Art Dubai launches its most ambitious edition
The largest-ever exhibition, Art Dubai, kicked off today. The leading global platform for art and artists from the Middle East and Global South will take place at Madinat Jumeirah Dubai from 3 to 5 March, with preview VIP presentations on 1 and 2 March.
The 16th edition of Art Dubai features over 130 galleries from over 40 countries, presented in four main sections: Contemporary, Modern, Bawwaba and Art Dubai Digital. Equally ambitious is the platform’s partnership and non-profit programme, which includes new works commissioned by renowned artists. In addition, an expanded education and thought leadership programme makes this the largest and most comprehensive exhibition yet.
Art Dubai is held in partnership with A.R.M. Holding. The fair is sponsored by Swiss wealth management group Julius Baer. Culturally rich property developer HUNA is a partner of Art Dubai. Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is a strategic partner of the fair. Madinat Jumeirah is home to Art Dubai. Art Dubai is part of Dubai Art Season, which runs from February 1 to March 20.
In 2023 over 30 galleries will be exhibiting at the fair, and over 60% of the gallery programme will be from the South, confirming Art Dubai’s position as the leading art market in this rapidly growing region.
Art Dubai Contemporary showcases the very best in cutting-edge contemporary art from 76 galleries in 34 countries, with a focus on art and artists from the Global South. The 16th edition will feature 14 debutant artists and 12 galleries returning to Art Dubai after a hiatus. In addition, 24 galleries based in Dubai will take part in the fair, the largest number to date, reflecting Dubai’s thriving art ecosystem and its growing importance as a global centre for creativity and culture.
Art Dubai 2023 will once again feature Art Dubai Digital, which received critical and commercial acclaim in 2022. This physical section of the fair offers an annual 360-degree snapshot of the digital art landscape, bridging the gap between the world of art and technology and exploring how artists use immersive technologies to push the boundaries of traditional art. The exhibition is curated from six continents, affirming Art Dubai’s commitment to representing global perspectives and diversity, inviting viewers to look beyond traditional art centres, and identifying key agents and platforms leading the way forward. The expanded 2023 edition, curated by Singaporean art educator and writer Clara Che Wei Peh, will explore the artists, galleries and institutions driving this rapidly evolving field.
The Bawwaba section of Art Dubai 2023 will be curated by Vipash Purichanont of Bangkok. Bawwaba means ‘gateway’ in Arabic, it focuses on artworks created over the past year or specifically for Art Dubai, and includes personal presentations by 11 artists from the Global South. Through a variety of mediums including painting, tapestries, film and performance, this section explores how contemporary artists from the Global South raise issues of their world, from socio-cultural issues such as the tension between rapid urban development and traditional values, the legacy of colonisation on the environment, human relations in an age of hyper-connectedness or personal issues relating to the meaning of language and emptiness.
Art Dubai Modern 2023 is curated by Paris-based critic and curator Mouna Mecoire and Italian art historian Lorenzo Giusti (director of GAMeC, Bergamo). The exhibition features personal presentations by contemporary art masters from the region, confirming Art Dubai’s commitment to curatorial scholarship and historical art research. The selection focuses on contemporary art pioneers in the MENASA region, whose works in retrospect play a key role in today’s art and, by extension, a key role in art history, reflecting the cultural richness and diversity of the region.
Art Dubai’s art programme is complemented by the largest thought leadership programme in the fair’s history, bringing together some of the brightest names in culture and creativity. Continuing the fair’s long-standing commitment to dialogue, diverse voices, and developing Dubai’s cultural infrastructure, the 2023 programme will feature over 50 sessions across an ambitious daily programme of conferences, talks, and education. Highlights include the 16th flagship Art Dubai Global Art Forum, Christie’s first Middle East Art+Tech Summit, a series of talks on contemporary art and collecting developed in partnership with Dubai Collection, and a new event in partnership with Art Business Conference. View the full list of galleries participating in Art Dubai 2023 here
Source: Dubai Media Office
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