Visiting the 12th Art Dubai Fair was an awe-inspiring experience for me. It was the fair's largest edition to date presenting 105 galleries from a record 48 countries. The four day edition of the fair celebrated the diversity of art ran from March 21 to 24 in Dubai's iconic holiday resort Madinat Jumeirah.
The fair was dedicated to culture and contemporary art and foster as well as boost talent from Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region. Thus the artistic talent exists in the vast region got a platform to excel their artistic journey into the global stage.
The fair was divided into three sections as "Contemporary Art" "Modern Art" and "Residents Art". The Art Dubai Modern provides audiences a platform to discover the works of 20th century modernists from Middle East, South Asia and Africa. The works by 16 galleries from 14 countries was included in this category with solo, two-artists and group exhibits. The focus was on works produced between the 1940s and 1980s.
Hence the Art Dubai Modern was a perfect place to know styles, influences and practices of influential modernists and the cultural landscape of the 20th century. While talks on lives, works and cultural impact of modernists from the Middle East, South Asia and Africa who practiced art in the decades between 1940-1980s at the fair's modern section were a delight for art lovers.
Also an exhibition comprising select artworks of 20th century modernist practices from across the Arab world bring forth the expressions, themes and energies that were both exclusive to and pertinent in different Arab cities. This exhibition was curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath.
The Art Dubai Contemporary presented 78 emerging and established artists and galleries across Arab World, Asia and the Americas. Visitors discovered artists from galleries spanning across the globe from Sao Paulo to Addis Ababa, making it the largest exhibition of contemporary art from the region.
This year a residency programme was inaugurated, in which 11 gallery sections featured the works by the artists who have completed a four week residency in the UAE prior to the fair from 10 countries. The artists created works by merging their distinct artistic practices with their surroundings. Thus the final works presented the amalgamation of artist's home country and the resident country.
The Abraaj Group Art Prize has been awarded to Lawrence Abu Hamdan of Global Art Forum 12 creating an art piece on the theme of automation under the curatorship of Myriam Ben Salah. The short-listed artists were Basma Alsharif, Neil Beloufa and Ali Cherri. Besides major exhibitions and tour to artist's studios other attractions at the fair were 'Global Art Forum' and 'The Room'. The 'Global Art Forum' was titled "I Am Not a Robot".
While 'The Room' was an interactive installation titled 'Good Morning GCC'. It was a replicated TV studio just like a regional daytime talk show. This installation became alive during the fair with series of daily segments and performances with the participation of special guests related to art world.
The art fair also served as an education venue that provided opportunity for the children as well as art students to gain first hand knowledge about art practices around the world and also set goals for themselves. Thus everybody from art graduates, art collectors to art enthusiasts has something for their interest and information at the fair. (The writer can be reached at nadeemzuberi71@gmail.com)