Highlights of Abu Dhabi Art: how the seventh edition will bring art to life

Tourism and Culture Authority programme manager Michelle Farrell talks about the highlights of the capital's stellar art fair, now in its seventh edition.

Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour's Martyr's Icin (1999) is one of the artworks at Gallery One. Courtesy Gallery One

Ahead of the seventh edition of Abu Dhabi Art, TCA programme manager Michelle Farrell talks about the highlights, family programming and direction of the fair.

What are you are most excited about showcasing this year?

We are particularly proud of Abu Dhabi Art’s strong programme of talks, performances and interactive installations this year.

Abu Dhabi Art Talks return with renowned speakers, including museum directors Richard Armstrong of the Solomon R Guggenheim Foundation, Neil MacGregor of the British Museum and Jean-Luc Martinez of the Louvre, as well as curators from leading international cultural institutions. From the heart of Abu Dhabi, these prestigious members of the art world will discuss the future of museums in the 21st century and highlight the narratives and discourses of the Saadiyat Cultural District museums as they take shape.

Abu Dhabi Art’s public programme runs alongside the presentation of 40 leading international galleries that will exhibit a selection of exceptional modern and contemporary artworks. Abu Dhabi Art welcomes established art galleries and, additionally each year we designate one emerging gallery for the “Bidaya” or beginning sector. For 2015, we are very proud to present Gallery One, Palestine’s first commercial art gallery.

How is Abu Dhabi Art nurturing an artistic community in Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi Art is a meeting point for local practitioners to connect with leading galleries and international art-world professionals while remaining contextualised in the UAE’s distinctive setting. Ongoing TCA Abu Dhabi initiatives such as Emirati Expressions, a biannual exhibition now in its fourth edition, engage with local artists and highlight the wealth of contemporary art and culture in the country.

What is the best way for families to take part in the fair, and how is Abu Dhabi Art introducing the youngest generations to art history, appreciation and creation? 

Abu Dhabi Art provides family-­friendly tours for younger children, as well as activities and workshops where children can be inspired by the artworks on display to create their own pieces.

Abu Dhabi Art aims to inspire creativity and artistic expression, supporting emerging artists and the formation of the Abu Dhabi arts community by providing a rare opportunity for young residents of the emirate to experience world-class art and performances and hear insightful discussions between prominent art world figures.

Additionally, Abu Dhabi Art organises programmes for teenagers and university students, such as the DesignLab, a workshop in which architecture and design students collaborated with established professionals to produce a visual urban analysis of Abu Dhabi’s cityscape; Abu Dhabi Art will host a panel inspired by the outcomes of this workshop.

This year’s fair features a particularly strong performance-art programme. Why are you invested in growing this medium in the region and how do you see it evolving?

Abu Dhabi Art evolves each year to reflect themes, trends and movements in worldwide art discussions. The performing arts are a particularly vibrant aspect of the global contemporary art scene and, with Abu Dhabi Art’s aim to be inclusive and culturally relevant, we are proud to bring art to life with a stimulating series of live performances.

For the 2015 edition, Abu Dhabi Art presents two curated performing arts platforms. Bliss, curated by Fabrice Bousteau, is inspired by the dynamic context of Abu Dhabi and includes screenings of artist J R's acclaimed short film Les Bosquets as well as site-specific choreography concepts by Compagnie des Prairies and Perrine Valli, innovative video and sound installations; and large-scale sculptures presented in Abu Dhabi's public spaces as part of the Beyond initiative. Bliss's curatorial themes call for audiences to experience the joy of life with a sense of wonderment.

Durub Al Tawaya returns for its third edition, curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh. Celebrating the power of contemporary art to create meaningful zones of cultural exchange, its performances draw on diverse global archives for inspiration. Durub Al Tawaya III includes a screening of the 1969 Egyptian film The Night of Counting the Years, live choreography by Radouan Mriziga, who creates drawn patterns using the movement of his body, and a unique sound experience produced by keyboard artist Islam Chipsy, E.E.K. and 100 Copies, in collaboration with local, traditional percussionists.

Abu Dhabi Art is now firmly planted on the global art map. How do you think it stands apart from the other art fairs?

Abu Dhabi Art has a distinctive identity; we work with international partners and reflect global themes and trends, yet the intellectual prism remains embedded in the context and social fabric of Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Art is also unique among other art fairs in conceiving of the programme as a very central element, rebalancing the focus on the non-commercial aspects of performances, talks and workshops as part of the fair’s commitment to engaging with and supporting the communities of Abu Dhabi.