Latest news with #VincenzodeBellis
ILoveQatar.net
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ILoveQatar.net
Art Basel Qatar reveals new format for inaugural fair, international artist Wael Shawky appointed as Artistic Director
Art Basel is proud to reveal first details of its newly launched fair in Qatar, which will unfold in M7 creative hub in the heart of Doha's Design District from 5 to 7 February 2026, with Preview Days on 3 and 4 February 2026. For its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will depart from the traditional booth model to introduce a new fair format grounded in artistic vision and conceptual rigor. Conceived by Art Basel as a platform to foster deeper engagement with leading galleries and artists from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and further afield, the show will prioritize an engaging experience that maintains strong market relevance. Art Basel Qatar is a joint initiative between Art Basel, MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+. Additionally, Art Basel Qatar is delighted to announce the appointment of internationally acclaimed, Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky as Artistic Director for the first edition of the fair. Together with Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel's Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs, Shawky will lead the curatorial vision of the 2026 edition and guide the gallery selection process, in consultation with the fair's dedicated Selection Committee. He brings deep regional insight and a multidisciplinary approach that aligns with the fair's ambitions, including plans to transform Qatar Museum's Fire Station into a platform for educational programs. Art Basel Qatar will embrace an open-format exhibition, with solo presentations by galleries responding to a central thematic framework, defined and developed by Art Basel's artistic leadership to serve as both anchor and catalyst for the show. The exhibition will unfold across two key venues – M7 and the Doha Design District – as well as selected public sites in Msheireb, Doha's creative and cultural heart. Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs for Art Basel, said: 'With Art Basel Qatar, we are pushing the boundaries of the art fair model – placing artistic intention at its core while responding to today's market. This format allows us to support galleries in presenting artists' work with greater depth and resonance. Doha is an ideal context for this evolution: It is a place where cultural ambition meets a rich and layered history, and where experimentation is both welcomed and supported. For our inaugural edition, we are thrilled to work with Wael Shawky, who brings a rare combination of intellectual precision, visual imagination, and regional knowledge.' In its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will explore the theme 'Becoming' – a meditation on humanity's ongoing transformation and the evolving systems that shape how we live, believe, and create meaning. The Gulf emerges as a living palimpsest – a region where oral traditions intersect with digital networks, and ancient trade routes are reimagined as contemporary flows of culture and capital. Within this layered context, art becomes a vital conduit, translating systemic shifts into form. It acts not only as a witness to history but as an active force in the continual redefinition of human identity. Wael Shawky said: 'It is a privilege to work with Art Basel on this groundbreaking new format. The opportunity to explore artistic practices from across the MENA region and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation, is extremely meaningful to me. I look forward to collaborating with galleries and artists to help shape a platform that speaks to the complexity and richness of the region while remaining globally relevant.' Based in Doha, Wael Shawky most recently won acclaim for his video work Drama 1882, representing Egypt at the 60th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale (2024). His work, which ranges widely among film, performance, and storytelling, has been the subject of solo exhibitions at institutions including Tate Modern (2022), Kunsthaus Bregenz (2016), MoMA PS1 (2015), Mathaf (2015), Serpentine Gallery (2013), and The Hammer (2013), among others. Shawky's work is currently on view in the site-specific installation I Am Hymns of the New Temples at LUMA Arles, as well as a solo show at the University of Edinburgh's Talbot Rice Gallery. He has participated in major international exhibitions including the 14th Istanbul Biennial (2015), the 11th Sharjah Biennial (2013), Documenta 13 (2012), the 9th Gwangju Biennial (2012), and SITE Santa Fe (2008). Shawky founded MASS Alexandria, an independent studio program for young artists, in 2010. In October 2024, Shawky was appointed Artistic Director of the Doha Fire Station, where he has launched the Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP) designed to foster critical thinking, hands-on learning, and professional development for a cohort of 20 emerging international and Qatari artists. The fair's dedicated Selection Committee will comprise leading gallery representatives from the region and beyond: Lorenzo Fiaschi, Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Havana, Boissy-le-Châtel, Paris, Rome, Dubai, São Paulo); Shireen Gandhy, Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai); Daniela Gareh, White Cube (London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Seoul); Mohammed Hafiz, Athr Gallery (Jeddah, Al Ula, Riyadh); Sunny Rahbar, The Third Line (Dubai), and Gordon VeneKlasen, Michael Werner Gallery (New York, Athens, Berlin, Los Angeles, London).
Qatar Tribune
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
Art Basel Qatar unveils format for its inaugural fair
Tribune News Network Doha Art Basel has revealed first details of its newly launched fair in Qatar, which will unfold in M7 creative hub in the heart of Doha's Design District from February 5 to 7, 2026, with Preview Days on February 3 and 4. For its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will depart from the traditional booth model to introduce a new fair format grounded in artistic vision and conceptual rigor. Conceived by Art Basel as a platform to foster deeper engagement with leading galleries and artists from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and further afield, the show will prioritize an engaging experience that maintains strong market relevance. Art Basel Qatar also announced the appointment of internationally acclaimed, Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky as Artistic Director for the first edition of the fair. Together with Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel's chief artistic officer and global director of fairs, Shawky will lead the curatorial vision of the 2026 edition and guide the gallery selection process, in consultation with the fair's dedicated Selection Committee. He brings deep regional insight and a multidisciplinary approach that aligns with the fair's ambitions, including plans to transform Qatar Museum's Fire Station into a platform for educational programmes. Art Basel Qatar will embrace an open-format exhibition, with solo presentations by galleries responding to a central thematic framework, defined and developed by Art Basel's artistic leadership to serve as both anchor and catalyst for the show. The exhibition will unfold across two key venues – M7 and the Doha Design District – as well as selected public sites in Msheireb, Doha's creative and cultural heart. Vincenzo de Bellis, chief artistic officer and global director of fairs for Art Basel, said: 'With Art Basel Qatar, we are pushing the boundaries of the art fair model – placing artistic intention at its core while responding to today's market. This format allows us to support galleries in presenting artists' work with greater depth and resonance. Doha is an ideal context for this evolution: It is a place where cultural ambition meets a rich and layered history, and where experimentation is both welcomed and supported. For our inaugural edition, we are thrilled to work with Wael Shawky, who brings a rare combination of intellectual precision, visual imagination, and regional knowledge.' In its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will explore the theme 'Becoming' – a meditation on humanity's ongoing transformation and the evolving systems that shape how we live, believe, and create meaning. The Gulf emerges as a living palimpsest – a region where oral traditions intersect with digital networks, and ancient trade routes are reimagined as contemporary flows of culture and capital. Within this layered context, art becomes a vital conduit, translating systemic shifts into form. It acts not only as a witness to history but as an active force in the continual redefinition of human identity. Wael Shawky said: 'It is a privilege to work with Art Basel on this groundbreaking new format. The opportunity to explore artistic practices from across the MENA region and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation, is extremely meaningful to me. I look forward to collaborating with galleries and artists to help shape a platform that speaks to the complexity and richness of the region while remaining globally relevant.' Based in Doha, Wael Shawky most recently won acclaim for his video work Drama 1882, representing Egypt at the 60th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale (2024).The fair's dedicated Selection Committee will comprise leading gallery representatives from the region and beyond: Lorenzo Fiaschi, Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Havana, Boissy-le-Châtel, Paris, Rome, Dubai, São Paulo); Shireen Gandhy, Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai); Daniela Gareh, White Cube (London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Seoul); Mohammed Hafiz, Athr Gallery (Jeddah, Al Ula, Riyadh); Sunny Rahbar, The Third Line (Dubai), and Gordon VeneKlasen, Michael Werner Gallery (New York, Athens, Berlin, Los Angeles, London).Wael Shawky named artistic director for first edition
Express Tribune
20-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Art Basel opens to subdued market
The world's biggest art fair takes place in Switzerland this week, with global crises creating a more sombre mood, according to participants, and galleries showing less expensive works amid a slump at the top end of the art market. A fixture since 1970, Art Basel is widely viewed as a key barometer for the health of global art sales. Works by over 4,000 artists are on show, including a Pablo Picasso painting valued at over $30 million shown by US gallery Pace. Global art sales fell 12 per cent last year, the second annual decline in a row, according to a report by UBS. The drop was particularly sharp at the top end - defined as works selling at auction for over $10 million - where sales tumbled by 39 per cent. "It's true the galleries are bringing material that is in a different price point to what it used to be," said Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Basel Fairs. "And it's natural, there's a different expectation." One artwork had sold for between $13-17 million by Wednesday, the only one to fetch at least $10 million over the first two days, sales confirmed by exhibitors show. Last year, four pieces worth $10-20 million sold during the same period. "I think the mood is very subdued," said Gaurav Madhok, a visitor from London who has been going for over 12 years. More than five gallery representatives said there were fewer American clients at stalls than in previous years. A separate UBS report showed a 4.6 per cent jump in private individuals' wealth in 2024, with the US faring especially well, creating over 1,000 new dollar millionaires daily. "We've seen a lot of European curators," said Georgia Lurie, a director of the Pippy Houldsworth gallery. "But Americans are thin on the ground, both collectors and museum people."
Business Recorder
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Art Basel shows more mid-priced art to a sombre market
BASEL, Switzerland: The world's biggest art fair takes place in Switzerland this week, with global crises creating a more sombre mood, according to participants, and galleries showing less expensive works amid a slump at the top end of the art market. A fixture since 1970, Art Basel is widely viewed as a key barometer for the health of global art sales. Works by over 4,000 artists are on show, including a Pablo Picasso painting valued at over $30 million shown by US gallery Pace. Global art sales fell 12% last year, the second annual decline in a row, according to a report by UBS. The drop was particularly sharp at the top end - defined as works selling at auction for over $10 million - where sales tumbled by 39%. 'It's true the galleries are bringing material that is in a different price point to what it used to be,' said Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Art Basel Fairs. 'And it's natural, there's a different expectation.' One artwork had sold for between $13-17 million by Wednesday, the only one to fetch at least $10 million over the first two days, sales confirmed by exhibitors show. Last year, four pieces worth $10-20 million sold during the same period. 'I think the mood is very subdued,' said Gaurav Madhok, a visitor from London who has been going for over 12 years. More than five gallery representatives said there were fewer American clients at stalls than in previous years. A separate UBS report showed a 4.6% jump in private individuals' wealth in 2024, with the U.S. faring especially well, creating over 1,000 new dollar millionaires daily. 'We've seen a lot of European curators,' said Georgia Lurie, a director of the Pippy Houldsworth gallery. 'But Americans are thin on the ground, both collectors and museum people.'
Gulf Today
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Jameel Arts Centre Dubai wins Medal at first Art Basel Awards
Art Jameel, the organisation that supports artists and creative communities, has announced that its Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai is one of three institutions globally awarded a Medal in the inaugural year of the Art Basel Awards, which recognises those 'shaping the next generation of cutting-edge artistry'. A distinguished jury of leading museum directors awarded this 'gold standard for excellence' to those who 'defy categorisation and challenge conventions'. Alongside Art + Practice (Los Angeles, California) and RAW Material Company (Dakar, Senegal), Jameel Arts Centre was recognised in the Museums and Institutions category. 'From a nominee pool of the world's most influential voices and promising rising talents, an international jury of experts awards 36 medallists for their vanguard vision, skill and impact,' said the organisers of the Art Basel Awards, chaired by Vincenzo de Bellis, Chair, Art Basel Awards and Art Basel's Director of Fairs and Exhibition Platforms. The Medal will be presented on June 19 to Art Jameel Chair and Co-Founder Fady Jameel, at a premier reception during Art Basel's historic flagship fair in Basel, Switzerland, while Art Jameel Director Antonia Carver will present the work of Jameel Arts Centre at the Art Basel Awards Summit on June 20. Children's event at Jameel Arts Centre. Fady Jameel said: 'We are deeply honoured to receive this landmark award for Jameel Arts Centre – this recognition of our work is all the more meaningful in that it comes from the industry itself, and we thank the Art Basel Awards and the jury of highly influential, expert colleagues from around the world. At Art Jameel, our mantra is that the arts are fundamental to life and accessible to all: we are proud to serve as Dubai's contemporary arts museum and to contribute to the region and beyond – collecting, commissioning and exhibiting dynamic artists, providing research and learning programmes and access to contemporary arts and ideas, for everyone.' According to Vincenzo de Bellis, the Art Basel Awards are 'not a competition, but a beacon. They shine a light on those working with radical vision, skill, and commitment to building communities of practice and exchange.' This year's Art Basel Awards jury was challenged to spotlight visionaries creating new narratives, building alternative spaces, and pushing forward cultural conversation. The distinguished jury is composed of leaders from every continent around the world, including Hoor Al-Qasimi, President and Director, Sharjah Art Foundation; Elena Filipovic, Director, Kunstmuseum Basel; Jessica Morgan, Nathalie de Gunzberg Director, Dia Art Foundation, New York; Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine, London; Adriano Pedrosa, Artistic Director, Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP); Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+, Hong Kong; Franklin Sirmans, Director, Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM); and Philip Tinari, Director and Chief Executive, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing. The Art Basel Awards also pay tribute to jury member Koyo Kouoh (1967-2025), the highly influential Executive Director and Chief Curator, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), Cape Town, and Curator, 61st International Art Exhibition (2026), La Biennale di Venezia. Antonia Carver, Director, Art Jameel. Later this year, the Medalists will pilot a peer-driven process, whereby they will vote to select up to 12 Gold Medalists from among themselves, representing the Art Basel Awards' highest honour and offering a new model of recognition, to be revealed in December 2025 during the Official Night of the Art Basel Awards in Miami Beach. Launched by Art Basel in 2025, the Art Basel Awards are the world's first global honours dedicated to recognising excellence across the contemporary art world. Each year, an International Jury of experts awards the Medals to individuals and organisations spanning the industry, whose practices and contributions shape the future of art. Medalists are selected against four key pillars: vision and innovation, skill and execution, engagement, and broader impact. The Awards confer support in the form of honorariums alongside global networking, philanthropic initiatives, partnerships and high-profile commissions, designed to propel Medalists' work onto new platforms and initiate new networks. Medalists are recognised globally by Art Basel through year-round campaigns and initiatives, including the Art Basel Awards Summit, the annual thought leadership conference for the most influential figures in the global art world and neighbouring creative industries, held in Basel, Switzerland. Founded in 1970 by gallerists from Basel, Art Basel stages the world's premier art fairs for Modern and contemporary art, sited in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris. Art Basel's engagement includes digital platforms including the Art Basel App and initiatives such as the Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report, the Art Basel Awards, and the Art Basel Shop. Art Basel's Global Lead Partner is UBS. Known as one of Dubai's hubs for contemporary arts and ideas, Jameel Arts Centre presents curated solo and group exhibitions drawn from the Art Jameel Collection and through regional and international collaborations. The Centre is a 10,000-square-metre, three-storey, multi-disciplinary space designed by UK-based practice, Serie Architects. The building is ornamented by seven gardens, designed by landscape architect Anouk Vogel, which reflect local and global desert biomes. Sitting alongside is the Jaddaf Waterfront Sculpture Park, designed by Waiwai and a collaboration between Art Jameel and Dubai Holding. Located by the creek in Dubai's Jaddaf Waterfront neighbourhood, the Jameel's galleries are complemented by the Jameel Library, an open-access research centre dedicated to artists and cultural movements in the Gulf States and beyond, project and commission spaces, a writer's studio, the artisan seasonal dining concept, Teible, and the Art Jameel Shop.
