uae v e n t s h e n the e onth i i n g lo e cultural o k at th appenings m b i r a m ch a c k te n g t h e a r d u r i o f m ART DUBAI SHARJAH BIENNIAL GUGGENHEIM TALKS AL-BASTAKIYA ART FAIR 56 art dubai Latifa Echa kch. Frame s. 2006. Cu t out carpets . Variable Di mensions. Galerie Kame l Mennour, Paris. where the gra is green and thss art is pretty e There is no bug. Yet its denying the fact that advocates. third edition proves thArt Dubai has been bit reflected a More cohesive than it at art prevails, as do ten by the credit world’s sta coming-of-age and w s predecessors, this its passionate lwarts and a y future lumin s a spectacular show ear’s fair aries. case of the art i TEXT AND P HOTOGRAPHY BY MYRNA A YAD xxxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx x xxxxxxxxx G andhi made an appearan year’s Art D ce at last ubai fair, pa Gandhi: Les cast in alum in ted in red, s than two w a white lapto inium and fi the third edit eeks before p. He made d dling on ion of Art Du his possess ba attendance this year at A an amplified ions were sn i kicked in, both in mini, ico for $1.8 milli apped up reclining form n Gallery, businessma on at auctio n b $1000 (“to e , ncourage yo priced at n Vijay Mally y Indian Branson of In a , ‘t said the gall un ery’s Jagroo g collectors,” dia’, who ha he Richard edition of 75 p Mehta of th donate Gan s promised ) while a life e dhi’s round to retailing at $ -siz p la te , sandals and g la s s e s ,b 2000, feature ed version, In d ia pocket watc owl, sporting a w d Gandhi n government. h to the hite iPod. In A c o u Debanjan R dian artist ple of booth oy has also sa of Gandhi w m ade a sculp a S u b odh Gupta o way at Bodhi Art, ith ture il on canvas his India Shin a cell phone, all part of priced at $5 9 3,000 sat, te piece ing series – reserved. It n the Indian g R overnment a oy’s take on was the only tatively description nd the $10,000 w ork above of India’s glo the media’s gallery had –$100,000 b ra c the series sp bali ins a contem sation. While brought. “I’m ket that the forecasts,” s n o India’s fathe p r figure, one orary twist on aid the galle t making any Roy, “we ca ry Gandhi’s im pressions o wonders wh at me with an o ’s Sharmishta triumph may f India’s IT s and of cours pen mind have been. e c to r e th e re ’s been gallery’s con would have “I had a few q think Gandhi scious decis talk.” The I mid-range a io about India and the rest uestions to ask rtworks was n to bring b sold a cons so ‘bright shiny ’ future and of the world ’s iderable num und – they is a globalis ho each priced ber of works ed playgrou w the world th e fa at less than $ 1 0 0 ,0 , O gallery’s Lon n d ,” said the ir ’s first day. De 0 0 ,d don director, a G u p spite the rari uring T Indeed, Marc Niru Ratman ta paintin ty of h was quite the month fo . went back to g, this particular artwork ev r Mumbai. bu Meanwhile, Sakshi Galle “Art Dubai is ry’s six bras Th t of square m he most expensive fa s Ec etres!” - And ir in terms rée Sfe ir-Semler Zoulikha Bo uabdellah. (Detail) Love . 2009. Instal lation on wa ll, 10 callig raphic gloss paintings on steel. Each piece 150 x 60 cm. Editio n of 3. Galer buffalos by ie LA Bank , Paris. Contempora Valay Shend ry Indian art e set off ooh ist Galerie Kam among pass s and aahs el Mennour; ersby, the m and Abraaj C Algerian artis whom misto ajority of apital Prize t ok them for Bouabdellah winner Zouli $55,000, thre cows. Priced ’s kha e collectors. T were sold, all to Indian at of 10 gloss-p Love, a wall installation he ainted differe noted “lots o gallery’s Geetha Mehra steel artwork s that each ntly coloured f inquiries b hubb (love) spell the wo at the fair, a ut dding that th fewer sales,” B a n k in Arabic at G a le ri e rd show only S ed and German LA hende’s buff ecision to N a s s /Iranian artis t alos was, “to eri’s* Epistro T make an im pact.” She c e m phy, a sculp imo fair’s “terrific ommended b edded in a w tu re organisation the s ta all and polis in less steel at h e mix of curato rs, museum ” and great “ T h Galerie Sfeir d in speakers at directors an e most touche -Semler*. the Global A d gallery’s An d o b je c t,” as the spite of a ge rt Forum. Ye drée Sfeir-S neral mood t in despairingly e m ler said and a subdu of apprehen , caught the ed level of s sion its utter uniq p u take on the 2009 edition ales, Mehra ’s ueness and blic’s eye for other galleri was much li did everyon b eauty, but litt sts’ – “great ke e know just le In time, said for networkin painstaking h o w pricey and Mehra, “Art g.” a task it was become an Dubai could ship and as to produce, important fa s e m b le . “The quality ir.” walls has im of the proved and Oh Wow b e tt e r service in pu w e ’v e n e ver had s h e s tting up the There were a ys. Furtherm b ooth,” a few works a ll o f ore, the gall veryone talk th at N asseri’s work e ry sold ing, not for th had L e b a n s while piec e eir ese artists W s ut rather, for their ‘jump a price, A k ra alid Raad* a by hese include t you’ effect. m Zaatari were n d d Moroccan c o ll e c sold to Euro chakhch’s c art ti ons. One co p ean utout carpets ist Latifa re g io n a uld dub the y o , Frame, at l artists ung recently acq whose works have bee uired by Cha n rles Saatchi as the YMEA s – Young M Artists. Fittin idd gly, a work b le Eastern to view a wo YMEA at Ga y lerie Sfeir-Se one such Y o s s rk by Saudi resident, Ay Marwan Rec m ler, Lebanes ri , who pastes hmaoui, was e p o s te rs o ld Arabic mo man European m re onto woode vie useum. “Eve served by a O ri g in n tissue box see Middle ry a lly Palestinia e s Eastern art [a one expects to natio n with Jorda . our artists a t Art Dubai] n a lity, his serie n ian re the best,” and is in s Maharem whose trans s a s p ir ed by the em (t is su ported artwo id the gallerist, films otions that th es) $1000–$100 rk s ranged fro tr ig ger, althoug e ,000. Yet, sh m p o s te h Yossri also se old “Art Dubai is e objected tha rs from contem infu the most ex p t, fi lm s , a porary Weste ses terms of squ ensive fair in lbeit their Ara rn are metres!” o f th e bic incarnati gallery with W hy did the la st to sign up o ns branches in G th re e w at Art Dubai, . One Lebanon pa ermany and eeks prior) th (only rticipate the g a ll e ry e sole Saud a Beirut gall n ? “You can’t b w as overwhelm i A rabian ery and not e in it s e d w it h th “I’ve been s c o me,” she sa a rt ists. Indeed e interest upporting A id, M a h a , nine edition the start.” rt D ubai from re m series were s of the by other Sau sold, among Meanwhile, di artists tha works aro huddled into und the corner, people between $2 000 t all ranged Jeddah-bas ed Athr Gall show the tex –$45,000. “We want to ery ture of our s gallery’s fou oc nder, Moham iety,” said the med Hafiz. Subodh Gu pta. (Detail) Untitled. 20 08. Oil on ca nvas. 198.1 2 x 363.22 cm. Bodhi Art, Mumbai. Farhad Mo shiri. Golde n Allah 1. 20 09. Strass and glitter on canvas. 110 x 110 cm Another cro each. Galer ie Perrotin, Paris/Miam wd-puller at i. Iranian artis the fair was t Farideh La lot of interes Want to be A shai’s I Don t.” Meaning – a Tree, I Want to be its ’t buyers rang The general talk among series of an a plausible n photograph imated wait until the ote – better s on paintin end and hag at Bahrain’s gs, on show One rather b gle over pric ubbly galleri es fascination w Albareh Gall ery. Lashai’s a newbie to st – and also . the symbol and ith the tree a s an historic Emmanuel P Art Dubai scene – was as errotin of the witnesses th an element of nature th Galerie Perr otin who ma Paris/Miami e passage o at Art Basel Mia de h events, is at the centre o f time and it s mi Beach (A eadlines at art piece. Lik f this fascina first day with BMB) 2008’s e a journey ting the sale of a Lashai’s wo within journe Farhad Mos work by rk (solely sh ys, hiri* to a Be booth) was ow for $250,000 lgian collecto a multi sens n at Albareh’s bring works . “It’s very e asy to decid r inspired by ory experien by Moshiri, b e to Turkish nove ce, to get the w ut it’s very h Pamuk’s My list, Orhan ork from him ard Name is Red “[Moshiri] w ,” said Perro feeling that and leaves o as very gene ti n, the ne than the sum whole is indeed greate because he saw what we rous, perhap s of its individ r Five works b did at ABMB ual parts. y the Iranian .” New Galler artist were u Contempora pa ry It is certainly ies on the A rt Dubai Bl $70,000 eac t Perrotin’s booth for h, no distinguish b t rocket science to ock Two were so or $250,000 for the lot. ld, and a happy etween a m iserable gall best to avoid and while Perrotin tries on erist reserves, an his disclose sale e. The latter will gladly put on hold. Another one other two we re s, report that th while the former will is never to c hange price of his policie s e majority o location or e s, regardles been reserv f artworks h co s o f ed, the artsy clic or, faux-cheerily declare ave Was it a goo nomic fluctuations. Brav d ti o. hé, “People have shown Dubai, given me to participate at Art th a in Miami is c e gallery’s sister branch losed for an undisclosed Valay Shen de. Untitled . 2009. Bras s metal dis cs. Variable dimensions period of tim . Sakshi Ga llery, Mumb ai. e, recession et not to mention the al? “We kno and artist, R who are still w many peo otraut Klein-M rich,” grinne ple tr a d oquay. Klein Among othe d P e m ark blue, oth r newcomers errotin. In te rn e rwise known ’s Dubai scene to a ti onal Klein B a were New Yo the Art c o lo u lue, was am s Arts and Mil rk’s L&M re d pigment w o n g the an’s France w e re ithin the tab who had bro s c a Minini, v e rsions in hot le s , as ught two art p ri c e d pink and go Kutlug Atam is ts – Turkish a t $35,000 ea ld leaf, an (another v e ry in ch. “To me, Prize winner) A b raaj Capital e xpensive,” n th ey’re and Ghada oted Rajara known for w Amer. Widely tnam. ork that tack Who? Wher gender and les sexuality, Am issues of ‘Expensive’ e? installation c er’s $133,00 wo on a carpet and sisting of two armchairs 0 champagne uld have had to be the at w to admire th allpaper drew crowds in , at $37 a pop Art Dubai, steeply price in d embroidery. e Egyptian a rtist’s tradem (2008) where comparison to ABMB Minini was im ark a flute cost the “curiosit pressed with media repre $14. Indeed y and attenti sentative co a fair, compari on,” at the year there w mmented, “ as Last ng “people actu it to European shows – fish and chip foie gras, this year, there all s.” One Syri ’s cards here.” y give you their noted the pri cey F&B an an gallerist the masses da Fantastic wo rks by Sam that seemed lso observed stay outside to Picasso, Ro bert Indiana Francis, Pab lo during the fa prefer to Shirazeh Ho an guzzling free ir’s vernissa ushiary were d Iranian artist on sumptuo champagne and nibbling ge, L&M Arts, a on display a us canapés nd were part t indeed whe .A gallery’s Su kanya Rajara of what the re the mass nd outside was the fair’s sub es w as a “brand tn ing strategy,” am termed sequent day ere. During trickled in an s, “this is our w ay of telling adding that, d out, perha people sell blue chip everyone we series of ph ps due to th work.” Fronti enomenal le e were three Y ng the booth Global Art F ctures at the oru models by K ves Klein tab les based o Vanity Fair w m featuring names like lein, supervis n riter and ex ed by his wif Bob Colace Interview ed e llo, German itor Susan Hefu /E gyptian artis na*, curator t “We know m and art critic - Emmanuel an y people wh Perrotin o are still ri ch.” “People act ually give y - Francesca Minini ou their cards here. ” Ghada Am er. Le Salon Courbé. 20 07. Embroid ery, fabric, wallpaper, wo od. Variable dimensions . Francesca Minini, Milan . One Syrian observed thgallerist noted the pri outside dur e masses that seemecey F&B and also champagneing the fair’s vernissa d to prefer to stay and nibblin ge g on sumpt , guzzling free Hans Ulrich uous canap adviser at th Obrist, Dr Z a ki Nusseibe és. e UAE Preside h , presale estim and Vice Ch ntial Ministry ate of $13.8 airman of th million), no o m Authority for Culture and e Abu Dhab i ne could mis illion–$19.7 Agial Gallery s (ADACH) an d Thomas K Heritage * founder Sa the beam on Advisor for In rens face. Works le h Barakat’s ternational A , Senior artists, Nabil by two of Ag ia l’s Lebanese R Guggenhe ffairs, Solom Nahas* and im Foundati on Baalbaki* w A to name a fe w. A much a on, New York , ent under th yman talk with fam nticipated $158,500 an e hammer fo ed Iranian fi d $ 6 0 ,0 00 respectiv r photograph lm fa r e x c eeding their e ly; both er Abbas Kia maker and h a p p estimates. “ live up to its ro stami failed y ,” laughed Bara I’ m very billing when to a re re kat, “both p and the ses h e didn’t sho a lly outstandin ie sion was rep w O c to b g.” Since Ba ces recorded ina la ced with a p e r 2008 show a lb udible phon re- g o n e at Agial, som aki’s with him. e conversation a s far so to say e h tu rb a n -c that the you ave Or, perhaps lad artist is th n g, the masses O f h is e next big th Cleef & Arpe w ere at the Va tw o works sho ing. ls (VCA) The n w a s b wn at the fa Jewels exhib A rt of Magica o u ght, while ne ir, o ition – a spe ctacular sev l other by a p gotiations fo ne room hall th en- rominent ins r the at took view ongoing. Bu titution are of the famed ers into the tB je with its histo wellery house, beginnin world for – he sold arakat had more to bea ry through to g 80 percent o m themes that the central Art Dubai’s f his stock. pre ha VCA. And th ve continued to inspire approximate ss release issued an 15 en have been in again, masses could at the fair alo ,000-visitor attendance D ng with 350 auction in th oha for the first Sotheby Towards the me fair’s closing dia reps. e region tha ’s gallerist who , the Syrian of Orientalis t in t, Contempo cluded sales steep F&B p rightly rema rke artworks as well as a wa rary and Isla mic rices, sat laid d on the booth with a ba the auction highlight – T tches sale a nd cooler plante ck at his “The press [a db of Baroda – that set the he Pearl Carp et ttendance] is eside him. for a carpet world record last year,” h slower than at auction. A e said, an in considering tere telephone b idder paid $ n anonymou s the gallery d sting remark, 173 x 264 cm 5,458 last year. It w id not partic carpet studd ,500 for the as, nonethe ipa pearls supp e d s h a re d b y less, a comm te orted by dee with Basra a few other ent r hide and s Through rep gallerists as The Contem ilk. eated tours w ell. po lots that inclu rary art sale featured 51 halls and dis cu of the Art Du bai regulars – M ded Middle Eastern auc collectors, o ssions with gallerists an ne d oh Hossein Zen ammed Ehsai, Charles tion Lincoln once thing rings true: Abraha sa m de and Louay K roudi, Shirin Neshat* of the people id, ‘You can please som s e like Arman, ayyali – and fresh infusio people som ome of the time, all of th e of the time Ban Anish Kapoo ksy, Olafur Eliasson an ns people all o , some of th e r. Despite on d f the time, b e million in tha ly realising $ p le a se all of the u t y o u can never t category (l 4.3 people all o ess than ha f th e time.’ lf the *Featured in Canvas ile, y smsharjahou’re in ial 9 is q u it e a n . C vit h a n g in g it s format fo r 2 0 Sharjah Bienn e, it has proved itself as a s of its opening week behin dual opening of 0 d a 9 n a d n n experience al, living, breathing entity it and the masses d o abandoning t ju s t a static a pre-set themt with the rush and madnes ed to the UAE to attend the hat next? exhibition. Bu tors and visitors who floodArt Dubai now long gone, w of critics, curaial (running until May) and Sharjah Bienn on n a w a l l a c e-thomps jah biennial r TEXT BY an R T E S Y OF the sha u lture and conte xt G E S CO U t th e lo c a l c IMA n n ia l 9 – much abou it e ly h e lped,” grins h B ie , d e fi n of Sharja as possible inspired the T he sheer size A rt M u s e u m , “T h a t in it s e lf Sharjah Persekian. g relevant to th e installed in the ree storeys in the a te s o m e th in sprawling ove r th u s e u m, artists to cre y e x h ib it.” This is very b A rt M ic h th e mporary Ara place in wh t all the piece s Sharjah Conte into the arts and heritage uch evide n t th ro u g h o u r amongst s p il li n g o v e r S e rk a l m n d e n o m in a to and the mo e n v ir o n s , including both e . a nd is the com m u t o f d if fe re nt media, are a ssiv ga S h a m s i h o u ses – is impre a s s im i w orks in a wide a ll fo u r c o rn ers of the and l-Q fro m te d b y H H S heikha Hoor A , a llowing artists t, c ohesive whole . Dire c P e rs e k ia n rm a ti g h irector Jack globe to fo and Artistic D Is a b e l C a rl o s two curators along with its bou El-Fetouh h ib it io n ) a n d Ta re k A h A li c e ’s Please Touch hibits is Halil Altindere’s (ex ug t ex s e ri e s ), it is a journey thro v e a ls One of the firs h , a painting of HH (film n ro o m re th e S h e ik r of s room upo Portrait of ssimi, Membe Wonderland a of installations and S u lt a n A l- Q a ay Dr Sheikh ncil and Ruler of an endless arr ore fantastic than the u p re m e C o u es to hm the UAE S wall with hing artworks, eac e s iv e n e s s a re w u n g o ff th e lity and coh Sharjah, s ; cheeky, fun, with last. Their qua os’s foresight – herself a a fe b e h in d it arl reveal a s t, the exhibitio n testament to C io n . P a rt ic ip a ting c li c h é . A t fi rs r to the reg a dash of ons and work s in first-time visito rj a h fo r c , in s ta ll a ti is ts w e re b ro ught to S h a in g seems sta ti b y b ri g h t li g h ts, museum- art be lit s te o f lo c a l culture before orks for display cases . It v e ry q u ic kly becomes a ta w t-up m m is s io n e d to create their c il it a ti n g like in their se r, th a t th is is a rich and co d fa ev e B ie n n ia l. “B y providing an w e ll apparent, how exhibition of incredible th e ntr y ted e v is it s o f a rt ists to this cou to c o m e carefully cura . T h e m u s e u m’s layout th em pth e a d o f ti m e , and asking th they had variety and de display rooms on either a h fter ith w it h d e fi n it e proposals a w a s – a long hall w u p to kn o e e n th e p la c e and gotten s 57 side – allow s for each ste to throw the p forwards viewer into a Worlds wit different roo co m, rather like mpletely Over the brid hin Worlds theme park, a trip throug ge and into a boat ride th ha Contempora the of art’; from Firoz Mahm rough a ‘tun nel ry Arab Art M Sharjah further three us Tarp, a gree n hut embla ud’s Halcyo n storeys of in eum, a green Beng zoned with e screenings a stallations, fi al Tigers, to qually Na nd artworks lm like atmosph the Hallowe d ia Kaabi Linke e n th ra l. From ere of Hiroyu en- S ta ’s exquisite n d ing Over Vie U n The Lost Wo ki rks of Caspa Masuyama’s p a in ws, pieces o der r David Fried t fragments fr f fa – a series of five light box rich c it ie om the walls llen digitally edit es containin s around the w of different ed composit g from the ceil o rl d a ll s recreate lan dscape pain e photograp hs to ing in a delic uspended them ‘real’ – ting shaped like a te composit Carlos’s Pro s, rendering fi lm in a map of the U A E , to ion Future is stim visions for th stallation, Sm the ulating and e b y M ile, You’re in refr a riam Ghani a S h pieces invite audience inte eshing. Many th e s nd Erin Ellen arjah as Simryn G raction, such e nses are sim K elly, ill’s ‘Please T p a rt ic ply overwhe accompany o u u lar plays with lm ed ing Remains ch’ signs o n s c the senses – . It in o re en in a dark Collected W f orks of Maha Vol 38 of The th e ened mini th there, Sheela Gow tm ic o nic roundab eatre, is da’s Some P a Gandhi or is named an o u t a ft e r metal water pipes that in lace, a serie s of d which one which the film on the way to has closer listen . vite viewers to a the museum just passed One of the m puts it, “The . As Persekia ost harrowin re is m o re dialogue be n is Agnes Jan g installations th e a rt is ts, the peop tween ich’s Man to T h is is le and local plaque layin M an. A small less of an ex c o ntext. g out the dif a p la hibition and Nazis’ treatm fe re nces in the c e where things le s s ent of huma n a n d m o are only pre of heralds the s versus dog re of a place s ented layered, cha s a rt is ti that engage cacophanic o ti c sound of c p roduction pro s the barking, the T o s it , cess.” were treated w ords “dogs e nsconced in when ill, peo s p a c e the cool, calm all”, causing p le not at o f the room m a bitter feelin extremely se akes you su of your stom g in the pit lf-a ware of the a ddenly ach. The bla o f the situatio passages, e nding in brig ck, winding n: sitting in a bsurdity of decaying ht in Sharjah, wa building meat and do video footage artificial des tching imag e at the came ra through li gs gnashing ert within a b s of an very same lo uild causes para noia and pa nk wire fenc e cation. Smile ing in the installation p nic. Rare is Sharjah is no , You’re in iece that tru the table for the instantly con wa confronts th e audience ly grabs and nects with th y in which it roundabout ea this: It is a s as p obering mom owerfully as depicted is a udience; the The Biennia lo ent. l succeeds p cal icon. creating min ar excellenc i-spaces a w e in orld away; O n It is a journe upon room y through Alice’s Won and artworkreveals an endless arr derland as room s, each mor a e fantastic ty of installations han the last . 58 Clockwise fro m top left: Ja ne and Louis e Wilson. Sp Sasayama, iteful of Drea Bobby and m. 2008. Me Laura, Harol dia video ins d and Maud tallation; Sh e, Kelly and eela Gowda. Griff, Maria Some Place and Felix, Sh . 2005. Soun irley and Cy d installation ril, Stephan ; Lara Fava ie and Sabri retto. Amam na. 2009. Me iya and chanical ins tallation. 59 The black, w meat and do inding passages, endin g paranoia an gs gnashing at the cam in bright video footag d e e confronts th panic. Rare is the inst ra through link wire fe of decaying e audience a n as powerfull llation piece that truly ce causes y as this: It g is a soberin rabs and g moment. Samira Badra n. Have a Ple asant Stay! 2009. Mixed media turns tile installat ion. Hala Elkouss y. On Red Na Red Nails, P ils, Palm Tre es and Othe r Icons – Al- alm Trees an Archief (Take 2). 2009. Mi xed media – Al-Archief d (Take 2) by H Other Icons installation. room within ala Elkoussy House, Laure a room, line ,a nt Grasso’s the Vision, th Th with Egyptia n photograp d floor to ce iling e Narrower th e Wider pictures of m hs, (Kullama Itta e Statement ovie stars, is videos and to Maid sa’at Al Ru’y a Dhaqat Al-Ib into a fortun a e teller’s bou kin to stepping com er Lopez’s life-size Foo ara) an instant te d o p lete with drin tb a leportation in ir, s o m king fountain ll Field, universe. Ja to e of the many , a ne and Louis another fe e l interactive w re just Spiteful of D e Wilson’s a part of the e o rk s that ream has a te m nvironment, esque series L a ra Baladi- p o rary installati ra th of kaleidosc b y w ons. These a er than reflecting ea o pic mirrors o rk s by Gita Me re joined ch other, an Simryn Gill, h , H a y images of a ds irplane moto ound and Lawrence W v Kahraman, Hadjithomas eine rush of the s rs c enses. The o ausing a and Khalil Jo r and Joanna the spectrum ther end of many others reige, amon is Samira Ba . g media turns d tile installatio ran’s mixed It’s all in t Pleasant Sta n, y!, an homa Have a he Provisions fo Timing of stifling cla ge to the se r th experienced ustrophobia and intimida nse commended e Future has to be fo Ramallah-Je when going through the tion wholly intera r the way in which it so rus cts with its a Similarly, the alem checkpoint. would like to maintain a c udience. “I way the work of movemen ert the museum and into the s spill out of t outside the ain freedom area, from th surrounding Persekian. “ box,” agrees e blue neon I would like Biennial as a to ke running dow n the walls o Arabic scrip t flexible struc ep the not, at a cert tu f a hall in Se rkal ain point, en re that does itself to a ce d up restricti rtain definitio ng n or criteria 60 that ceases to giv e it the poss to change. I ibil want it to sta ity of flexibility trying listen and in yo to pack an e teract sponta rganic and p ro g ramme into ntire film and arising issue neously with o talks s.” T h e ne week.” Of the quality fi lm series, Pa of the works c u ra st of the Com there is no q on display te d by El-Feto ing Days, uestion. But s c h uh, the jam-p the infrastru what about e dule of talks acked cture? Visito p ro and The Ma rs? Talks v e d too much rc h programme s? Having to e q u for many, wit Meeting, production p halt their a lly packed s h an rogramme (r Dubai’s Glo e ri e s o f le c to, but indep un endent of, th ning parallel bal Art Forum tures at Art time. All sch a the time bein g, Persekian e Biennial) fo r eduled for th t the same admit the Bie is conflicts of in e opening wee nnial had to the first to hindered au terest and c h oice perhap k, in its openin o much to d d ie s coincide wit g week, time d as it was, o talks were n nce numbers; a pity, as h Art Dubai to o table for the the was way too n ext h o n e s ty and casua ir p u n c h iness, much to see door. “There th e m a l approach, m and do,” he udience-frie a admits. “This one-week ru fo r a ndly and allo king was definite sh of everyth g reater level o w in ly not to our ing in te ra f audience-s g it was usefu a dvantage. Ye c tion and deb p eaker l to some, e t, a s W ate. Speake travelling wh s p ecially those il li am Wells of rs such o could only G a ll e Egypt’s Tow a few days in a fford to spen ry and Christin n h o the UAE. I d d A s h k e Tohme of L use be doing this on’t think we a l Alwan for Co e banon’s in the future ’ll discussed c ntemporary , however, ura A rts Laurent Gras the Middle E torial challenges in ast, while oth so. The Wide r the Vision the Narrowe er speakers r the Statem ent. 2009. Ne on installation . 61 included Re m Koolhaas Tim Stanley , Khalil Raba of the Victori h, ensuring tha Museum an a and Albert t lo from the UA d a liberal d ose of figure brought to th cal school students are E arts and c s e Biennial; s ulture scene the museum omething wh . ’s education ich Provisions continues to department fo work hard fo “We learn fro r the Future audiences a nd the youn r, to educate m our failure about art, cu ger generati that’s the m s ost importan and mistakes, works’ vitality lture and he ritage. The on Persekian. H t thing,” say and organic e re s realistic, weig mains undaunted yet means they p have now be lacement hing up the of their envir co failures of th e new ‘no th successes a nd onment, part me a part format. “By em breathing cit of a living, allowing ours e’ Biennial have Art Dub y. Sums up Pers out of the bo elv x – and there es to think ai, Tourism D ekian, “We and Investm e the possibilit y to test it – by be given ent Compan velopment positive feed and receive Dhabi and th y projects in back, an un so e Sharjah Bie Abu of where we derstanding the sum tota nnial; I feel th come from a l of all these at are trying to nd what we greater than events is far wh do success I ca , is perhaps the greates for. It is, I thin at they each alone stan k, d Now that the n think of.” t us to mainta of strategic importance madness of in this sort o for weeks have its opening and try to cre f co-ordinati pa ate a really fe o n in the air: W ssed, the question hang art and artis ts.” rtile ground for hat next for s of the Bienn the remaind ial? A well-o er and extensiv rganised e education Sharjah Bie (comprising programme nn some 9000 students) is For more in ial 9 runs until 16 Ma for y. www.sharja mation visit hbiennial.o David Sprig gs. Axis of Po wer. 2009. Multi-dimen sional instal lations. rg 62 guggenheim tal The Guggenh ks that featured seim Abu Dhabi series inclu from the pleth ome of the art world’s greded a spectacular line-up o 7, 8, 9 and 18ora of intellectually stimulaats. Here are some sound f talks March at Galle ting sessions bites IMAGES CO r y O n e , Emirates Pala th a t to o k p URTESY OF TBWA RAAD ce Hotel, Abu lace on Dhabi. “Works that a those than care the most relevant are n sus Jeff Koons. tain themselves.” American artist, “You got me t tell Frank Gehhere! We can plant a few a A reply from Th ry about the p nd I’ll Guggenheim F om as K rens, Senior Ad a lm trees.” ou visor for within the Gugg ndation, New York when a International Affairs, Solom enheim Abu Dh sk on abi since they sed if palm trees can be includ R ymbolise the M ed “You’ll know it iddle East. British curator S when you see audience mem ir N orman Ros it.” ber who askedenthal’s reply to an “We all , “What is art?” like to play with fire.” Palestinian artist, Mona Hatoum “I am deeply obsessed with red.” “Painting Indian/British artist, is a way of Anish Kapoor thinking.” Iranian artist, Rokni Haerizadeh 63 the cree by bastakiyak at al- ge fe s ti v a l, th e A This year’s frin has begun to mature, with a c o proved that it to and education programmes. Fa o ir , th a t ra n fr o m 15-22 March, l-Bastakiya Art hesive selection of artworks, lks installations, ta WALLACE-THOMPSON AND LAUDI A BILAMA ANNA KANSO NA AYAD AND ERY,NADINE TEXT BY MYR ESY OF GR E E N A R T G ALL p e ndent resource E S CO U RT e e l, a n in d e IMA G a s ta k iya was Tashk e rs , w ho staged a se l a s A l- B d d e s ig n for artists an V olta is to Art Ba D u b a i. t ta c k le d th e concept of A rt a Art Fair (BAF) is to e k A rt group show th d ia te s u rroundings. as th e C re im m e Formerly known e rg in g identity vis à vis e en to Beirut, w o rk s b y e m e w h o h a v e b Fair, BAF is wh ere , th e For thos a n e h… Beirut/Dual a n d in d e e d n s o ’s W a l3 talent from the UAE, Nadine Ka d d b e y o n d , c o m e to g ether. lit y in s ta lla ti o n at B21 complete Middle East a n Rea ld h o u s e s o f A l-Bastakiya, s io n (a n d a h alf) through its is Nestled in the o la n d c o m es alive, its m a b ili ty to transport viewe rs lo t o f astoun d in g this historical p io n o f th e w in ding h e 1 0 im a g es plastered ve rs to Beiru t. T a contemporary lo re . It w o u ld n’t w a lls s c re a med the city’s n fo lk against th e streets of Arabia to s e e S in b a d come s – th e vibrant, unriva lled rp ri s in g a l re a lit ie and have been su h o o k a h -smoker du rs u s s o c ietal frustration o r a e v e around a corne r, g s it , c ro s s nigh tl if n c e m a n if e s te d on Beirut’s list painti n political turbule at from an Orienta d o o rw a y s . Y e t, w o rd s . “I a m a ls o pointing out th f th e urban w a lls legged in one o a n d ‘c o h e sive’ ro b le m [i n B eirut] that has eth e r’ there is a p like ‘with it’, ‘tog it io n . W it h w e a ther o lv e d ,” e xp la in s Kanso of define BAF’s th ird ed s u m mer not been s s . A second time e U A E ’s e d re a lit ie still bearable be fore th is io n o f the juxtapos e p h o to grapher had e p ro v B A F, th ng with th participant at and chose heat sets in, alo la c k fa n s , th is in s ta lla ti o n id e a ademark b conceived the XVA Gallery’s tr e n tu re fo r v is it o rs e xh ib it io n la rgely due to the g ad v BAF for it s e was an inspirin g w a s a w e lc ome s p a c e th a t w ould give justic – and the valet parkin l- “contained b a c k was positive tr e e ts o f A e s .” F e e d wded s to the imag aking Kanso’s relief in the cro n s . A rt D u b a i, m Bastakiya and its enviro and trickled to hen g a lle ri e s – B 2 1 , G re e n ti o n o n e o f th e ‘must sees’ w Three of Dubai’s ted installa ‘must see’ was L in e – p ro m o B A F. A n o th e r ird visiting ti Art and The Th a rt is ts , w h ils t also m a ’s “A ra b ia n Pop” at Baras their up-and-co ming a i. Laudi Abila e n c e on the young a t A rt D u b rh o l’s in fl u manning their s tands G a lle ry House. Wa c ia lly in her Desert n d M a jli s n t, e s p e Cuadro, The Ja m Jar a n ts , a s artist is evide a rt ic ip a ng BAF p were also amo n e or all of them; don’t o lig ion a nd ec onomy; either ating artist, Buthayna Ali “Politics, re pro tec t people?” – Particip t to 64 they ask exis Nadine 120 cm. Right: fezzes. 120 x . 2009. Wood and a. On My Heart : Laudi Abilam w, 2009. Middle with one venue 5. Ash am ed. Installation vie t. 30 x 50 cm. Edition of Ali. (Detail) I’m on Lambda prin Left: Buthayna ) Revolution. 200 9. Photography a b le c h o ic e s , question only be dubbed a Kanso. (Detail th e o n e th a t ‘s tole the o rk s th a t c a n aps showing w series, but perh ti o n , O n M y H eart, Te c h n ic o lo r c o nfusion, leaving show’ was her installa a rr a n g ed fluorescent e xa c tly does one fe z z e s e r: W h e re lood-red one to wond comprised of b a n d ra is e d in th e e b e tw e en up-and-com ing e . B o rn draw th e lin in a heart shap ts , A b ila m a’s art UK to Lebanes ep a re n a n g e and amateur? ra mme involved d e s ir e to c h s ta lk s p ro g practice involve sa w orld. This year’ m e ly 'You Can Tak e o f th e A ra b to p ic s , n a existing stereoty pes y ri a n a rtist, interesting a z a a r, but Can You a n ie d S t o f th e B accomp the Artist Ou Goose bumps ti o n , I’ m A s h a m e d, a z a a ri O u t of the Artist?', held in s ta lla Take th e B Buthayna Ali’s ry s p a c e . Hundreds lle ry a n d fe aturing Lorenzo G a lle at XVA G a at the Green Art w e re h u n g from rt p a ri s -A b u Dhabi and artis t rap h s Rudolf o f a of clear photog c u tt in g th e ro om A v e , a m o n g o thers. A far cry the ceiling, diag onally a t th e Fereydoun n ts b eing held at Art fl o o r le v e l s c a le e v e in half – beginn ing at e c e ili ng from the up s e e m e d more ‘loose’ s e to th F ta lk s back until they were clo o lit ic s , Dubai, the BA s , a n d s peakers even o m . “P p a u s e at the other end of the ro e o r a ll o f – with breaks, e ring phone calls – m y ; e it h e r o n u p a n d a n s w ono getting religion and ec t to p ro te c t p eople?” o re th a n m a d e up for by a y exi s but was m them; don’t the e d a rk e n e d s pace s e o f fr e e d o m of speech, as rtist. T h tangible se n questions the a im a g e s m a d e one rt a b le a n d d ir ect audience occupied by ha rrowing well as comfo like in th e fu ll g ra v it a s o f th e c ti o n . B A F, th e fringe fair, felt pause and take e ; th e h o rr ors of war, intera ri n g in p a ra llel to Art Duba i, es s a g it was m a tu ve installation’s m , o n g o in g ) a trocities t A l- B a s ta k iy a’s treasure tro sad ly proving th a the recent (and d ’s in a c ti o n in tl e c o u n tr y c o usin, but is in in Gaza, and th e worl K u dos is not the lit . g a n e n d to s uch m a d n e s s . fa c t th e c ool, hip city kid puttin , the h a b o ld s ta te ment. Generally www.baf.ae for suc th is y e a r w e re rm a ti o n v is it quality of works on show o m e For more info w e re s ever there impressive, how 65
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