It’s a cultural enthusiast’s dizziest daydream – a week dripping with paint, pictures, and patterns at different locations in the U.A.E. Very swiftly overtaking the art scene in major metros across the world, Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi have become impressive hubs for cultural exchange in the last 10 years, thanks to concentrated efforts and incentives offered by Royalty and the Arts& Cultural Authority.
To be fair, Art Week has more happening than can be squeezed into a single article, but we’re giving it our best shot. You’ll want to have multiple versions of yourself, longing to make it everywhere. Here are 10 places you need to visit from March 14 to 24 2015:
Design Days Dubai
March 16 – 20: The fourth edition of Design Days Dubai is a must-go for design and architecture students and enthusiasts to witness the latest in product and furniture design. With an extensive engaging public programme of discussion panels, lectures, installations and workshops, you’re sure to be struck with innovative ideas. Learn more about Intellectual Property Laws or attend a workshop that teaches ‘Abstracting Arabic Letterforms’. Not to mention the international exhibitors gracing the space with novel designs.
How much:
One-Day Pass: 50 AED
Children under the age of 18 years old are admitted free of charge. University students can also enter free upon show of student ID.
When:
March 16 Ladies’ Preview 1-4pm
March 16 – 19 Public Days 4-10pm
March 20 Public Day 1-7pm
Where:
The Venue, Downtown Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard (former Emaar Boulevard, next to Burj Khalifa). Download the map here.
More information: http://www.designdaysdubai.ae/
Art Dubai
March 18-21: The 9th edition of this acclaimed international, annual gathering of art lovers brings us stunning line-ups of 90 galleries from the UAE and the world. As every year, the show is divided into the programs: Contemporary, Modern & Marker [Marker shifts its lens every year to a different geographic location]. This year, the ‘Marker’ program turns its eye to art in Latin America. Marker will explore the similarities [and there happen to be many] between Latin American culture and Arab culture, and this link is well-reflected in art. The Marker show includes artists’ books, sound projects, performance and film, as well as drawing, painting and installation.
How much:
One-Day Pass: 50 AED
Three-Day Pass: 80 AED
[Can be purchased onsite]
Children 18 years old and under are admitted free of charge. University students can also enter free upon show of student ID.
When:
Art Dubai Ladies Preview (free and open to all women): Wednesday March 18, 1-4pm
Art Dubai Public Days: Thursday March 19, 4-9:30pm
Friday March 20, 2-9:30pm
Saturday March 21, 12-6:30pm
Where:
Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Road, Umm Suqeim, Exit 39 (Interchange 4) from Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE. Download the map here.
More information: http://artdubai.ae/
Sharjah Biennal 12
March 5 to June 5: Officially under the umbrella of Art Week, the Sharjah Biennale brings us an opportunity to intimately get to know largely new work and commissions from 25 countries – all brimming with shades of their own culture. Aptly titled ‘The past, the present, the possible’, the exhibition features artwork that seeks and explores the ‘possible’, unmistakably making for a subject that incites the dullest man’s intrigue. These installations will be accompanied by creative workshops for photography, fine arts and of course, film.
How much:
Free of cost – walk in.
When:
Open daily – March 5 to June 5, from 10:00 to 21:00
Where:
Sharjah Art Foundation in Heart of Sharjah. Find Google map here.
More information: http://www.sharjahart.org/
RCA Secret
March 18 -21: What happens when you combine luscious art with tantalizing mystery? You get a crowd-pulling exhibition that entices people of all ages and ethnicities. Royal College of Art, thanks to Paul Smith is having its inaugural postcard exhibit, RCA Secret, outside London. What’s the catch? The 1,000 beautifully crafted postcards on show are anonymously exhibited – they could be by the world’s leading artists and designers [with names like JOHN BALDESSARI, ORLA KIELY, DAVID BAILEY and Paul Smith] or by growing RCA students and alumni. The name of the artist will be revealed only after purchase – each available to the public for AED500. Teasingly touching upon what the allure of art is: the name of the artist, the meaning or simply the aesthetic of the work, this show is sure to hit it off with Dubai’s fashion and art lovers.
How much:
The postcards are open to public and for sale, as mentioned, each postcard is for AED500.
When:
Display from March 18-21and the sale will be on March 21 from 12pm to 6pm [on a first come first serve basis]
Where:
Will take place at Art Dubai. Find Google Map here.
More information about the exhibit and sale: http://dubai.secret.rca.ac.uk/2015/
Sikka Art Fair 2015
March 14-24: With a gigantic bucketful of new work in the arena of visual arts, music & film, Sikka Art Fair is not your run-of-the-mill exhibition. It’s largely based on participation from the public with workshops and live entertainment – an initiative to encourage the uptake of skills and art education. Special events include outdoor film screenings, live music and entertainment, cultural walks, artist led talks, workshops and educational activities. From workshops for gypsum carving and jewellery design to drama and how to create cut-out puppets, Sikka Art Fair this year looks indisputably engaging.
How much:
Entry free of cost.
When:
Saturday 14 March: 17:00 – 23:00
Sunday 15 March: 14:00 – 22:00
Monday 16 March: 14:00 - 22:00
Tuesday 17 March: 14:00 - 22:00
Wednesday 18 March: 14:00 - 22:00
Thursday 19 March: 14:00 - 00:00
Friday 20 March: 16:00 - 00:00
Saturday 21 March: 14:00 - 23:00
Sunday 22 March: 14:00 - 22:00
Monday 23 March: 14:00 - 22:00
Tuesday 24 March: 14:00 - 22:00
Where:
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Bur Dubai. Download map here.
More information: http://www.dubaiculture.gov.ae/en/Our-Initiative/Pages/sikka-art-fair.aspx
Featured Image Source: rejigdesign.com/
Stay tuned for interesting pieces exploring the growth of Art in the UAE during #ArtWeek.