The Abu Dhabi Art Festival will present selected world galleries of contemporary art, as well as a dynamic program of performances, lectures and unforgettable experiences at the Manarat al Saadiyat Exhibition Center on November 18-21. The festival, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE, will once again bring together leading artists, gallery owners and collectors from around the world to participate in various discussions and events on the cultural diversity of the UAE.
Abu Dhabi Art is held in two main sections. The public program attracts viewers with a dynamic concert program, lectures and joint public projects.
The art fair includes many famous and new galleries, as well as other projects aimed at supporting galleries and promising artists. 40 famous galleries in Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East will present the best works of young artists and recognized masters of painting. Galleries distribute works into five sections: Contemporary art, modern and design; Personal exhibitions of young artists; "Beyond the Boundary" - large-scale installations, sculptures and special projects; Exhibition "Bidaya" dedicated to the new gallery; The exhibition "Waves of Artists", which displays works selected by the artists themselves.
Within the framework of the festival, a round table will be held with the participation of Richard Armstrong, director of the Solomon Guggenheim Museum, Neil McGregor, director of the British Museum, and curators of the Louvre. Moderator - Anna Somers Cox, Founder and CEO of The Art Newspaper.
Philosopher Peter Sloterdijk will begin a discussion on the concept of museums in the 21st century. Participants will discuss the ideology of museums in the cultural region of Saadiyat, their PR programs and projects aimed at the cultural development of the population of Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the region as a whole.
Bliss is a program of live performances and interactive performances that fit into the real life of Abu Dhabi. Within its framework, an unusual ballet film "Les Bosquets" by the French artist JR will be shown. The film with the participation of the troupe "New York City Ballet" talks about the dysfunctional Paris suburbs.
The theater program "Durab Al Tawaya" under the supervision of Tarek Abu El-Fetuh will be held for the third time. It will be devoted to the ways in which contemporary art creates the territory of cultural exchange, maintaining contact with various archives and undergoing external influence. Five performances address the issues of responsibility and preservation of cultural heritage.
Complementing the art program, the Architecture Statement will present this year a discussion chaired by the French architect Jean Nouvel. Its theme will be Rain of Light, an outstanding concept of the dome of the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, whose ultra-modern design fits exceptionally well into the traditional landscape of the Emirates. The Design program will present the results of the Design Laboratory workshop - students and graduates will improve design skills by analyzing the urban development of Abu Dhabi, in which the worlds of production and consumption merge. The Emirati Expressions program represents a new generation of Emirate artists who reveal the role of art in society through interdisciplinary experiments.
