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More Tides The Art Gallery at NYUAD is extending Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial – originally due to close 8 December, it will now stay open to 20 April. This is good news: it’s a significant exhibition that brings together a range of works by artists from across the Gulf to offer different perspectives on cultural, social, and environmental themes. Here’s our take on it.
Dubai Art Alserkal Art Week runs 17-24 November. As usual many of the galleries will be opening new shows during the week (we count 10), but the Alserkal Avenue people have been developing a programme themselves – screenings, performances, open studios, symposia, workshops, and slow art walks – so lots more reasons to visit the Avenue. Here are our pickouts.
Abu Dhabi (Public) Art Part two of Abu Dhabi’s $35m public art initiative arrives this weekend in the form of the Public Art Biennial – installations by 70+ artists, mostly in downtown Abu Dhabi and some around Al Ain Oasis. The organisers have laid out some routes to take in works in neat walkable chunks, with a few of them on an Insta page here. You'll want to read our take on it; find it here.
Catch it while you can ARTnews reports that Art Basel is "deep in negotiations" to take over Abu Dhabi Art in return for a $20m investment. Here’s the story, which we have tried to check with both Abu Dhabi Art and the Art Basel people – to date there has been no response. Coincidentally, the biggest edition yet of Abu Dhabi Art opens at the end of this month, running 20-24 November: info here.
Sotheby’s opens up ... Under the label The Gallery Collective, Sotheby’s is giving over its DIFC gallery space to a selection of UAE-based galleries for a two-year rotating calendar of exhibitions. Every six to eight weeks, one or more partners gallery gets the space for their own artists. First up is Zidoun-Bossuyt with Khalif Tahir Thompson and Summer Wheat; info here.
... Sotheby’s KSA More Sotheby’s news: With a million dollars from Abu Dhabi’s ADC sovereign wealth fund sitting in the bank, and a preannounced commitment to develop markets in the Middle East, Sotheby’s has announced a physical presence in Riyadh and its first ever in-person auction in Saudi Arabia. “We’re supporting the enrichment of the artistic landscape of the country, which will empower the large youth demographic of Saudi” said Sotheby’s CEO. The auction is scheduled for Diriyah on 8 February 2025, a two-parter with fine art and a luxury goods sale. More here.
Meat feast A free trade agreement between Australia and the Emirates that went into force this month should mean cheaper steaks – duties on red meat imports are being eliminated. The UAE is Australia’s biggest buyer of steak in the Middle East.
Sweetness and light The world's first Museum of Candy has arrived, and hey it’s in Dubai – “a vibrant, interactive museum dedicated to the art and joy of candy, a groundbreaking addition to the city's cultural landscape … explore a series of imaginative, candy-themed rooms designed to spark joy, wonder, and sweet nostalgia”. For this adults pay AED 129, kids AED 109, discounts for families etc. It’s conveniently located close to Healthcare City.
Say on Kutubna Cultural Center is looking for proposals for Dubai Humanities, its somewhat unconventional ‘festival of scholarship’ – papers, panels, round tables, and symposia on topics in history, philosophy, literature, art history, and other disciplines in the humanities, especially if they relate to the UAE and/or the wider Middle East. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis from now to May 2025. Info here.
Three to book ahead Start Christmas early with The Snowman at Dubai Opera (live orchestra with the film, plus seasonal musical favourites). The Streets is touring, arrives at the Coca-Cola. And Singin’ in the Rain has a good run scheduled at Dubai Opera ...
Clean living If you’re stuck for something to do on Saturday, Gulf for Good has a mountain cleanup event at Wadi Al Helo in Sharjah. Bring the family; it’s a 7.30am start. Click here to register.
Something for the weekend As you probably know, Crokinole is a disk-flicking board game. Test your dexterity with this virtual version.
Things we didn’t know no.94 The identifying characteristic of Louboutins was inspired by Andy Warhol, whose screenprint Flowers gave the designer the idea to add a red sole.
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