Abu Dhabi Art launches summer catalogue with more than 200 artworks on sale from 48 galleries

The fair's director says it is part of an effort to boost sales for galleries at a time when that is 'much needed'

A spectator at the Gateway: Fragments, Yesterday and Today exhibition during the 11th edition of Abu Dhabi Art. The exhibition is still available to see at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Cultural DistrShow more

Abu Dhabi Art has launched a summer catalogue to help boost sales for galleries as they continue to confront the pandemic’s effects on the economy.

The catalogue, which is available on the fair's website, includes more than 200 artworks from 48 galleries that have previously participated in Abu Dhabi Art.

To put the catalogue together, the fair's organisers asked galleries to submit a selection of five artworks available for purchase. Prices range from less than $10,000 (Dh36,000) for a piece to nearly $900,000, with galleries from the UAE, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, France, Italy, the UK and US represented.

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The online catalogue contains links to each gallery's website for potential buyers to get in touch, or they can contact Abu Dhabi Art directly for more information.

"It is a simple effort to reach out to our collectors and visitors to encourage sales for these galleries," says Dyala Nusseibeh, director, Abu Dhabi Art. "We hope to generate sales for galleries at a time when any extra support collectors can provide is much needed and appreciated."

Globally, the art world has been hit by the pandemic in many ways, from the cancellation of art fairs and exhibitions to the widespread closure of museums, which has led to job cuts, particularly in the UK and the US.

Nusseibeh says the galleries were not charged to be included in the catalogue. But they would have had to pay to be in a traditional physical art fair.

A number of digital initiatives have sprung up in the UAE to help galleries to find business after losses in March, a significant income-generating period in the local art calendar. These initiatives include Art Dubai's online catalogue, Alserkal Online, Not Cancelled, and In Touch.

For Abu Dhabi Art’s summer catalogue, at least a dozen UAE galleries have been listed, including 1x1 Art Gallery, Carbon 12, Elmarsa, Etihad Modern Gallery, Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde, Grey Noise, Hunar Gallery and Meem Gallery.

The brochure also includes works by Arab artists Dia Azzawi, Hazem Harb, Huguette Caland, Moataz Nasr, Mohamed Melehi, Mounir Fatmi, Zena El Khalil and Abdul Qader Al Rais.

Among the most expensive works are paintings by renowned Chinese artist Ding Yi, an important figure in the development of abstract art in China known for his motif of individually painted crosses. Three of his paintings are being sold for $636,000 through ShanghART gallery.

The most expensive work, however, is French artist Bernar Venet's 213, 5° ARCx15, golden-hued steel arc sculptures that play with space and scale. The work is priced at $870,000 by French gallery Ceysson & Benetiere.

To promote sales for the galleries, Abu Dhabi Art has also launched an online campaign called Artist of the Week for which a video interview with an artist will be released, weekly, along with information on five selected artworks.

The fair's summer catalogue is available until the end of AugustAny unsold works can then be purchased through the respective galleries.

As for the fate of Abu Dhabi Art’s annual event in November, Nusseibeh says the organisers are still “reviewing [their] format for this year” and will announce details “soon”.

The summer catalogue is available on Abu Dhabi Art's website