What to expect at Prada Mode Abu Dhabi: Art, architecture, music, talks and a homage to what makes us human

How to get the most out of the traveling social club as it arrives in the capital

DJ Chae at the Prada Mode after party in Seoul. Photo: Prada

Prada Mode, the Italian fashion house's travelling social club celebrating contemporary culture, arrives in Abu Dhabi for the first time this week with an event running from Tuesday to Friday. Taking place in the Miza neighbourhood in Mina Zayed, it is the second time the club has made its way to the UAE, following a successful debut in 2022 in Dubai's ICD Brookfield.

While a travelling art exhibit from a fashion brand might surprise some, Prada has always been about than just fashion. Its roots extend deep into the art world thanks to the Fondazione Prada, its cultural museum in Milan. For this Prada Mode, the 11th event to take place globally, the brand has enlisted Theaster Gates, an American multidisciplinary artist, to create the space and Myrna Ayad, an art advisor from the UAE, to curate the programming.

Examining the role of art and the human experience in a world increasingly dominated by AI and technology, together Prada Mode and Gates have devised a programme that looks to celebrate the many facets of what it is to be a person, from the ability to think and ponder, to the desire for celebration and togetherness.

“As we increasingly exist in a world where computer-generated possibilities govern our reality, my concept for Prada Mode Abu Dhabi is a homage to our interiority, the human hand and our spiritual contributions to the rich cultural histories of this region," says Gates, who is working on his third Prada Mode with the brand. "I’m honoured to host Prada Mode Abu Dhabi, deepening my relationship with Prada as a cultural institution invested in global dialogue and creative excellence, and celebrating the artistic traditions and futures of Abu Dhabi.”

This will be the 11th event for Prada Mode, and the third in collaboration with Gates. For Prada Mode in 2022 in Dubai, the brand collaborated with British artist Damian Hirst. Photo: Prada

Manifesting as a space divided in two by a site-specific installation composed of a cylindrical structure, each area will offer different experiences. The interior of the cylindrical structure is dedicated to fostering conversation and introspection through acoustic music sets, while outside the wall, a more "boisterous atmosphere" is promised with live performances and DJ sets.

“This space is a reflection on the spiritual possibilities of quietude, the power of gathering, the contiguity between the aesthetic of the past and their relevance for the future, and reverence for Arab women,” explains Gates.

The music has been co-curated by Gates and NTS Radio, a global online radio platform launched in 2011 in London's Hackney by Femi Adeyemi. In addition, a cultural programme has been curated by Myrna Ayad that will highlight the contributions of Arab women, through local and regional talent.

The culinary world has not been overlooked either, with chef Salam Dakkak creating food that highlights the diverse diasporic communities found in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the space will be a private members club and will be open to the public on Thursday and Friday.