The 16th edition of Abu Dhabi Art, organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, is set to occur from November 20th to 24th at Manarat Al Saadiyat. This year, the event will feature over 100 local and international galleries, presenting modern and contemporary art, alongside innovative new segments like the Focus sectors.
Event Background and Highlights
This year’s event will honor Mohammed Kazem, the artist behind the visual campaign, recognized for his impactful contributions to the art community over the past two decades. The exhibition introduces three new Focus sectors: ‘Something Bold, Something New’, highlighting regional modern artists; ‘The Collector’s Salon’, where galleries will reveal artifacts, historical objects, and artworks for the first time; and ‘Silk Road: Drifting Identities’, uniting galleries and artists from Central Asia and the Caucasus.
New Initiatives and Programs
The ‘Emerge’ gallery sector aims to attract new collectors by offering artwork priced under 3,000 USD. The ‘Bidaya’ sector will spotlight emerging galleries, giving them a debut platform at Abu Dhabi Art. Furthermore, the Beyond Emerging Artists program, organized by GALLERIA CONTINUA and Lorenzo Fiaschi, will commission art pieces from UAE-based artists like Fatma Al Ali, Dina Nazmi Khorchid, and Simrin Mehra Agarwal. The Gateway exhibition, curated by Odessa Warren and Carine Harmand, will delve into the connections between the Arab world and Latin America.
Community and Student Engagement
Community and student engagement are integral to Abu Dhabi Art. The House of Artisans will present the ‘Community Partners’ exhibition with the theme ‘Crafts as a Language’. The Art + Tech program, ‘Where Creativity Meets Technology’, led by Afra Al Suwaidi and Marina Fedorova, features student projects. This year’s Pavilion Prize winners, Omar Darwish, Abdulla Abbas, and Salama Alhammadi, will have their designs brought to life at the fair.
In conclusion, Abu Dhabi Art 2024 is poised to be a vibrant and diverse event, catering to emerging artists and seasoned collectors alike. With its extensive lineup of exhibitions, lectures, and community engagements, this is an event not to be missed.
