Art Dubai 2011
Entering into its fifth year, Art Dubai is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. Art Dubai 2011 will be the largest, most dynamic edition of the fair to date, firmly establishing its role as the key meeting point for the art scenes of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region to engage with those of the international art world.
Featuring more than 82 galleries from over 34 countries, the fair will introduce MARKER, a dynamic new section of experimental stands curated by Nav Haq; the seminal Global Art Forum, a Gulf-wide collaboration, plus a new series of high-level collector talks; the third edition of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize, which has increased its number of winners from three to five; Les Voyages Extraordinaires, a museum-quality exhibition by Van Cleef & Arpels; and a series of exciting new projects that include more than 75 artists.
“In addition to works from more than 80 galleries, Art Dubai 2011 offers an unprecedented level of events to engage the broadest possible community who enjoy seeing, learning about, discussing and collecting art,” said Antonia Carver, Fair Director of Art Dubai. “From non-commercial art projects to debate and discussion, films, fashion and family events, there is something for everyone – from students to the world’s leading collectors and arts professionals – at Art Dubai 2011.”
• As one of Art Dubai’s most distinctive elements for the past four years, the Global Art Forum will once again focus on key issues that bring together the arts scenes of the region with the rest of the world. Global Art Forum_5 is presented by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) in partnership with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), centering on themes of changing audiences and the intersection between art and fashion. This year’s programme offers a broader range of talks than ever before and the launch of a new fellowship programme.
• 2011 is the inaugural year for the new MARKER section of Art Dubai. Art Dubai has commissioned curator Nav Haq to invite experimental commercial and non-commercial art spaces from across Asia and the Middle East, most of whom are new to exhibiting within an art fair. These five dynamic project stands, or “concept stands”, dotted through the gallery halls, will showcase work by emerging artists who are creating new work especially for the fair.
• Art Dubai Projects 2011 will see a non-profit, curated programme of commissions, films, talks and performances, welcoming art enthusiasts to experience the innovation of more than 75 artists. New in 2011 is a series of dispatches from MENASA artist studios, co-curated by The Island.
• Bidoun Projects will showcase its 1000-volume-strong Resource Library and as well as the curation of Art Park, an underground project space for film, video and talks, this year presenting retrospectives of the work of key video artists and looking into the practicalities of working in the region, with in-depth workshops on writing and curating for local practitioners.
• As the leading prize specifically for artists working from and within the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region, the Abraaj Capital Art Prize returns for a third year to unveil the works of winners Hamra Abbas, Jananne Al-Ani, Shezad Dawood, Nadia Kaabi-Linke and Timo Nasseri with guest curator Sharmini Pereira.
• Van Cleef & Arpels, an Art Dubai partner for the last three years, will present its latest collection of High Jewellery, Les Voyages Extraordinaires, based on four works by the famous 19th century French novelist, Jules Verne.
The strength of Art Dubai’s programming is among the reasons why the fair experienced an increase of gallery applications for the 2011 edition and will for the first time host as many as 82 exhibitors. First-time participants include Marianne Boesky Gallery (New York), Rodeo (Istanbul), Pilar Corrias (London), ARTSIDE Gallery (Seoul, Beijing), Johann König (Berlin), Goodman Gallery (Johannesberg), Etemad Gallery (Tehran/Dubai) and Chatterjee & Lal (Mumbai) and returning galleries such as Carbon 12 (Dubai), Galerie Chantal Crousel (Paris), Athr Gallery (Jeddah), Green Cardamom (London) and Agial Art Gallery (Beirut). Many are planning seminal one or two-artist shows for their stands.
Salem Belyouha, Projects & Events Manager of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), said, “Art Dubai complements the overarching goals of Dubai Culture to promote the city as the definitive destination for culture and the arts in the region. Dubai Culture will continue to support the fair by presenting Global Art Forum_5, a key imitative that unities the international arts community with artists from the region.”
“We are delighted with the positive outlook expressed by our exhibitors. The active participation from gallerists over the past four years, from both throughout the Middle East and globally, has helped to make Art Dubai an unrivalled cultural platform,” Carver added.
Art Dubai will be held 16 – 19 March 2011 at Madinat Jumeirah.