November 16–19, 2016
Manarat Al Saadiyat
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
www.abudhabiart.ae
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40 galleries present a selection of exceptional modern and contemporary art, and five renowned curators lead comissioned programmes
Abu Dhabi Art 2016 returns with five renowned curators and 40 established and innovative galleries from 20 different countries. Scheduled to run from November 16 through 19 at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi Art presents iconic pieces by internationally renowned artists and unique artworks by emerging artists.
For its eighth edition, Abu Dhabi Art is further distinguishing its programme of exhibitions, talks and performances and is introducing a new and innovative vision with a curated programme of exhibitions titled Gateway, which will be integrated within the fair, anchoring each section of Abu Dhabi Art within a broader, shared cultural context, setting the tone for the artwork displayed by leading commercial galleries.
Gateway will present a large-scale installation by the influential Beijing artist Gu Dexin, curated by Alexandra Munroe, Samsung Senior Curator, Asian Art and Senior Advisor, Global Arts at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, and an exhibition on Modern Arab art curated by Catherine David, Deputy Director at Paris’ Centre Georges Pompidou. Alsounder Gateway, ‘”Re) Birth,” a thematic group exhibition including emerging and established artists to be curated by Artistic Director Fabrice Bousteau.
Each edition of Abu Dhabi Art also presents a wider public programme that connects with the community through a dynamic schedule of performing arts, collaborative community initiatives, and a series of public talks, bringing together experts from Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and international arts institutions.
As part of the public programme, Durub Al Tawaya, a multidisciplinary platform for performing arts curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh, will bring together a range of artists with diverse perspectives. Part of the programme will be Anna Rispoli‘s light engagement, a participatory performance which interacts with the community from the city, and a performance by artist Tao Ye, which is based on four blindfolded dancers who explore Chinese movement without the use of one of their senses.
Curated by Reem Fadda, Associate Curator, Middle Eastern Art for the Abu Dhabi Project of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, a newly formulated initiative Majlis Fann will provide a platform and a cultural salon for panel discussions, where more than 100 international and regional collectors, museum directors, artists, curators, gallerists, writers, and various cultural practitioners will be invited to participate in Abu Dhabi Art as an opportunity to network, engage and explore the cultural scene of the UAE.
Coming from Europe, Asia, North America and the Middle East, the galleries will exhibit under the fair’s four sections: Modern & Contemporary, Bidaya, Beyond, and Gateway.
The Modern & Contemporary section will present some of the world’s most innovative and established galleries, offering visitors a selection of exceptional modern and contemporary artworks. It will exhibit works by leading figures from returning galleries such as Pablo Picasso (Acquavella Galleries), Wael Shawky (Lisson Gallery), Etel Adnan (Sfeir Semler Gallery), Jacques Villeglé (Galerie GP & N Vallois), Ali Banisadr (Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac), Shafic Abboud (Agial Gallery), Rashid Rana (Leila Heller Gallery), and Michelangelo Pistoletto (Galleria Continua). Also Sean Kelly Gallery (New York) will exhibit at Abu Dhabi Art for the first time and will present a solo show by Idris Khan.
Bidaya, which translates to “beginning” in Arabic, invites an emerging gallery to participate on an international platform and for 2016 it will be Hafez Gallery, which is based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Bringing art to the public arena, Beyond will provide a curated public platform for large-scale sculptures and installations. Selected works will be exhibited throughout the city for a period of six months. Participating artists for 2016 include Nja Mahdaoui (Elmarsa), Lee Bul (Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac), Lawrence Weiner (Giorgio Persano), Wang Dongling (Hanart TZ Gallery) and Slavs and Tatars (The Third Line).
For the full list of galleries, please visit: abudhabiart.ae
