TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS FROM ART DUBAI BY SHALINI PASSI
The 15th edition of Art Dubai took place in the heart of UAE – Dubai. We have witnessed the reinstatement of global art events lately. Starting on March 11 and ending on March 13, the fair was held at Madinat Jumeirah. Each passing year, the fair advances and is a hub for A-list galleries, art collectors, artists and other creative polymaths, especially in the UAE. The horizon widened this year to over 100 galleries from more than 40 countries across four main gallery sections: Contemporary, Modern, Bawwaba and new section- Digital. Through Artistic Director Pablo Del Val’s vision, the fair derives meaningful participation with the rich cultural heritage and diverse art practices of the region.
The four sections are divided in the following manner : Art Dubai Contemporary showcased 33 countries with prominent representation from African and South Asian countries. The 15th edition of Art Dubai celebrated diverse artists including budding artists. The Soul of Progress, the Modern segment, represented artworks from the Arab world, Iran and South Asia. It featured unique artistic practices from the 1930s to 1970s. On the other hand, Bawwaba showcased artworks specific to Art Dubai. Art Dubai Digital debuted this year, abridging digital art, NFTs and audiences with 17 galleries under this segment.
1) Galleria Continua
Under the contemporaries, Galleria Continua exhibited recent works by renowned artists- Anish Kapoor, Shilpa Gupta, Kiki Smith, Michael Pistolleto, Lorris Cecchini, JR, Pascale Marthine Tayou, Moataz Nasr, Giovanni Ozzola.
2) Sabrina Amrani
Sabrina Amrani held a solo show with works by artist Chant Avedissian who is known for his nostalgic artworks of Egypt’s Golden Age. He uses iconic Egyptian imageries and age-old Pharaonic iconographs with art styles of the 1950s.
3) Emami Art
Jogen Chowdhury’s solo exhibition at Emami Art booth was a rare collection of the renowned artist’s works. Chowdhury’s early career works included intensive animal and human figure drawings. He dedicated a lot of his time towards realistic line drawings. Gradually Chowdhury’s works transitioned to a more liberal expressionist style.
Jogen Chowdhury, Refugee Children At Sealdah Station(left), dry pastel on paper, Refugees At Sealdah(right), dry pastel on paper, 1960, Emami Art, Art Dubai 2022
4) Galerie Isabelle van den Eynde
Galerie Isabelle van den Eynde presented works of various artists including one of Saudi Arabia’s most well-known female artists, Manal AlDowayan. Her works are centered around gender issues/ biases in the region, which is well reflected in her tapestry and photographic works.
5) Galería Albarrán Bourdais
The Spanish gallery, based out of Madrid, exhibited a solo with works by contemporary artist Marco Castillo. He intertwines Soviet design aesthetics with Cuban latticework techniques and mahogany wood. He pays homage to renowned Cuban creative polymaths by naming his artworks after them.
6) Comptoir des Mines Galerie
Contemporary section, Booth D2
Comptoir des Mines Galerie participated in Art Dubai for the second time and featured thought-provoking works by Moroccan Contemporary Artists. Mustapha Akrim, Mohamed Arejdal, Hassan Bourkia, Khadija Jayi, and Fatiha Zemmouri were all part of the group show.
Mohamed Arejdal, Qui Tiendra L’afrique Tiendra Le Ciel (left), Fine art paper mounted on Dibond, 2019, Liberté(right), tapestry, pieces of fabric and clothes sewn on panel with lavender, 2019, Comptoir Des Mines Galerie, Art Dubai 2022
7) Galerie Krinzinger
Galerie Krizinger exhibited a diverse range of works. The artists included were Marina Abramovic, Maha Malluh, Ramin Haerizadeh and Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian, Eva Schlegel, Alfred Tarazi, Monica Bonvicini, Secundino Hernández, Waqas Khan, Angelika Krinzinger and Radhika Khimji.
8) Perrotin
Being one the most renowned contemporary galleries in the world, Perrotin brought in the most celebrated artists from across the globe. Daniel Arshan, Jean – Michel Othoniel, Lee Bae, JR, Mathilde Denize, Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Paola Pivi, Gregor Hildebrandt, and Johan Creten.
Jean-Michel Othoniel, Collier Alessandrita-Améthyste (Left), Murano glass, stainless steel, 2021 and Paola Pivi, I know you want it (right), urethane foam, plastic, feathers, 2019, Perrotin, Art Dubai 2022
9) Lawrie Shabibi
Contemporary section, Booth C3
Lawrie Shabibi is one of the best Contemporary Galleries in Dubai. They exhibited works by Hamra Abbas, Farhad Ahrarnia, Shaikha Al Mazrou, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Mohammed Melehi, Mehdi Moutashar, Sola Olulode, Shahpour Pouyan and Ishmael Randall Weeks.
10) X-Ist
X-Ist is a premier Istanbul based gallery that supports and showcases new and upcoming and mid-career contemporaries. This contemporary gallery featured works by mainly three artists- Tayfun Gülnar, Murat Palta, and Serkan Yüksel. Their artist Serkan Yüksel works across various mediums distinctively interwoven to build a narrative.
Text by Shalini Passi
Image Courtesy: Art Dubai, Shalini Passi and Artists
Find out more about the fair and galleries:
https://www.artdubai.ae/catalogue-gallery
https://ivde.viewingrooms.com/
https://www.galerie-krinzinger.at/
https://www.galleriacontinua.com/exhibitions-list-pictures/current