Dubai: Under the directives of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Media Council, the #DubaiDestinations initiative is continuing its campaign with a focus on the exceptional experiences, events and activities of Dubai’s ongoing #DubaiArtSeason.
Starting this week, the campaign invites residents and visitors to explore Dubai’s diverse art attractions with #DubaiArtSeason, ranging from exhibitions and festivals to galleries and art studios. Running till mid-April, the campaign will open new windows into Dubai’s many-splendoured artistic landscape.
Mona Al Marri, Vice-Chairperson and Managing Director of Dubai Media Council and Director General of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), said: “Inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai one of the world’s leading hubs for art, culture and creativity, the #DubaiDestinations and #DubaiArtSeason campaigns are focused on #DubaiArtSeason and will showcase the varied facets of Dubai’s uniqueness as an art destination. Transforming the city
Taking place during the busiest period in Dubai’s art calendar, the campaign seeks to highlight the initiatives that have transformed the city into an ‘open art museum’. Artists from the UAE, the region and across the world have converged on Dubai to take part in its #DubaiArtSeason, enriching its creative landscape.”
She said: “The initiative also supports the leadership’s vision to make Dubai the world’s best city to live, work and visit. Integral to this vision is the development of a dynamic cultural and creative environment that has found expression in a vibrant Art Season. One of our key objectives is to create opportunities for the local community and visitors to engage with art and connect with artists who have gathered together in Dubai.”
‘Encouraging widespread participation’
Under the directives of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, #DubaiDestinations and #DubaiArtSeason will be focusing on various destination themes throughout the year, the Vice-Chairperson of Dubai Media Council further said.
Hala Badri, Director General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Member of the Dubai Media Council, said: “Through this campaign, we also seek to encourage the widespread participation of the public in art events and activities. The initiative has created many opportunities for the public to forge new connections and conversations with art and artists through workshops and discussions, which in turn contribute to the development of a new aesthetic sensibility in the Dubai community.”
100 contemporary and modern galleries
Key highlights of the campaign this week include Art Dubai 2022; Rethink Art, art events at Expo 2020 Dubai and the Sculpture Park at DIFC.
Art Dubai 2022, the largest edition of the global art fair in its history, has opened for the public in Madinat Jumeirah Dubai. Featuring over 100 contemporary and modern galleries from more than 40 countries across four main gallery sections, Art Dubai’s 15th edition, being held from March 11-13, 2022, is the most ambitious and extensive to date.
Shaima Al Suwaidi, Project Manager at Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, said that art and creativity are key components of the destination experience that Dubai offers. “Brand Dubai is conducting a comprehensive communication campaign, with a particular focus on social media, to further raise the profile of art events and attractions featured in the #DubaiDestinations and #DubaiArtSeason initiatives, in addition to various other promotional activities,” she said.
Rethink Art
This week, the #DubaiDestinations and #DubaiArtSeason also put the spotlight on the second edition of Rethink Art organised by Dubai Design District (d3) from March 8-13. Pushing creative and artistic boundaries, the innovative art programme presents art exhibitions and installations, live performances and activations and workshops for all art enthusiasts. Driven by a mission to ‘Rethink the Regular’ and bring creative talent together to experiment, innovate, collaborate and challenge, the latest edition will showcase aspiring local, regional and global names in the world of art.
Street art
Among the many highlights of d3’s Rethink Art will be Icons of Crypto Art by The 721, which brings together over thirty pioneering artists in one show, highlighting some of the most monumental works in the history of the space. With street art becoming a worldwide phenomenon, Rethink Art will see live graffiti displays and activations, where even visitors can join in and spray, design, and build on the existing artworks. Authentic Marks & Glow’s 4th annual International Miniature Printmaking Exhibition is another highlight that features printmakers around the world. d3’s very own K Gallery will showcase a group of 18 UAE-based emerging talents, including the Facade to Facade and the Celebrating Middle Eastern Creativity exhibition presented by The Khawla Art and Cultural Foundation.
Along with these events, #DubaiDestinations and #DubaiArtSeason also aim to highlight the art attractions at Expo 2020 Dubai. The mega global event, which features immersive journeys highlighting culture and heritage of 192 countries, is also displaying a diverse range of installations and artistic creations.
MENASA — Emirati Design Platform is a core element of Expo 2020 Dubai’s art programme that showcases more than 40 local and international designers, telling stories of the UAE through exclusive curated design collections. By bringing together artisans and designers from the UAE and around the world, the Platform seeks to foster a rich cultural and creative dialogue that will contribute to a meaningful legacy after Expo 2020 closes its doors.
A journey of ideas, aesthetics and concepts
Expo 2020 Dubai also features a Public Art Programme that showcases permanent public artworks interwoven into the urban fabric of the event’s venue inspired by the famous Arab mathematician, astronomer and physicist Ibn al Haytham’s Book of Optics. Integrated throughout the Expo 2020 Dubai site, 11 commissioned public artworks have created a journey of ideas, aesthetics and concepts. The artworks will become a permanent part of the future District 2020 and the urban fabric of Dubai.
Read more
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- Watch: Sikka art fest to transform Dubai’s Al Fahidi historic district into open museum
- Sikka Art festival to transform Al Fahidi neighbourhood into open-air art gallery
- Sheikha Latifa inaugurates 15th edition of Art Dubai, the premier international art event
Sikka Art and Design Platform
Another major event highlighted in the initial week of the campaign is the 10th edition of Sikka Art and Design Festival being held from 15–24 March 2022. Organised under the theme ‘Celebrating Art, Celebrating Growth’, the Festival features a series of unique creative events and activities at the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. During the Festival, visitors can enjoy exhibitions and innovative art installations, along with a selection of evening activities, workshops and discussions.
This year’s edition, which marks the Festival’s 10th anniversary, is being held under its new umbrella, the Sikka Art and Design Platform, which aims to support the professional growth journey of emerging creative talent. As part of its new direction, the Sikka Art and Design Festival aims to foster an integrated ecosystem that supports emerging creatives and provides a platform for them to embark on their journey to become professional artists. Emerging Emirati and UAE-based artists are presenting artworks that interpret the theme of the event in uniquely creative ways.
DIFC Sculpture Park
Another Dubai art attraction that is in the limelight as part of the campaign is the DIFC Sculpture Park. Based around the theme of Harmony of Different Voices: A celebration of UAE’s 50th year anniversary, the Sculpture Park hosts 62 artworks, including sculptures and paintings, both outdoors and indoors. The centrepiece of the Sculpture Park is a space stretching from the Gate Building to Gate Avenue in DIFC that exhibits over 50 sculptures marking UAE’s Year of the Fiftieth. Taking inspiration from Expo 2020 Dubai, the initiative features the work of renowned international artists from different backgrounds and nationalities as they come together through the theme of harmony of different voices to communicate and express through art. Running from Mar 3 to Jun 30, 2022, the Sculpture Park portrays the cultural diversity and richness of Dubai.
