The curtain will raise on the sixth edition of Abu Dhabi Art tonight with a grand VIP opening and tomorrow from 3pm the doors will open to the public.
For The Art Blog, myself and Danna Lorch (of www.dannawrites.com) will be bringing you extended coverage for the next few days.
To kick things off Danna has written a guide to the 10 things not to miss at Abu Dhabi Art.
1. Edgar Degas.
Encounter original oils on canvas by the French master of Impressionism, head to Acquavelle Galleries (booth A2)
2. Seeing Through Light: Selections from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Collection
18 of the first pieces from the permanent collection of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi are on display. Lose yourself in an alternative universe as you enter Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room and wander through the painstakingly curated exhibition, which explores our scientific and spiritual relationship with time and light. A sure sign of strong things to come when the Frank Gehry-designed stunner of a museum opens its doors on Saadiyat Island in 2017.
3. Galleries from all over the world.
It’s possible to transcend borders and visit Seoul’s Park Ryu Sook Gallery for Choi Jeong Hwa’s chrome sculptures, New York’s Paul Kasmin gallery to take in Ivan Navarro’s light installation, and then to Paris, where kamel mennour presents imposing animal sculptures by Huang Yong Ping and Lee Ufan, standing guard outside a makeshift garden of rocks. No plane ticket necessary for this trip!
4. Jean-Michel Basquiat’s 1981 painting The Ring
In Gallery Enrico Navarra’s booth, view an original canvas by the young American artist who revolutionised New York’s street scene before an untimely early death at the age of 27.
5. Ai Wei Wei’s sculpture
Forever, an installation of stainless steel bicycles by Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei, adds real texture to the fair's main atrium. The installation is a preview of the Beyond section, which will expand after the fair to display public artworks in the city of Abu Dhabi for the coming few months.
6. Hassan Hajjaj’s Artist Talk
Perhaps you know Hassan Hajjaj for his series Kesh Angels, a pop ode to the female biker culture on Marrakesh's streets? The legendary portrait photographer will deliver an Abu Dhabi Art Artist Talk titled Consuming Cultures, which promises to probe the relationship between tradition and consumerism. It will take place on Thursday between 15.00-15.45 in the auditorium. Email manaratalsaadiyat@tcaabudhabi.ae to register.
7. UAE artist Najat Makki’s figurative paintings at Hunar Art.
Allow the signature dot patterns (inspired by the traditional women’s dress known as ‘abu dagga’) to transport you to another time and place. Makki was the first woman in the country to earn a scholarship to study art abroad and that longstanding passion for the canvas is evident.
8. Artists’ Waves
Take a break from the fair’s full-on buzz and step into a softly lit salon featuring a wall packed with works by artists who were hand-picked by curator Fabrice Bousteau. Have the chance to interact with emerging galleries including Dubai’s Gallery Ward, which focuses on contemporary Egyptian art.
9. A presentation on counterfeiting in art
Fakes and Looted Art in the Middle Eastern Market is another Abu Dhabi Art talk about the challenges of authenticating works of art from the region and how to avoid common traps. Speakers include Venetia Porter, Michael Jeha, Charles Pocock and Saleh Barakat. Moderated by Georgina Adam. It happens on Saturday between 14.30-15.30 in the auditorium. Email manaratalsaadiyat@tcaabudhabi.ae to register.
10. Performance Art.
This interactive medium is still relatively new to the region and for the second year running Abu Dhabi Art demonstrates a commitment to live performance pieces that are organically part of the fair. Look out for Moussa Sarr's Rising Carpet, a woven carpet flown by drones throughout the fair's public spaces and halls.
* This blog is co-posted on www.dannawrites.com
QUARTER-FINAL
Wales 20-19 France
Wales: T: Wainwright, Moriarty. Cons: Biggar (2) Pens: Biggar 2
France: T: Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa Cons: Ntamack (2)
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
if you go
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.