Anna Seaman picks her five art exhibitions that shouldn’t be missed in the UAE.
Affordable Art Souq still running in Abu Dhabi
Hundreds of artworks are on sale at Etihad Modern Art Gallery’s annual Art Souq. The event is a chance for visitors to get their hands on one-off pieces ranging from Dh2,000 to Dh10,000. The works cover a variety of styles and mediums, from traditional calligraphy and oil paintings to experimental digital images and geometric compositions. Some of the artists include Ras Al Khaimah-based Pakistani artist Soraya Sikander; Greek photographer Yiannis Roussakis; Cypriot artist Constantinos Ptochopoulo; and Venezuelan artist Wilma Burton, who specialises in what she calls healing art. She has donated her art towards charitable causes and non-profit fund-raising such as Operation Smile and healthcare facilities in the capital. One of her pieces, My Love For Nature (pictured), is available at a discounted price at Al Bateen gallery until September.
• Art Souq runs Saturdays to Thursdays from 10am to midnight at Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi. Visit www.etihadmodernart.com
Exploding automobiles in new kinetic-art show in Dubai
Disintegrating II, by Swiss artist Fabian Oefner, is an exhibition that features incredible images of disintegrating cars. The technically brilliant and interesting compositions are on display at Dubai’s MAD Gallery. Oefner has carved out his reputation by fusing the fields of art and science, and capturing moments that are invisible to the human eye: such as sound waves, centripetal forces, iridescence, fire and even magnetic ferrofluids. It takes Oefner two months and more than 2,000 photos to produce a single image of an exploding automobile in Disintegrating II.
• Check it out daily from 10am to 7pm, Saturdays to Thursdays at MAD Gallery Dubai, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. Visit www.mbandf.com/mad-gallery/
Dubai display celebrates the beauty of African women
The incredibly lifelike images in Afro are part of Dubai-based artist Victor Sitali’s solo week-long exhibition that opened on Sunday. Afro celebrates the beauty and elegance of African women and, in particular, their hairstyles. Sitali, 25, is from Zambia and has been living in Dubai for 10 years.
• The exhibition will run until Saturday at Jumeirah Golf Estate clubhouse. Visit vsitali90.wix.com/victorsitali
L’Art brings together artists from 15 countries to Abu Dhabi
A collection of art by 30 artists of 15 nationalities are part of a group show organised by Abu Dhabi Art Hub at Le Royal Méridien in the capital. The works vary greatly — from installation by American artist Jeff Scofield and delicate paintings from French artist Karine Roche to the sculptures of Emirati Azza Al Qubaisi, Indian artist Beena Samuel and Iranian-born Australian Nasser Palangi, who is a regular contributor to Abu Dhabi Art Hub exhibitions. The artworks celebrating the UAE as a travel destination are at Café Palmier until July 7.
• Visit www.adah.ae
Shadow play at Dubai’s Ramadan-themed show
Jordanian artists Bassam Al Selawi and Maysoon Masalha are showing a new collection of their shadow sculptures in ceramic and resin for a Ramadan-themed exhibition Shadows of Ramadan. The sculptures combine modern techniques with Arabic calligraphy and when a light is shone upon them, the shadows come to life. “We encourage everyone to come to see our new pieces,” says Masalha.
• Shadows of Ramadan is at Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach all summer. Visit www.sofitel-dubai-jumeirahbeach.com
aseaman@thenational.ae