and movement unfold without imposed separations, while the third features four works that each represent the essential elements – water, earth, air and fire. By the end of the exhibition, each viewer is left with a new sense and understanding of their Oneness with the Prism's second path symbolises the inner dynamism of Oneness. Located in the Annex Gallery, Trust, Gratitude and Love Journey explores why embracing the tools of Trust, Gratitude and Love allows individuals to connect with the energy of the universe. By integrating contemporary materials with timeless symbols, the exhibition provides a space for reflection, and it challenges the viewer to consider their place within a broader continuum of light, form, and meaning. The Prism will run at BFAF between 13 March – 31 August 2025. For more information, please visit the website:
