Latest news with #ArtDubai2025
Arab News
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
At Art Dubai, Pakistani artists find the space missing at home
KARACHI: Pakistani artists have been receiving increasing international recognition, but many still grapple with limited opportunities and visibility at home, a participant at a major Gulf art fair said this week. Her comments coincided with Art Dubai 2025, the Middle East's leading contemporary art fair, where 10 Pakistani artists are exhibiting their work this year. The event, running since 2007, draws galleries and collectors from across the globe and has become a vital platform for people with creative abilities in places like Pakistan. 'It's wonderful that we as artists who have been invisible because of the greater struggles of [our] country are visible through this platform in the Gulf,' said Faiza Butt, a London-based Pakistani artist currently attending the fair, told Arab News over the phone. 'It's really a matter of pride that despite all the odds, Pakistani artists continue to appear, and work and make themselves visible, especially female artists.' Butt maintained Pakistani artists are shaped by the country's complex realities, adding that is what gives their work its depth. 'Our social and political struggles really feed the artists' imagination,' she said. 'Art doesn't come from a happy place. So one of the reasons our artists are so strong is because our country has gone through a great deal of strife.' She also credited the country's mature art education institutions, such as the National College of Arts in Lahore and the Indus Valley School of Arts in Karachi, for nurturing generations of artists despite systemic challenges. Karachi-based visual artist Sana Arjumand, who is also exhibiting at the fair, echoed similar views. 'There is now more and more interest coming into Pakistani art because we are really making very good art,' she said. 'Because of so many different experiences here [in Pakistan], we have that informed kind of making of art. It's more vibrant and alive. It stands out as well — that is why more and more interest is coming here.' Arjumand, who studied painting at NCA, said her early work focused on self-reflection but has since evolved to include themes of Sufism, mysticism and human interconnectedness with nature. Her new work, presented at the fair, explores the idea that human behavior mirrors elements in the natural world. 'It's for everyone,' she said. 'It has a storyline that anybody can relate to.' A total of ten Pakistani artists, including one posthumously, are featured in the fair's Contemporary Art section. Among them is the late Sadequain, whose pioneering calligraphy and figurative works helped define Pakistan's post-Partition art movement and continue to influence generations of artists. Also exhibiting are Rasheed Araeen, a Karachi-born conceptualist known internationally for his contributions to British minimalist and postcolonial art, and Imran Qureshi, whose fusion of classical Mughal miniature techniques with contemporary themes has earned him acclaim worldwide. Other featured names include Anwar Saeed, celebrated for his explorations of identity and sexuality, and Shezad Dawood, a London-based multidisciplinary artist with Pakistani and Indian heritage. Butt is being represented by Grosvenor Gallery in London, which is exhibiting her work alongside that of Anwar Saeed under a shared curatorial concept focused on representations of the male form. 'The female figure is represented enough in the arts,' said Butt. 'Anwar and I both discuss the male form but with our own unique politics based on our unique ethnography. But we are both Pakistanis, and there are overlaps in our concerns.' She will also deliver a talk on behalf of Saeed, reflecting on his practice and political engagement through art. Despite global attention, Butt stressed that Pakistan lacks the institutional and financial infrastructure to support a thriving art scene. 'Art is a very priced project, and Pakistan cannot afford having art fairs or a very established art market,' she said. 'Pakistani artists get absorbed by galleries from other countries.' She described Art Dubai as a great opportunity for artists in her country. 'Dubai is a very stable financial hub of the Gulf region,' she continued. 'It has welcomed a great deal of migration from India and Pakistan. You get a diverse audience. It's a beautiful coming together, in a positive way, of ideas, culture and exchange of thought.'
Emirates Woman
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
Discover Piaget's first watch collection in 60 years at Art Dubai this weekend
Fashion by Aminath Ifasa 52 mins ago The late 1960s were a revolution – not just in culture, but in craftsmanship. It was the era when Piaget unveiled the 21st Century collection at the Basel Fair. Watches were no longer mere instruments; they became sculptural statements, their trapeze silhouettes a bold departure from convention. Sixty years later, that same spirit of avant-garde elegance returns with the Sixtie jewellery watch collection – a tribute to the swinging sixties, reimagined for the modern connoisseur. As the exclusive Watch and Jewellery Partner of Art Dubai 2025, Piaget bridges horology, high jewellery, and contemporary art with an exhibition that is as much about heritage as it is about innovation. Held at Madinat Jumeirah from 18-20 April, the Maison's booth is a study in refined artistry, structured around five pillars: Play of Shapes, House of Gold, Vibrant Colours, Ultra-Thin Mastery, and the Piaget Society. Here, timepieces transcend function, becoming wearable art, each a testament to Piaget's six-decade mastery of form, light, and movement. The Sixtie: A Cult Shape Reborn The star of this year's showcase is the Sixtie, a jewellery watch that distils the free-spirited femininity of the 1960s into a trapeze silhouette both geometric and delicate. More than a timekeeper, it is a talisman. Its a piece that adorns the wrist with the same instinctive allure as a high jewellery bracelet. The design, emerging from the Ateliers de l'Extraordinaire, is a masterclass in balance. Artistic Dialogues: Alymamah Rashed & Shamsa Alabbar Piaget's collaborations with artists have always been more than mere crossovers. They are conversations. This year, Kuwaiti surrealist Alymamah Rashed translates the Maison's Play of Shapes into a mesmerising painting, 'Your Love Moves Around My Trapeze Sun', where golden celestial forms and deep blue figures evoke the rhythm of Piaget's craftsmanship. Meanwhile, Emirati designer Shamsa Alabbar reinterprets her iconic Token motif, a symbol of unity in Arabic culture, into an exclusive Limelight Gala Precious watch. With hand-engraved arabesques on mother-of-pearl, the piece is a tribute to the Gulf's pearling heritage, blending Alabbar's contemporary typography with Piaget's goldsmithing virtuosity. Andy Warhol's Piaget: A Pop Art Legacy Few artists captured the decadence of the 1970s like Andy Warhol—and few watches embodied his love of glamour quite like the Piaget Black Tie. Originally launched in 1972, the design (now officially renamed the Andy Warhol watch in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Foundation) was the artist's favorite among his seven Piaget timepieces. At Art Dubai, vintage pieces from Warhol's private collection take centre stage alongside playful new animations, celebrating a friendship, between Warhol and Yves Piaget, that thrived in New York's most electric soirées. The Art of Time, The Time for Art Piaget has never merely kept time, but has rather it has shaped it. From the rebellious spirit of the 1960s to today's dialogues with contemporary artists, the Maison proves that true luxury lies at the intersection of heritage and imagination. At Art Dubai, each piece is a statement: that watches can be art, that jewellery can be revolutionary, and that creativity, like time itself, is boundless. For those who collect not just objects, but legacies, Piaget's showcase is a reminder that some designs don't follow eras but define them. Art Dubai runs from April 18th-20th at Madinat Jumeirah. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images & Feature Image: Supplied
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Art Dubai 2025 Opens With A Bold Vision For The Future Of Culture
Dubai artist Paris Alshafar's works at Art Dubai 2025 The preview days of Art Dubai 2025 (officially open 18-20 April) have begun, and the energy at Madinat Jumeirah feels both elevated and expansive. Now in its 18th edition, the fair continues to evolve as more than just a commercial art platform. It positions itself as a cultural catalyst—blending exhibitions, commissions, and talks with a city-wide sense of movement, experimentation, and global dialogue. Over 120 galleries from around the world are showing this year, alongside large-scale site-specific works, digital installations, and performance-based pieces. The Global Art Forum returns under the theme The New New Normal, curated by Shumon Basar and Y7, exploring how technology, politics, and aesthetics continue to redefine the pace of change. Meanwhile, the second edition of the Digital Summit delves deeper into AI, posthumanism, and the environmental impacts of emerging technologies—topics that feel less speculative and more urgent with each passing year. The curated gallery sections offer a panoramic view of the art world in motion: Art Dubai Contemporary highlights cross-cultural dialogue and new voices; Bawwaba focuses on solo projects from the Global South; Art Dubai Modernrevisits post-war histories and the legacy of Cold War-era exchanges; and Art Dubai Digital pushes the boundaries of perception with AI, blockchain, and immersive media. The result is a fair that not only reflects the present moment but also questions it, visually, politically, and emotionally. It's clear from the preview alone: Art Dubai isn't simply keeping pace with global discourse, it's actively shaping where it goes next. Here are my personal highlights from this year's preview days: Art Dubai Digital FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Among the standout sections this year is Art Dubai Digital, which explores the theme After the Technological Sublime. A series of new digital artworks debut at the fair, responding to the duality of technological progress: on one hand, a testament to human achievement, and on the other, a source of growing unease as these systems evolve beyond our grasp and distract from urgent ecological and social issues. Returning after a successful debut in 2024, Ouchhh Studio unveils MotherEarth, a monumental AI-powered data sculpture that transforms live climate data, air quality, CO₂ emissions, humidity and temperature shifts, into an immersive sensory experience. It's a striking meditation on the fragility of our environment, rendered in code and light. Ouchh, MotherEarth 2025, Art Dubai New York-based kinetic artist Breakfast presents Carbon Wake, a real-time energy-driven installation powered by data from cities around the world. Every minute, the piece pulls energy usage statistics from a different location, creating motion and visual shifts that reflect the impact of collective energy choices. The result is both hypnotic and sobering, a reminder of how data can be poetic, political, and deeply human. Breakfast's Carbon Wake at Art Dubai 2025 Anindita Bhattacharya's 'When The Sky Swam Beneath The Sea, 2025' In collaboration with Threshold Gallery form New Dehli, Artist Anindita Bhattacharya presents one of the most poetic and quietly powerful works at this year's fair, a haunting reflection on water as a vessel of memory, collective consciousness, transformation, and survival. Referencing the Anthropocene, the piece captures a landscape marked by human excess and environmental collapse. It balances beauty and devastation, creation and erosion, reminding us of water's ancient wisdom and its central role in shaping life. Deeply layered and emotionally charged, the work reads like a visual lament, for what's been lost, what still remains, and the unresolved stories that continue to flow beneath the surface. Anindita Bhattacharya's 'When The Sky Swam Beneath The Sea, 2025' Aicon New York Brings Monumental Voices to Art Dubai Aicon Gallery returns to Art Dubai with a powerful presentation at Booth E5, featuring works by Victor Ekpuk, Rachid Koraïchi, Veer Munshi, Natvar Bhavsar, Sheetal Gattani, Sujith S.N., Shehnaz Ismail, Sana Arjumand, Safdar Ali Qureshi, and Sadequain. A standout is Peju Alatise's monumental piece If Nigeria will not Wear her Own Cloth, She Deserves to go Naked (2019), which anchors the booth in narrative depth. Aikon New York Booth at Art Dubai Alatise also co-leads this year's A.R.M. Holding Children's Programme alongside Emirati artist Alia Hussain Lootah, an initiative launching at the fair before expanding to schools across all seven Emirates. Clinique La Prairie's Longevity Lounge Clinique La Prairie returned to Art Dubai with its immersive Longevity Lounge, offering a moment of calm and science-led wellbeing at the heart of the fair. Highlights include a Detox Bar, SENAPTEC assessments for cognitive training, and a curated series of talks featuring artists like Pooya Aryanpour, Diana Al Hadid, Deekay Kwon, and Alymamah Rashed. Each session explores the intersection of art, identity, and holistic living. With insights from CEO Simone Gibertoni and a look ahead to the brand's upcoming resort at AMAALA, the Lounge remains a standout space for reflection and future-thinking. Clinique La Prairie Longevity Lounge at Art Dubai 2025 Ruinart's Conversations with Nature Ruinart returns to Art Dubai with the latest chapter of its Conversations with Nature series, inviting artists to explore the Maison's enduring connection to the natural world. This year, Franco-Swiss artist Julian Charrière joins the program with a new body of work reflecting on biodiversity, climate, and how we inhabit fragile ecosystems. Known for blending performance, video, and field research, Charrière's work offers poetic yet pressing reflections on environmental change. Alongside artists Lelia Demoisy and Sam Falls, the Maison reaffirms its nearly 300-year commitment to sustainability, using art as a bridge between nature, science, and cultural consciousness. Julian Charrière at Ruinart's Lounge at Art Dubai 2025 Ruinart is inviting artists to explore the Maison's enduring connection to the natural world. This year, Franco-Swiss artist Julian Charrière joins the program with a new body of work reflecting on biodiversity, climate, and how we inhabit fragile ecosystems. Known for blending performance, video, and field research, Charrière's work offers poetic yet pressing reflections on environmental change. Alongside artists Lelia Demoisy and Sam Falls, the Maison reaffirms its nearly 300-year commitment to sustainability, using art as a bridge between nature, science, and cultural consciousness. Héctor Zamora's Terracotta Rituals Known for his powerful site-specific interventions, Mexican artist Héctor Zamora presents a striking new performance series at Art Dubai 2025. In Gathered in me they once again become life, a single performer interacts with a monumental, raw clay vessel, carving, entering, and reshaping it from within. The act becomes a meditation on vulnerability, transformation, and rebirth. Alongside this live performance, sculptural works like Kaminrot (2024) anchor the space with symbolic presence. Through gesture, material, and ritual, Zamora explores the cyclical tensions between creation and collapse, body and earth, personal memory and collective myth. Héctor Zamora's Terracotta Rituals Tomás Saraceno: Rethinking the Atmosphere Berlin-based Argentinian artist Tomás Saraceno presents a poetic and political exploration of life beyond Earth at Art Dubai. Known for his interdisciplinary work with spider webs, air ecosystems, and the Anthropocene, Saraceno's projects challenge dominant systems of knowledge and extractive practices. His Aerocene project, which achieved the most sustainable human flight in history, speaks to his broader vision of co-creating with the planet. Whether working with scientists or spiders, Saraceno blurs art, ecology, and activism, reminding us that new ways of living, sensing, and relating are not just possible, but necessary. Tomás Saraceno at Art Dubai 2025
Emirates 24/7
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates 24/7
Latifa bint Mohammed opens Art Dubai 2025
- Latifa bint Mohammed opens Art Dubai 2025, highlights the vital role of cultural collaboration and youth empowerment - Her Highness witnesses the signing of an MoU between Dubai Culture and Zayed University to foster youth engagement in the cultural sector - Latifa bint Mohammed: Art Dubai continues to be a celebration of creativity and innovation, and a reflection of the cultural diversity that defines our city - 'As we shape our cultural future, platforms like Art Dubai ensure that creativity remains at the heart of Dubai's development and global presence' - Art Dubai 2025 features more than 120 galleries from 65 cities across five continents, underscoring Dubai's position as a global centre for culture and creativity Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council, inaugurated the 2025 edition of Art Dubai, the Middle East's leading international art fair. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and in strategic partnership with Dubai Culture, this year's edition features more than 120 galleries from 65 cities across five continents, underscoring Dubai's position as a global centre for culture and creativity. During her visit, Her Highness toured key exhibitions across the fair's diverse sections, including Contemporary, Modern, Digital, and Bawwaba, and engaged with local and international artists and gallerists. She was accompanied by Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Development and Chair of Zayed University Board of Trustees; Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC); and Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture. HH Sheikha Latifa highlighted how Art Dubai has evolved into a global platform for artistic exchange, further cementing Dubai's role as a vibrant centre for creative dialogue and emerging talent. She said: 'Art Dubai continues to be a celebration of creativity and innovation, and a reflection of the cultural diversity that defines our city. Each edition introduces new voices and narratives that connect us, reminding us of the power of art to bring people and ideas together. As we shape our cultural future, platforms like Art Dubai ensure that creativity remains at the heart of Dubai's development and global presence.' On the sidelines of the event, Her Highness visited the newly unveiled Common Grounds exhibition by Dubai Collection, curated by Zayed University students Shamsa Al Qubaisi, Maryam Al Zaabi, and Sara Al Sulaimani under the guidance of Dr. Nada Shabout and Magalí Arriola. Part of a first-of-its-kind academic collaboration, the exhibition features selected works from the Dubai Collection spanning 1949 to 2024, offering curatorial insight rooted; in educational exploration and cultural research. Reflecting Dubai Collection's long-term commitment to research, education, and community engagement, Common Grounds highlights the emirate's commitment to empowering youth and fostering a sense of cultural responsibility among future generations. As part of efforts to expand this collaboration, Her Highness and Her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Dubai Culture and Zayed University. The agreement was signed by Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, and Professor Michael Allen, Acting Vice President of Zayed University. The agreement establishes a strategic framework for future cultural cooperation, providing students with opportunities for hands-on experience in research, curatorial practice, and creative development through Dubai Culture's extensive ecosystem and initiatives such as the Dubai Collection. Commenting on the MoU, Her Highness said: 'This partnership reflects our conviction that education and culture are deeply interconnected. By empowering students to contribute meaningfully to our cultural landscape, we are not only nurturing emerging talent but also fostering a strong sense of ownership, purpose, and pride among the next generation. Together, we are shaping a cultural future driven by inspired and engaged youth.' Her Highness concluded her visit by reaffirming Dubai Culture's commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships and nurturing a sustainable creative ecosystem, one that empowers every artist and creative talent to thrive. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
The National
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Art Dubai 2025 first look: What to expect at this year's fair
Seeing an art fair come together is much like seeing a single artwork materialise. Plastic protectors are unfurled across the floor. The smell of paint wafts in the air. There is the din of drills and hammers. Step ladders appear, vanish and reappear elsewhere. The lighting is adjusted, scrutinised then readjusted. The disparate elements come together so that what began as a blank white space buzzes with colour and movement. Soon the chaos begins to make sense, an order materialises and an elegant wholeness finds form. Art Dubai 2025 was in the throes of this transformation when The National visited its site at Madinat Jumeirah on Tuesday. More than 120 galleries were setting up, displaying works across mediums and subjects. Yet, despite the diversity on show, there is a loose thread that connects the art pieces together, particularly in the contemporary works. It's a response to the state of the world. This is most evident in the Bawwaba section. The recurring feature of Art Dubai is dedicated to works created in the past year, or specifically for the fair. This year, it is showcasing 10 solo presentations from across the world. The works are thoughtful reflections of current political, social and ecological issues. 'The overall theme started with the current situation of our world, which is in a state of turmoil and crisis both among people and ecologically,' says Mirjam Varadinis, curator of the Bawwaba section. Mexican artist Jorge Rosano Gamboa highlights the importance of water, showing its mutability in form and quality while also examining historical perceptions of the resource. In textiles produced in collaboration with Mexican craftspeople, Gamboa draws from motifs of Mesoamerican civilisations that were used to denote water. 'He takes iconography from this history and connects them also with ancient forms of knowledge about producing artworks,' Varadinis says. The works come as a stunning contrast to those by Iranian artist Mohammad Piryaee. His large canvasses are drenched with vivid red and black lines that criss-cross to form towers that stretch to the sky. The works are emotionally charged. While Gamboa's works evoke a sense of serenity, Piryace's communicate ferocity. Sculptural figures featuring architecture, similar to those in the canvasses, are assembled in the centre space. Though they look like they are formed from charred pieces of wood, they are surprisingly made of porcelain. 'He builds architecture like they are creatures,' Varadinis says. 'He references architecture from the desert region in Iran, where he comes from. It also presents ideas of burning, not in the sense of destruction but as a force for life.' Then there are artists who use altogether unexpected materials for their works. These include Saudi artist Abdullah Al Othman, who presents a series of works in neon that pay homage to a bygone time while also recreating the unique spatial and design aesthetics found in neon signage. Gulnur Mukazhanova from Kazakhstan, on the other hand, is showcasing a selection of vibrant abstract works that were created out of wool. The use of wool, Varadinis says, reflects a weaving tradition in Kazakhstan that was at risk of erasure during the Soviet era. Kate Newby from New Zealand, meanwhile, presents a series of sculptures that make use of salvaged material, ranging from ropes to glass. Among the most arresting works in the Bawwaba section are the mosaics of Omar Mismar. The Lebanese artist often incorporates political themes into his work and this series is no different. Among the works is Ahmad and Akram Protecting Hercules. Spanning two meters in length, it is drawn from real-life events and depicts two men piling sandbags by an ancient mosaic of Hercules in the Maarra Mosaic Museum in Syria to protect it from destruction. Beside it is a work created specifically for Art Dubai. The tetraptych features panels of mosaics showing, Varadinis says, something found near Gaza. 'They were renovating a house and discovered on the ground all these beautiful mosaics,' she says. Mismar depicts the mosaics' storks, gazelles and rabbits as well as a young boy cleaning the tiles. Collectively, Bawwaba is meant to embody a healthy diversity of voices and practices. 'The idea was basically having a representation of different voices, a polyphonic approach,' Varadinis says. 'They are reflecting the contemporary concerns of our society.' The digital section is built on a similar ethos. While digital art is often seen in a vacuum, the section's curator, Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, is setting out to show how the works respond just as acutely to contemporary issues. 'We often see that, with digital art, it is quite disconnected from the discourse of the contemporary art scene,' he says. 'In the contemporary art scene right now we are looking at art responding to the current political, social and environmental challenges that the world is facing. So I thought that it was important that the theme for this year be connected with that.' This connection is evident at the entrance. US artist Breakfast is presenting Carbon Wake, a kinetic sculpture that showcases how cities are moving towards cleaner energy. The work features gold-mirrored stainless steel panels that rise and fall depending on real-time energy data from different cities around the world. The work uses artificial intelligence technology and juxtaposes the effects of fossil fuels and renewable energy. Moving into the space, the works incorporate technology with unexpected results under the section's theme: Sublime. 'The Sublime,' explains Delicado, 'is a concept reclaimed from ancient Greece in the 17th century when artists, scientists, thinkers and philosophers were travelling around the world for the first time and discovering the immense beauty of nature. That beauty was overwhelming and was creating fear, admiration and love. Technology is creating a similar effect in our society.' Several works depict this intersection. These include a series by Berlin-based artist collective Crosslucid. The works, titled The Way of Flowers, show floral forms that feature uncanny qualities – such as pearlescent stamen or crystal-like fibres. 'It's a collective a collective that is using artificial intelligence to imagine new natures,' says Delicado. Another highlight is a monolith by the new media studio Ouchhh, by Ferdi and Eylul Alici. The structure generates unique art forms based on environmental data aggregated from 20 satellites. The data includes everything from global temperatures to carbon emissions; changes in wind and cloud formations to other information on climate change. The structure and its artwork is connected in real time to variations in Mexico City and Beijing. As such, the project is described as 'the world's first cross-continental real-time AI climate change data sculpture'. Art Dubai's digital section is now in its fourth year. Delicado sought to build upon the efforts of previous iterations, showing the history and legacy of this often misunderstood art form. 'Digital art is something that is quite broad,' Delicado says. 'It isn't something that started a few years ago with the boom of NFTs. It is something that started far before, as far back as the 1960s when artists in working with computers.' Art Dubai 2025 takes place at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai from April 18 to 20, with previews on April 16 and 17
