Abu Dhabi Art, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, returns with an interdisciplinary programme of art, talks and sensational experiences from November 5th-8th.
The sixth edition welcomes artists, collectors, galleries, art professionals and visitors from around the world to participate in a programme that takes Abu Dhabi's future cultural institutions as guiding principles to reflect on themes of time, space and history.
"This year, the Abu Dhabi Art programme will celebrate the upcoming opening of Abu Dhabi museums and finds inspiration in the spirit of the future museums' collections. It will consist of three main sectors: a daily public forum examining the importance of museums as sites of action and new experiences; a performing arts programme exploring concepts of universality and transversality and themes such as humankind's complex relationship with nature and the passage of time, culture and ideas between one civilisation and another and a set of public art, design and architecture initiatives that connect with the wider city and communities of Abu Dhabi," said Rita Aoun-Abdo, Executive Director, Culture Sector, TCA Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Art features a daily public forum that aims to introduce audiences to the ever-expanding community of art-world figures who by their presence at Abu Dhabi Art, are working together to enhance the U.A.E. art scene. This year, the programme is inspired by the "life" of Modern Museums, including the future museums of Saadiyat Island, as spaces of education, performance and experience.
Reflecting on these themes will be a Louvre Abu Dhabi: Talking Art Series panel, featuring Jean Nouvel, Ernesto Neto and Vincent Pomarede, entitled "Museums as Sites for New Experiences", and a playful lecture-performance by Martin Creed, "What is Art?". Artist and artwork engagement with wider audiences is also explored in talks by world-renowned artists such as the legendary Richard Long, one of the founders of the "land art" movement, as well as inspiring talks by Hassan Hajjaj and Job Smeets of the design collective Studio Job, whose works represent different perspectives on popular culture.
The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi collection will be discussed and part of it will be on display for audiences to experience in the exhibition "Seeing Through Light: Selections from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Collection", which opens in parallel with Abu Dhabi Art. Featuring interactive and engaging artworks that use light as a medium and a muse, the exhibition is enhanced by a public panel that introduces audiences to three artists in the exhibition and collection: Angela Bulloch, Rachid Koraichi and Shirazeh Houshiary.
Abu Dhabi Art also combines the living intangible heritage of the U.A.E. with contemporary design, continuing to highlight the unique qualities of the U.A.E. design aesthetic through programmes such as the Wings Project, which provides emerging Emirati artists and designers an opportunity to reimagine the Abu Dhabi Art "wing" logo. In addition, the Abu Dhabi Art U.A.E. Designer Programme culminates this year with a presentation of innovative design product prototypes using elements of U.A.E. craft by Fatima Al Zaabi, Noora Al Awar and Khuloud Sharafi of TINKAH.