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Gulf Today
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Art Dubai opens 2025 edition with garland of curated initiatives
Art Dubai, one of the Middle East's leading international art fairs, has opened its 2025 edition (Apr.18 - 20, previews on Apr. 16,17) at Madinat Jumeirah, its traditional home. The fair is 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. This year's programme features over 120 gallery presentations drawn from 65 cities and five continents, alongside a programme of commissions and installations, talks, conferences and special events. The leading commercial platform for art and artists from lesser-represented geographies since its foundation in 2007, Art Dubai strives to be a model that is a catalyst and engine for the growth of Dubai's cultural scene and creative economy. At the presser announcing the opening, Pablo del Val, Art Dubai's Artistic Director, said that 'this year's line-up reflects the rapid maturing of the cultural scene in the Gulf region. Dubai is a unique, global city - one which is home to communities and peoples from all over the world, with different languages and traditions and, as we approach our twentieth year, the fair has become the main platform and commercial marketplace for galleries and artists from these scenes and geographies. We are proud to champion these voices, supporting a more diverse and global art world.' Artwork at Sevil Dolmaci Gallery. Exhibitors include those taking part in Art Dubai's Contemporary, Bawwaba, Modern and Digital sections. 30 first-time participants and the geographic breadth of the exhibitor line-up can be said to be a reflection of Art Dubai's role as a gateway for discovery, learning and exchange, as well as a projection of its commitment to showcasing art and artists from less-represented geographies. Continued strong representation from artists and art centres across the Middle East, the African continent, and West and South Asia, is being witnessed at the fair. The evolving expansion and development of Dubai's cultural scene and the city's status as the Gulf region's financial and commercial hub, is also mirrored in the number of Dubai-based exhibitors (over 20) and a growing number of Emirati, UAE and GCC-based artists at the fair. MUST: Baaraan Ijlal's artwork at Shrine Empire Gallery. It is part of Art Dubai's mandate to place untold and understated regional art histories and initiate dialogue between global art movements. Each year invites international academics, art historians, well-known international and regional curators to curate and oversee specific sections of the fair. Bawwaba features gallery presentations of artworks made in the past year or specifically for Art Dubai, showcasing artists who hail from across the Global South. The 2025 edition is curated by writer and curator-at-large at Kunsthaus Zürich, Mirjam Varadinis. Many of her projects address developing formats of contemporary curating, asking the question: 'How can we imagine new forms of coexistence, both amongst people and with our planet?' The section shows artists who reflect on their own displacement in the current climate, imagining new models of living together. Art Dubai Modern features presentations by the region's Modern masters, exploring art historical research and under-investigated art histories. It is curated by Magalí Arriola and Nada Shabout, and features nine presentations that look into common concerns and empathies between West Asia and North Africa. Highlights include presentations by New Vision Group; Bertina Lopes; and Mehdi Moutashar. For the first time, Art Dubai Modern expands its remit to include Latin America, with the inclusion of Venezuelan artist, Darío Pérez Flores. Installation by Ouchhh. Art Dubai Digital is dedicated to the pioneering artists, collectives, galleries and platforms who are shaping the contemporary digital art world. The fourth edition this year is curated by Gonzalo Herrero Delicado. It is titled 'After the Technological Sublime', and features presentations that examine how artists and creative practitioners are working with advanced technologies – including artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality – to interrogate the key environmental, social and political challenges of the time. Art Dubai Digital is complemented by an annual Digital Summit, presented in strategic partnership with Dubai Culture that convenes international and local industry leaders to discuss and debate the expanding digital art ecosystem and Dubai's place in it. The fair is also providing significant commissioning opportunities for local and international artists; convening the world's brightest creative minds through innovative talks and conference programming; and supporting scholarship and professional development programmes to develop the region's future cultural leaders. Highlights also include a new series of performances and sculptural installations with Mexico-based artist Hector Zamora, inaugurating a new co-commissioning partnership between Art Dubai and Alserkal Avenue; a major new digital commission by Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem, presented by Julius Baer; and experiential installations by leading international artists including Breakfast, Ouchhh Studio and Ania Soliman. Talks and conference programmes take place across five days of the fair. They include the two-day Global Art Forum, commissioned by Shumon Basar and curated by Y7 under the title The New New Normal. It features many of the world's foremost thinkers, technologists, artists and forecasters, who examine how 'change keeps changing'. Further highlights include a series of Collector, Artist and Art Dubai Modern Talks, as well as the second edition of Art Dubai's Digital Summit. Art Dubai is held in partnership with A.R.M. Holding and is sponsored by Swiss Wealth Manager, Julius Baer. The Watch and Jewellery partner is Piaget while culturally driven lifestyle developer HUNA, is a partner of Art Dubai. Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is the strategic partner of Art Dubai and Art Dubai Digital.
What's On
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
Art Dubai 2025: A starter guide to the region's principal art show
What to see and where to see it… It's back. One of the biggest, boldest, and most unmissable events on the global art calendar, Art Dubai is where creativity, culture, and cutting-edge ideas collide. Expect jaw-dropping installations, world-class galleries, and a serious dose of inspiration. But it's not just for art insiders, there's a packed schedule of talks, performances, digital art explorations, and even fun activities for the little ones. All of this unfolds over three electric days at Madinat Jumeirah from April 18 to 20, with previews on April 16 and 17. So, ready to dive in? Here's your go-to guide to making the most of Art Dubai What's the big deal? This year, Art Dubai brings together 120 galleries from 67 cities across 39 countries, with nearly half hailing from the GCC and the rest spotlighting underrepresented voices from the Global South. Expect fresh perspectives, bold statements, and an art experience that goes way beyond the white cube. *A new arts festival is gracing Bluewaters Island this April* The art Contemporary This is where the action is. Art Dubai Contemporary showcases the best in global contemporary art, with a focus on artists and galleries from regions often overlooked by the Western mainstream. Expect experimental, thought-provoking works from across Africa, South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Bawwaba Bawwaba (Arabic for 'gateway') is a curated deep dive into solo presentations from artists tackling big themes of displacement, identity, and global transformation. Curated by Mirjam Varadinis (Kunsthaus Zürich), the 2025 edition explores how artists are imagining new ways of living in an increasingly fractured world. Modern Modern art, but make it meaningful. Curated by Magalí Arriola (Museo Tamayo, Mexico) and Nada Shabout (University of North Texas, U.S.), this section explores 20th-century artistic movements from the Middle East, North Africa, and other postcolonial regions. Expect powerful conversations on migration, resistance, and cross-cultural influences. Digital Where tech meets creativity. Art Dubai Digital – curated by Gonzalo Herrero Delicado (Central Saint Martins, London) – dives into how AI, virtual reality, and digital culture are reshaping the art world. From AI-generated works to immersive virtual environments, this is a glimpse into the future of creativity. The Talks: Big ideas, bold voices Global Art Forum: The New New Normal Art Dubai's flagship conference returns, tackling the wild ride of modern life. Commissioned by Shumon Basar, this year's edition explores how reality now feels more unpredictable than a sci-fi movie. Expect insights from a stacked lineup of speakers, including legendary architect Rem Koolhaas, sound artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan, and the internet's most chaotic brainchild, Postpostpost (aka 'the most unhinged meme account out there'). Digital Summit: After the Technological Sublime What happens when art and tech collide? This summit digs into AI, media art, and the future of museums in the digital age, with insights from museum directors, artists, and cultural pioneers. Expect hot takes on everything from AI bias to ecological activism in digital art. Collector Talks Why do people collect art? And what even is 'impact collecting'? These insider sessions offer a peek into the minds of some of the biggest art collectors around, revealing the quirks, passions, and personal stories behind their acquisitions. Modern Talks Deep dives into the forgotten histories and cultural connections between West Asia, North Africa, and Latin America. Expect smart discussions on postcolonial art, migration, and shared artistic movements. New: Conversations with Artists Want to get inside an artist's head? This brand-new series of intimate artist talks brings you face-to-face with the creatives behind the works, offering unfiltered insights into their practice, inspirations, and challenges. *Buckle up: The coolest motor event in Dubai returns this April* Don't miss Some installations and exhibits demand extra attention. Here's what you absolutely can't skip: 1. Ouchhh No, that's not a typo. Ouchhh Studio from Istanbul is a pioneer of data paintings, sculptures, and AI-powered public art. After a standout debut in 2024, they return with MotherEarth, a monumental AI-driven data sculpture that transforms raw climate data – including air quality, CO2 emissions, and temperature changes – into an imamersive sensory experience. 2. Mohammed Kazem – Directions (Merging) – اتجاهات (تمازج) In this newly commissioned digital installation, Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem places the coordinates of Dubai at the centre of the space, drawing visitors into an immersive microcosm of the city. Surrounded by walls lined with static coordinates set against waves in motion, the piece symbolises Dubai's borderless flow and interconnectedness. 3. Héctor Zamora Famed for his site-specific interventions, Mexican artist Héctor Zamora presents a new series of performances and sculptural works, where performers interact with terracotta objects to explore symbolism and ritual. His Art Dubai performances are complemented by a site-specific installation at Alserkal Avenue, marking the start of a multi-year partnership focused on performance art. 4. Breakfast New York-based data and kinetic artist Breakfast presents Carbon Wake, a digitally controlled kinetic installation that transforms real-time energy data from global cities into motion and interaction. Energy production from a new city is visualised every minute – showing the immediate impact of energy consumption worldwide. 5. Ania Soliman – Kahrabaa Taking its name from the Arabic word for 'electricity,' Kahrabaa is a site-specific installation exploring the connections between technology, nature, and memory. Created in response to Beirut's energy crisis, the work features five-metre-high canvases marked by the movement of artificial and real plants, thrown onto the surfaces in a performative act. 6. Piaget x Alyamamah Rashed Luxury meets art as Piaget returns to Art Dubai with a commission by Kuwaiti surrealist artist Alyamamah Rashed. Her signature dreamlike style is infused with Piaget's 1960s and 1970s aesthetic, blending jewellery craftsmanship with radical artistic energy. 7. The Dubai Collection Dubai's first institutional collection of modern and contemporary art is making a grand appearance at Art Dubai 2025. This initiative inspires and educates both residents and visitors – cementing Dubai's role as a global art hub. Images: Supplied
