We spend all day immersing ourselves in the sights and sounds of Abu Dhabi Art. People are already streaming into the venue before the official opening of the gallery halls at 3pm. Some of them sit in on the Q&A session with the organisers of the UAE's Venice Biennale Pavilion, as well as the interns who were there these past six months; others are there to set up for the fifth edition of the capital's biggest art fair. When the doors open, the crowds arrive in droves, including buses of students from Sharjah, Al Ain and Dubai – and they are not disappointed. One of our favourite booths is Meem Gallery, which not only has a spectacular newly commissioned work by Khaled Hafez, <em>Berlin Angels</em> (pictured above), but also some of the finest modern artists in the Arab world including Fateh Moudarres and Louay Kayyali. We also enjoy Art Sawa, whose Rafael Barrios sculptures confuse the mind with their clever use of volume and space. A stand-out piece is <em>Aleppo </em>by Azade Koker, a Turkish artist with Galeri Zilberman. The triptych depicts one of Syria's largest, most beautiful cities in a layered photographic technique, which represents the layers of civilisation as well as hinting at the destruction seen in recent months. Aleppo by Azade Koker Pieces by Anish Kapoor, Damien Hirst, Louise Bourgeois are also on show for those looking for the big names. Looking for UAE artists? Hunar Gallery and Salwa Zeidan offer work from Abdulqader Al Rais, Dr Najat Makki and Hassan and Hussain Sharif. We leave feeling sensorially stimulated, looking forward to a weekend full of art related activities. See you tomorrow.
