The fifth edition of Abu Dhabi Art presented a broad spectrum of art and design, registered unprecedented sales and hosted its most diverse public programme to date.
A world-class display of quality art that ranged from monumental works to small scale creations, and curated exhibitions to solo performances; a stimulating array of talks and discussions by luminaries from the art world; and a multi-sensory public programme encompassing art, music, dance, poetry and films—these were some of the highlights of Abu Dhabi Art 2013, which closed on November 23.
50 leading galleries from around the globe presented modern, contemporary art and design by more than 400 artists at Manarat Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island. The event attracted a growing number of collectors and well-known personalities such as designer Rick Owens, Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo and collector Guy Ullens, as well as representatives of more than thirty esteemed art institutions such as The British Museum, Musée du Louvre, Musée Rodin, Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation, Musée d’Orsay, Tate Modern, Musée l’Orangerie, Musée Guimet, Musée du Quai Branly, Moderna Museet, Musée de Cluny, Qatar Museums Authority, Sharjah Art Foundation and Centre Georges Pompidou, underlining Abu Dhabi’s position as an international cultural centre and art hub.
The Artists’ Waves section of the fair presented works by artists selected by a curator rather than their galleries. This new part of the fair was designed to reflect the dynamism of new artistic movements and shifting perceptions of art, and featured a relaxed salon-style setting that offered an innovative way for visitors to interact with the galleries and to discover new artists.
Another new feature of the fair was the Small is Beautiful exhibition. This addition to Abu Dhabi Art’s popular Art, Talks and Sensations programme, curated by Fabrice Bousteau and described as ‘the smallest art fair in the world,’ featured small scale artworks by artists such as Jean Michel Basquiat, Erwin Wurm and Subodh Gupta.
At the other end of the spectrum, the fair featured an expanded Beyond section with 11 monumental works such as Jukhee Kwon’s waterfall-like paper installation Arabesque dream and Hassan Sharif’s outdoor installation Iron No. 5.
For Abu Dhabi Art 2013, galleries brought a very wide variety of art, ranging from monumental museum quality works to small works on paper, and from iconic pieces by masters to experiments with new media by dynamic young artists. With price points ranging from 2,500 USD to more than 23,000,000 USD, there was something for everyone. The fair attracted buyers from across the region, as well as international collectors and museums. Despite a few hours on the second day being lost due to severe weather, galleries reported strong sales, right from the vernissage up to the last hour before closing.
The expanded Abu Dhabi Art Design programme showcased a wide spectrum of avant-garde designs and highlighted the UAE’s unique aesthetic, with a special focus on architecture. The centrepiece of the Design programme was a commissioned structure made from recycled cardboard rolls by legendary Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and housed the Design Souq featuring products, talks, demonstrations, and workshops by Emirati and international artists and artisans.
The public programme—the most diverse to date—saw the return of Art, Talks and Sensations with a new theme of ‘Dunes and Waves,’ representing the visual and transitional desert landscape and the constant rippling of the sands. The performances included Chassol’s mesmerising film and live musical performance Indiamore, a choreographic depiction of human relationships by hip hop dancers Honji Wang and Sebastian Ramirez, and an installation of plants that produced sounds when touched.
The launch of Durub Al Tawaya, a performing arts programme, curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh, took the fair beyond Saadiyat Island into the city of Abu Dhabi, by creating a route connected by cultural happenings at various locations around the city. The programme included converting four public buses into travelling art installations, workshops, storytelling performances on boats and poetry reading sessions on the beach with hip hop dance competitions.
Abu Dhabi Art,is organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, and sponsored by Bank Julius Baer Co. Ltd., is an annual platform for modern and contemporary art and design. The sixth edition will be held from 19–22 November 2014.
For more information contact:
Emma Cantwell
ecantwell [at] tcaabudhabi.ae / T +971 2 6981847
Abu Dhabi Art is organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority to further promote Abu Dhabi as a catalyst for art and culture—locally, regionally, and internationally. Abu Dhabi Art creates the opportunity for gallerists, collectors, artists and art aficionados to meet, to acquire new artworks, share ideas and exchange information.
Providing a wide spectrum of the visual arts including painting, sculpture, drawing, installation and photography as well as video and digital art by more than 400 artists, Abu Dhabi Art showcases both renowned and emerging artists. Since its inception, the fair has also supported new artists gaining foothold into the market and has artwork appealing to different tastes and budgets.
Engaging with the community is an essential part of the Abu Dhabi Art platform and visitors can enrich their experience through the many public and education programmes that are an integral part of the platform’s offerings, including a dedicated Art Zone space for children. Abu Dhabi Art is sponsored by Bank Julius Baer Co. Ltd.
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) was created in February 2012 and took on the employees, assets, roles and responsibilities of the former Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, and included the Cultural Department of Tourism Development & Investment Company. The Authority’s objective is to conserve and promote the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi and develop a world-class destination of distinction.
Art, Talks and Sensations curated by FabriceBousteau, is a labyrinth of live performances, artistic installations and sensory experiences inviting visitors to explore through a range of encounters created by contemporary artists.
Julius Baer is the leading Swiss private banking group with a focus on servicing and advising sophisticated private clients and a premium brand in global wealth management. Julius Baer’s total client assets amounted to CHF 304 billion at the end of June 2013, with assets under management accounting for CHF 218 billion. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., the renowned Swiss private bank with origins dating back to 1890, is the principal operating company of Julius Baer Group Ltd., whose shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: BAER) and form part of the Swiss Market Index (SMI) of the 20 largest and most liquid Swiss stocks.
Julius Baer is currently integrating Merrill Lynch’s International Wealth Management business outside the US. This will increase the Group’s presence to more than 25 countries and 50 locations. Headquartered in Zurich, we have offices from Dubai, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Lugano, Madrid, Monaco, Montevideo, Moscow, Shanghai to Singapore. For more information visit our website at www.juliusbaer.com.