Words by Nicola Rafi
Art Dubai has become one of the most highly-anticipated premier art fairs in the region. The 12th edition returns, promising to be grander than ever, from March 21-24 at Madinat Jumeirah, playing host to 105 galleries from 48 countries while satiating the appetite of art aficionados. The preeminent melting pot will witness the crème de la crème of the art world, showcasing contemporary art forms (including newcomers from Iceland, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan), Art Modern – the region’s sole commercial platform comprising museum-quality works by Middle Eastern, African and South Asian talent, and numerous workshops, lectures and exhibitions. Feast your eyes on geometric, conceptual creations such as this acrylic on canvas, displayed with an artisan Ponce Vejigante mask, titled Ethnographic Abstractions.
Ethnographic Abstractions, Jesús ‘Bubu’ Negrón, 2016, acrylic on canvas, courtesy of Henrique Faria
Küchenuhr brings to light mixed-media practices that manipulate mental perception and physical experiences of how the body dwells in space and time. One of the artist’s more recent installations, Durchbruch durch Schwäche (Breakthrough Through Weakness), utilises over 300 clock weights, and is based entirely on the closing sequence of Inception. Mirror images, repetition and flawed doubling are key characteristics in Alicja Kwade’s art, with everyday materials such as coins, metal pipes, glass, lights and even bicycles utilised — distorted to create sensory illusions. This piece, showcased at Art Dubai, offers a mix of epoxy resin, glass and brass.
Küchenuhr, Alicja Kwade, 2017, courtesy of the artist and i8 Gallery
Art Dubai offers more than just a culture fix. This year, artists have been selected for The Abraaj Group Art Prize, giving them the resources required to develop their practice. The Global Art Forum 2018 will focus on “power, paranoia and potentials of automation,” having been named ‘I Am Not a Robot.’ This will be presented by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and is supported by Dubai Design District (d3). Another must-see this year, and one visitors should definitely look forward to, is The Room: a large-scale interactive installation where guests can fully immerse themselves in an art experience. This year’s edition, titled Good Morning GCC, will re-create a live TV show onsite, including daily lifestyle segments. Dinner guests will be able to interact with the props, furniture and scenography, while watching celebrity wedding singer and TV chef Suliman Al Qassar in action (on the opening night).
