The inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial will kick off in November 2024 and will feature a range of installations, sculptures, and art displays across prominent locations in Abu Dhabi. The biennial is designed to foster artistic exploration and inspire creative dialogue within the community, while also showcasing Abu Dhabi as a global cultural hub. Through its diverse art installations and interactive displays, the biennial will offer residents and visitors an immersive experience that merges art with the urban environment.

The initiative aligns with Abu Dhabi’s long-term cultural vision, which includes developing sustainable and community-focused spaces for the arts.

DCT Abu Dhabi explained that this new biennial will serve as a platform for international and local artists to present innovative works, bringing together talents from around the globe. By placing art in public spaces, Abu Dhabi seeks to make artistic engagement accessible, enabling residents and visitors alike to connect with creativity in their everyday surroundings.

As part of its commitment to fostering a thriving cultural ecosystem, the DCT has outlined plans for educational workshops, talks, and interactive sessions to complement the installations. These activities aim to engage a broader audience and inspire future generations of artists in the UAE. “The Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial is an invitation to explore the evolving relationship between art, community, and space,” stated a spokesperson from DCT Abu Dhabi. “We want to create opportunities for the public to connect with art beyond the traditional gallery setting.”

The Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial also supports the emirate’s growing tourism and cultural sectors. By establishing itself as a destination for innovative public art, Abu Dhabi seeks to attract art lovers and cultural tourists from around the world.

The biennial’s integration into the city’s landscape is expected to have a long-lasting impact, fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts among residents and enhancing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a leader in cultural development.

In addition to fostering international recognition, the biennial provides a platform for Emirati artists to present their work on a global stage, strengthening Abu Dhabi’s role as a nexus for artistic innovation in the Middle East. The installations will not only add aesthetic value but will serve as landmarks of cultural significance, encouraging viewers to engage with the city in new and meaningful ways.

With the launch of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, the city continues its mission of positioning itself as a central hub for the arts. This biennial will serve as a celebration of creativity, diversity, and community, fostering a vibrant cultural landscape that is set to leave a lasting legacy in Abu Dhabi’s public spaces.

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Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the upcoming 15^th edition will be its largest yet, featuring more than 90 galleries from over 30 countries. The art fair is a culmination of Abu Dhabi Art’s year-long visual arts programme and plays a vital role in the burgeoning art scene of the WANASA region.

Abu Dhabi Art’s annual fair is an important cultural platform for West Asia. With 37 new and 55 returning galleries, this year’s edition spotlights diverse geographies alongside curated exhibitions and commissions, positioning itself as a place of discovery for global art histories. The fair remains committed to welcoming diverse curatorial perspectives, embedding itself in the community, and playing an integral part in the art ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

The 92 participating galleries represent countries from around the globe – including, for the first time, galleries from Georgia, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, and Chile.

Dyala Nusseibeh, Director of Abu Dhabi Art, said “This year’s Abu Dhabi Art represents a significant moment in the fair’s history due to its sheer size, with double the number of galleries participating since its early days. We are delighted to be able to attract such a diverse range of artists and galleries from around the world, in part thanks to the important contribution and research of our global gallery representatives.

“The presence of so many new galleries at the Fair signifies how dynamic the local and regional art market has become over the last 15 years. By working closely with curators, gallery representatives, galleries and artists, we are also ensuring that our gallery presentations offer unparalleled access to art histories and research, ensuring visitors have the opportunity to better understand these wide-ranging global positions.”

Representing some of the participating galleries this year are: Maneli Keykavioussi, who will focus on Latin America with participating galleries including Dan Galleria, Pablo Goebel Fine Arts, Praxis, Galeria Karla Osorio, Galeria La Cometa and Casa Zirio; visiting professor Riccarda Mandrini focusing on sustainability with participating galleries including Kó, LIA RUMMA, THK Gallery, and ADN Galleria; Founder and Director of Le Violon Bleu Gallery Essia Hamdi, who will focus on female artists from the Arab world with galleries including Agial Art Gallery, Galerie Krinzinger and Wadi Finan Art Gallery; and Chris Wan Feng – who will bring together galleries that reflect on Hong Kong’s historical and contemporary art landscape, including Rossi & Rossi, and HANART TZ.

Chris Wan Feng, Curator, Art Critic and gallery representative for the participating Hong Kong galleries, said: “I am honoured to be invited to curate the Hong Kong Focus sector of the Abu Dhabi Art Fair this year, where we will present for the first time in the Middle East a great selection of Modern and Contemporary art from Hong Kong, reflecting its unique and rich historical context, and the exciting contemporary art scene taking place now in the region. I am confident that the encounter and exchange with the audience of the Abu Dhabi Art Fair will further develop and strengthen our art dialogue between the two regions”.

Among the 37 new galleries that will be present at the fair this year are LIA RUMMA (Italy), De Sarthe (Hong Kong), Leo Gallery (Hong Kong), and Pablo Goebel Fine Arts (Mexico). Abu Dhabi Art will also welcome back 55 galleries who have participated in previous editions. Returning galleries include: Gallery Isabelle Van Den Eynde (UAE), Sean Kelly (USA), Hakgojae Gallery (South Korea), Mazzoleni (Italy), HANART TZ Gallery (China), Galerie Krinzinger (Austria) and Perrotin (France), among many others.

The Modern & Contemporary section of the fair will see 41 participating galleries including Rossi & Rossi (Hong Kong), Selma Feriani Gallery (Tunisia), and Bernier/Eliades (Greece).

The 2023 Visual Campaign Artist is Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim (represented by Lawrie Shabibi Gallery in Dubai), whose work is heavily inspired by a deep love for the environment and natural beauty of his birthplace, Khorfakkan – nestled between the Gulf of Oman and the Hajar Mountains. The Visual Campaign Artist for the programme is tasked with creating the fair’s visual campaign, and the chosen images are then used across marketing materials to define the identity of the fair.

Abu Dhabi Art will continue to announce details of the fair’s programmes and events in the coming months.

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The festival hopes to bring together Urdu enthusiasts and looks forward to commemorating the UAE’s Urdu-speaking community’s culture. The event, which takes place at the Armed Forces Officers Club, gives up-and-coming artists a stage where they can interact with famous poets, authors, and musicians.

The events will include storytelling, a Mushaira poetry competition, musical performances, and an open literary discussion on the Urdu language’s past, present, and future. An awards ceremony to support and promote local Urdu culture will wrap up the festival.

The event will feature performances by renowned Sufi vocalists Moeed Hashmi and Tabsira Suhrawardi (Tabu). A funny look at the life of a radio DJ behind the scenes will be presented by the well-known artist Gaggan Mudgal, who lives and works in Dubai. Scholars Yaqoob Tassavur and Abbas Tabish, as well as poets Hamida Shaheen, Ameer Imam, and Dr. Asim Wasti, have also confirmed their attendance. Dr. Sabahat Asim Wasti, a well-known rehabilitation specialist in the UAE, and Syed Sarosh Asif, a senior financial manager located in Abu Dhabi, will serve as the festival’s organisers.

While the Urdu community in the UAE has traditionally put on its own events, Cultural Carwaan will present to its audience a variety of Urdu literary genres, including play, panel discussions, storytelling, poetry, and music, all in one day and under one roof. Additionally, we are excited to share plans for an annual festival in Abu Dhabi to preserve the spirit of the local language, continued Asif, an international poet who has lived in the UAE for 18 years.

The goal, according to Ehtesham Shahid, a performer in the festival’s story-telling portion, is to make art and culture a cathartic and relaxing experience for busy professionals.

The sketch comedy “Radio Dekho,” which will be presented by Gaggan Mudgal, has had multiple successful performances in Dubai but has never been seen before in Abu Dhabi.

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