The annual art fair finally opens its doors to the public today after two days of patrons previews and VIP welcomes.
I am lucky enough to have taken the tours of the galleries and can safely say that this year seems set to be a successful fair.
Housing over 70 galleries, the two halls of contemporary galleries is where most of the action is happening. With installations, paintings and sculptures infiltrating every corner, there is much to feast your eyes on.
Personal favourites include the photography from Valérie Belin at Galerie Nathalie Obadia as well as the stunning group collection under Rose Issa Projects from London. I am also charmed by the work of Tiffany Chung, a Vietnamese artist displaying with Tyler Rollins Fine Art Gallery. She creates urban pop landscapes that comment on the socio-historical politics and exhibited at the Sharjah Biennale last year.
In the Modern section, which is a much lauded addition to the fair because it lays out the clear path of inspiration that led to the vibrance of the contemporary section, I loved the work of Baya, an Algerian artist whose was already a master by the age of 17 and who was a contemporary of Pablo Picasso.
Also in this section are a magnificent collection paintings at Lawrie Shabibi gallery from Nabil Nahas made in the 1970s.
In the non-profit space I look forward to seeing the results of Maitha Demithan’s live scanning booth and would recommend any visitor to the fair to visit Mounira Al Solh’s installation that takes the form of a shoe stall. Swap your regular pumps for a pair of wooden shower sandals made in Damascus and walk around the fair in someone else’s shoes for a while. They are as uncomfortable as they sound but that is exactly the point.
After your feet are tired and your eyes are saturated, head to the Global Art Forum for some brain food. With interesting panels covering the fairly abstract concept of imagining the world with no history as well as exploring the effects that history has upon all our story-making, this the ideal way to top of your visit.
* Art Dubai runs until Saturday at Mina A'Salaam hotel and the Madinat Jumeirah. For more info visit www.artdubai.ae
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