In a city often perceived to bestow a Midas-like touch on the endeavours of its driven inhabitants, it’s no surprise that the tasteful and fashionable acquisition of art and fine watches are a sought-after testament to success and vision. At the apex of Dubai’s cultural and artistic calendar, Art Dubai has become a glittering focal point for collectors and connoisseurs alike – whether as a destination for acquiring the works of the latest fashionable artists or simply to soak up the creativity, vision and emotion of the most interesting talents making their mark on the arts scene of the Middle East and beyond. And now, with GMT GCC as one of its media partners, the combination of fine art, high living and watchmaking expertise makes for a heady mix perfectly suited to Dubai’s cosmopolitan denizens.
Indeed, in recent years Art Dubai has blossomed far beyond the boundaries that its name suggests and is today viewed by much of the art world as one of the premier platforms in the region for modern and contemporary art from the Global South.
While most art exhibits are made up of predominantly Western exhibits and narratives, Art Dubai supplies the stage for a deep dive into works of the Middle East and beyond. Quite simply, Art Dubai is a gravitational force for arts and culture on the UAE events calendar, and 2024 marks the 17th year of the showcase that has transcended its traditional exhibition roots.
Case in point: this year a series of newly-commissioned performances that communicate messages about healing, hope and the power of art in challenging times took place over the course of the fair – particularly pertinent to recent political strife in the region. The flagship Global Art Forum entitled Whether or Not sought to examine the connection between extreme weather and the cultures, technologies, sciences and industries related to it. There were also Modern and Collector Talks, which came in partnership with the newly-inaugurated Dubai Collection, the city’s first institutional collection, launched by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Then there was the A.R.M. Holding Children’s Programme, an initiative designed to immerse youngsters in artistic workshops and activities at the fair, before expanding to more than 100 schools and 15,000 students across all the UAE’s seven emirates.
With a jam-packed programme of artworks, talks and leadership programmes that kicked off during the three-day programme and are set to continue long after the fair wrapped up, it’s clear that community is a huge part of Art Dubai’s purpose.
“Art fairs like Art Dubai have a responsibility to be far more than commercial platforms and we continue to play an important institutional role in this region’s cultural ecosystem, supporting artists, scholarship, thought-leadership and cultural education from an early age,” says Pablo del Val, Art Dubai’s artistic director. “Our programme this year reflected the increasingly diverse and multicultural communities of our home city, providing more opportunities than ever for artists from across the Global South. Dubai is a place of relentless reinvention, possibility and opportunity, and these commercial and institutional partnerships are central to all our activity, supporting our world-class non-commercial programmes.”
The bespoke works of the Dubai Collection made up one of the starring initiatives in Art Dubai’s 2024 edition. An innovative collecting system that unearths and tells stories about Dubai and its communities, it’s made possible thanks to the support of individuals and corporate patrons who loan their personal artworks to the show. The Dubai Collection features some of the UAE’s most high-profile artists and, curated by Alia Zaal Lootah, brings together prominent Emirati artists such as Hassan Sharif, Mohammed Kazem, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Shaikha Al Mazrou, Afra Al Dhaheri, Maitha Abdallah, Hashel Al Lamki, and Sarah Almehairi. In essence, the Dubai Collection sparks conversation about the artists, the artworks and the stories of the patrons who loaned them to Art Dubai.
Speaking of conversation, Art Dubai hosted many insightful talks for visitors to drop in on. Modern Talks was presented by a culturally diverse group of speakers, including curators, scholars and gallerists who regaled stories of artists featured in the Art Dubai Modern section. These talks highlighted the impact of Soviet education and exhibitions on artists from the Middle East, South Asia and Africa – revealing fascinating and untold tales of events that shaped a cultural landscape.
Art Dubai Collector Talks was another interesting facet of the busy schedule, with topics across the three talks including philanthropy, corporate support for the arts and institutional collection.
And then there are the exhibits – of particular interest to watch and jewellery lovers, Piaget’s The House of Gold was a carefully curated exhibit of high-end watches, jewellery, patrimony pieces and rarities from private collections to celebrate the Maison’s 150th anniversary. It featured the launch of a new Limelight Gala watch, reimagined with Arabic typography and graphics by Emirati designer Shamsa Alabbar, reinforcing how essential it is to recognise regional expertise and artistry when playing to the local audience.
“The Art Dubai Group is committed to laying foundations for a thriving cultural and creative ecosystem, inspired by and responding to our home city of Dubai,” says Art Dubai’s executive director Benedetta Ghione. “The cultural scene here is maturing rapidly and we are proud of the role we play in engaging and inspiring audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and in supporting the next generation of cultural professionals. Our year-round education, scholarship and thought-leadership programmes, developed alongside our long-term partners, create significant opportunities for people from all over the world to build careers in the creative industries in Dubai.”
So much more than just an art show, Art Dubai may officially take place for just three days at the beautiful Madinat Jumeirah, but the regional art scene that has sprung up around it has formed a community that thrives year-round.
Art Dubai 2024 took place from March 1st to 3rd at Madinat Jumeirah, delivering its usual palette of creativity, collectability and culture to the region, with connoisseurs of contemporary art converging around the Madinat Jumeirah to soak in its exceptionally curated high culture.
