Art Dubai 2018 will be featuring 105 galleries from 48 countries, making it the fair’s most globally diverse season with a host of activities, workshops, and talks for everyone – big and small. And if you’ve got only one day to see it all, here’s the guide that will show you how to make the most of it like a boss.
Get your ticket now!
Skip the queue on the day and prepare ahead of time by visiting www.artdubai.ae to purchase your ticket. A day ticket for March 22, 23 or 24 is AED 60 if purchased online and AED 90 if purchased onsite. A 3-day ticket, which is valid for March 22-24 is AED 100 if purchased online and AED 150 at the venue.
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Decide on a day to pack it all in
The fair will be buzzing with events and activities all weekend. Art Dubai will open to the public on March 21 from 2-6.30pm (for the Global Art Forum), March 22 from 4-9.30pm, March 23 from 2-9.30pm and March 24 from 12-6.30pm.
Chart out your trip to Art Dubai
Beat the traffic and park at the nearby Dubai Police Academy. There is a continuous shuttle bus service to the fair from there. The nearest metro station to Art Dubai is Mall of the Emirates, which is less than a 1-minute taxi ride from Madinat Jumeirah. We recommend hailing a taxi if attending the fair during peak hours as valet parking will not be available at those times and during the evening events.
Pick from the best galleries in the gallery halls
Art Dubai Contemporary will feature 78 galleries from 42 countries, from the world’s most influential galleries to dynamic young art spaces. The artists range from emerging and upcoming practitioners from lesser-known art capitals to household names. The works they will present cover all artistic media—including painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, video, photography and performance.
Get acquainted with the life and work of 20th-century masters
Art Dubai Modern Symposium is a series of talks and presentations focused on the life, work and cultural impact of 20th-century masters from the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. Renowned curators, scholars, and patrons will lead the sessions that delve into the styles, influences, and practices of artists whose work contributes to the history of art produced in the 20th century. The Art Dubai Modern Symposium will take place in the Misk Lounge on March 19, 21 and 22 from 4 pm.
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Discover the artworks from Arab cities spanning five decades
The exhibition That Feverish Leap into the Fierceness of Life presents a number of artworks by some of the leading members of five modernist artist groups and schools spanning five decades from five Arab cities: the Contemporary Art Group in Cairo (1940s/1950s), the Baghdad Group for Modern Art (1950s), the Casablanca School of Art (1960s/70s), The Khartoum School (1960s/70s), and dār al-funūn al-sa’udiah (The House of Saudi Arts) in Riyadh (1980s). Curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, the exhibition derives its title from the 1951 founding manifesto of the Baghdad Group for Modern Art, reflecting these groups’ passionate contributions to the intellectual and artistic discourse surrounding modernism within their respective socio-political contexts.
Excite the Young ones with the Sheikhal Manal Little Artists Programme
Titled Healing Garden, this interactive installation by Japanese-Australian artist Hiromi Tango, invites children to participate in creating a nurturing environment based on local plants and flowers from March 21 – 24. With the iconic date palm as the focal point of the garden, Healing Garden explores the many ways that local plants and flowers can contribute to wellbeing. The workshops and immersive installation will provide hands-on opportunities for children to create and explore the space that is energized through the interplay of light, colors, textures, and shapes.
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Mingle with the art crowd at the GCC After Dark parties
From Wednesday, March 21 – Friday, March 23, GCC’s TV studio set on Fort Island will serve as the background for a series of after-hours parties, featuring a line-up of internationally renowned DJ’s. The night events/segments will take place under the title GCC After Dark. To sign up, visit www.artdubai.ae/gcc-after-dark/
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