Art Dubai: this week’s must-visit destination

Performances, tours, workshops and video make the sixth annual Art Dubai this week’s must-visit destination Art Dubai’s sixth edition opened to media and collectors on Tuesday, with galleries reporting early sales during the Jumeirah Patrons’ Preview event. All are welcome to attend the fair’s public days, on today, Friday and Saturday, to engage in a host of activities, performances, interactive workshops and talks. undefinedFollowing two days at Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, the Global Art Forum opened at Art Dubai on Wednesday afternoon under the theme The Medium of Media, with a discussion by author Douglas Coupland (Generation X, Microserfs, JPod) as well as insight from Egyptian artist Wael Shawky. Fans of live performance art are keenly anticipating the fair’s daily performative tour by Manila-based cultural activist Carlos Celdran, entitled Livin’ La Vida Imelda: Arts and Culture, Disco, True Story, which promises seven acts in seven different parts of Art Dubai. Istanbul-based Köken Ergun will also collaborate with local musicians, supported by The Fridge, to create a commentary on Art Dubai through the medium of pop music till Friday. Guided tours through some of Art Dubai’s most compelling elements take place throughout the weekend, with curator Nat Muller walking guests through the winning Abraaj Capital Art Prize projects by five artists from the MENASAregion, including video, porcelain, sculpture, photography, and fabric installations.   Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, is the focus of Art Dubai’s Marker section, and curator Alia Swastika will tour guests through five concept stands with new work representing Indonesia’s emerging contemporary arts scene. New for 2012, Art Dubai has launched The Hatch, transforming an ordinary stairwell into an intimate space for film and video screenings as well as artist talks. Children between the ages of four and 10 can enjoy Morocco to the Moon, an exploration area and education zone as well as daily workshops from Thursday to Saturday with Moroccan artist Yto Barrada and Zid Zid Kids, supported by Louis Vuitton. Today marks Art Dubai’s first-ever Performance Night, led by Emirati curator, gallerist and cultural catalyst Rami Farook, and featuring a range ofperformances by UAE-based musicians, artists, poets and academics. “In addition to works by more than 500 artists offered by 75 galleries, ArtDubai offers a tremendously vital and interactive array of talks, tours, performances, screenings and other opportunities for our guests to engage with contemporary art,” said Antonia Carver, Fair Director, Art Dubai.