Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region and the prime destination for lifestyle, arts and culture, is hosting the first Art Nights of 2019 on 18 March at the Centre’s Gate Village.
The upcoming edition of the twice-yearly event will mark the beginning of Dubai’s coveted art season, Art Dubai 2019, and will revolve around the idea of discovering the hidden artist you know. This theme will be brought to life through renowned French artist Cyril Lancelin’s large scale installation of inflatable flamingos.
The overarching theme speaks to the concept of knowing but not seeing, utilising the flamingo installations as a metaphor for having heard of some artists without seeing their work, just as we know of flamingos and may have never seen one in real life. The plethora of local artists participating in DIFC Art Nights is a testament to the established and burgeoning talent the region has cultivated, yet their work is rarely seen by the general public. The installations will be placed under The Gate Building and in the Gate Village from 18 until 23 March.
Visitors to Art Nights will be able to enjoy an electric musical performance by Dubai-based soul band Abri & Funk Radius, as well as light installations from interdisciplinary artist Alicia Eggert, whose work focuses on the relationship between language, image and time as well as present a diverse body of work by Emirati artists, such as Rawdha Al Ktebi.
This edition will also showcase the works of four winners from the International Emerging Artists Award (IEAA), an international contemporary art competition based in Dubai. Bobby Griffing, a culinary and art enthusiast will showcase his works on ‘The Gorilla Project’. Lesonneur, an anonymous Parisian artist shaking the art scene with his intimate urban installations, will contribute with his ‘For my Love’ installation. Mozhdeh Z Grayson will help you question the world of unconsciousness, forgetfulness and memory through his ‘How do you see, How I remember’ art piece. Lastly, Raphael Scorbiac, a Parisian sculpture who has worked on the restoration of sculptural works housed in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, presents sculptural works inspired by the dazzling and vibrant city of Dubai.
Exhibiting at the space are several renowned local and international art galleries, including Cuadro Gallery with a new exhibition titled ‘Walk the Line’ featuring work from Alan Mongey, Manal Al Dowayan, Camille Zachariya, Faig Ahmed, Afshan Daneshvar, Sara Al Hadad, and Ammar Al Attar.
Opera Gallery will present ‘Korean Art - A contemporary take on texture’, while Sotheby’s Dubai will showcase paintings and sculptures by Arab and Iranian Modern and Contemporary Masters, as well as historic Orientalist paintings and Islamic objects. Alongside the art, Sotheby’s Diamonds makes its first appearance in the Middle East.
Tabari Artspace will present acclaimed female Lebanese painter Taghreed Daghrouth, who will showcase a collection of solo works titled ‘Strange Fruit’. Sconci Gallery will present Pop Art Today, using new languages created by the new social reality of our time, exploring the characters that became idols, reflecting on the public’s new tastes, trends and brand realities.
The Empty Quarter Ltd will be showcasing photos by Japanese photographer Yoshio Kawashima portraying Dubai in 1962 through a collection 50 old photos.
Visitors to Art Nights will also enjoy a host of fine-dining restaurants, as well as casual cafes and coffee shops that complement the night’s vibrant cultural environment. These include Boca, Gaia and Kava & Chai.
Other contributors to this edition of Art Nights include, Batoul Yaghi, Gracia Balfour, Fatima Bint Mohamed Bin Zayed Initiative, Juan Pablo Ramirez, Manzil Centre, Nedaa Elias, Olga Beltrao, Origins Collective, Zutistique, and Adrine Mkrtchyan.
The full programme for Art Nights 2019 can be found here
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