Dubai March Scene: Art Dubai 2013

During the Art Week this March, Dubai residents and visitors will be able to experience contemporary art, museum shows and gallery and artists’ exhibitions at Art Dubai, the largest art fair in the region. Over the last six years, Art Dubai has become an essential to art communities in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa and has showcased works by pioneering and modern artists, craftsmen, designers and photographers.

Back for its seventh edition between March 20 and 23, Middle East’s most expansive art event will serve as a platform for distinguished guests and collectors, as well as hordes of curious visitors to explore art, galleries, happenings and installations, talks, workshops, openings and parties. But another important role has been acquired over the past years – starting a wide range of non-profit initiatives aiming at expanding artistic development and sustainability of the MENASA region. By meeting international collectors and art curators with artists, Art Dubai provides a wider perspective on the whole business of producing art with a key role in the cultivating the fundamental link between debate and artistic practice. The fair’s last edition welcomed a total of 22, 500 regional and international collectors, curators, artists and guests and hosted 75 galleries from 32 countries.

Art Dubai 2013 has prepared at Madinat Jumeirah a world-beating line-up of over 500 participating artists and 75 galleries from 29 countries, including Athr Gallery (Jeddah), Galerie Chantal Crousel (Paris), D Gallerie (Jakarta), Alexander Gray Associates (New York), Grey Noise (Dubai), Platform China (Beijing/Hong Kong), and The Third Line (Dubai) Rech Gallery (Paris/Brussels), and Tanja Wagner (Berlin). Of course, the extensive programme will include the unveiling of projects by the winners of the annual Abraaj Group Art Prize and the Global Art Forum, as well as various commissioned projects and performances, educational workshops, debates and private parties.

One of the most interesting events at the fair will be the founded by Art Dubai and presented by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Global Art Forum, which is held in partnership with Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art (Qatar Museums Authority). Bringing together artists, musicians, curators, writers, and thinkers, the forum will explore the concept of ‘definitionism’, as its title “It Means This” suggests – investigating the words, terms, clichés and misunderstandings in art and beyond.

Art Dubai is held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.