Emirati art on display across the capital
Works from 15 Emirati artists are featured in this year's Emirati Expressions. Specially-commissioned works inspired by Abu Dhabi's clubs are also on display, and additional works can be seen at places such as the Armed Forces Officers Club, Emirates Writers Union and Abu Dhabi National Theatre. This exhibition, pictured below, coincides with Abu Dhabi Art, where people can view pieces from 40 galleries. Emirati Expressions runs until March 31, while Abu Dhabi Art concludes November 21. Both take place at Manarat Al Saadiyat and other locations across the capital. For more information visit www.abudhabiart.ae and saadiyatculturaldistrict.ae.
Boom times for Singapore’s art scene
To mark Singapore's 50th anniversary, the new National Gallery opens on Tuesday. It is housed in the former supreme court and city hall, two of the city state's most iconic buildings and it will house an impressive collection of 8,000 works. Two new wings have also just opened at Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum. One of its renowned exhibitions, The Tang Shipwreck, has been housed in a new gallery. This was an Arabian dhow bound for the Middle East that sank in the Java Sea in the ninth-century. Most of the cargo was salvaged and included up to 60,000 priceless Tang-era ceramics. For more information visit www.nationalgallery.sg and www.acm.org.sg.
The many representations of an Indian deity
This UK exhibition looks at the diverse representations of Ganesha. The elephant-headed Ganesha is one of the most popular Hindu deities and is revered as the god of good fortune. The works on display range from bazaar paintings to 17th-century statuettes to folk illustrations. An interesting part of the exhibition is a collection of pencil drawings by William Daniell, a British painter who travelled across India. They provide a striking contrast to the colourful depictions of Ganesha seen elsewhere. Homage to Ganesha runs at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford until January 24. For more information visit www.ashmolean.org.
