Benedetta Ghione, the Executive Director of Art Dubai, discusses the impactful art initiatives that the event promotes.
What is the Art Dubai initiative all about?
Art Dubai serves as the premier art gathering globally in the Middle East, and the upcoming 2025 edition will feature approximately 120 galleries representing over 40 countries. The event comprises four unique gallery sections: Contemporary, Digital, Modern, and Bawwaba. Attendees can expect a wide array of activities from performances, installations, and innovative commissions by artists like Mohammed Kazem, Héctor Zamora, and Ania Soliman, to engaging discussions at the Global Art Forum and the Digital Art Summit. The fair will take place from April 18 to April 2025, with preview days on April 16 and 17. In addition to the fair, we actively support the arts and culture community year-round with various initiatives, including the A.R.M Holding Children’s Programme and Campus Art Dubai, aimed at fostering the next generation of art professionals.
How has Art Dubai transformed over the years?
Since its inception nearly two decades ago, Art Dubai has transformed from a simple week-long art fair into a crucial hub for the global art community comprising artists, collectors, and institutions. As a nurturing ground for emerging talent, we are devoted to driving innovation and leadership in the arts and cultural sectors. We consistently strive to provide a platform for artists from underrepresented regions, with around 76% of this year’s programming reflecting contributions from MENA/South Asia.
What are the main highlights of this year’s program?
The evolution of Art Dubai continues in 2025, initiating a collaboration with Alserkal Avenue, featuring the acclaimed Mexican artist Héctor Zamora. Renowned for his impactful, site-specific works, Zamora will present a compelling performance that explores themes of transformation and liberation alongside a corresponding installation at Alserkal Avenue. We are also reinforcing our focus on digital art and the influence of advanced technologies on creative practices. The Digital Summit, directed by curator Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, will delve into the intersection of AI and digital art and their ability to redefine creative boundaries. This edition promises to be one of our most dynamic yet, offering grand ideas, insightful discussions, and diverse experiences. The Modern section is set to expand its focus to include Latin American artists for the first time, featuring works by Venezuelan artist Darío Pérez Flores that explore shared concerns between Latin America, West Asia, and North Africa.
“Art Dubai has established itself as a pivotal institutional platform and a catalyst for the cultural economy of Dubai.”
This year’s Global Art Forum theme, ‘The New New Normal,’ tackles what topics?
This year’s Global Art Forum will focus on how ongoing change influences our lives, often resembling the unpredictable nature of science fiction. Over its nearly 20-year history, the Global Art Forum has consistently pushed boundaries and become a vital platform for cultural dialogue and innovation. Commissioned by Shumon Basar and curated by Y7—a UK-based interdisciplinary duo, Hannah Cobb and Declan Colquitt—the forum will feature profound insights and major ideas from a variety of prominent thinkers, artists, technologists, and futurists.
How does Art Dubai maintain a balance between technological innovation and artistic integrity?
From the early days of digital art to the rise of contemporary creators, Art Dubai Digital has showcased the evolution of this medium over the years. The growth of digital art is prompting artists to expand the definitions and boundaries of contemporary art and culture. This year, attendees can expect to see works that investigate how artists engage with advanced technologies such as AI, virtual reality, and augmented reality, while addressing significant environmental, social, and political issues.
In what ways does Art Dubai support the UAE’s burgeoning creative talent?
Art Dubai serves as a catalyst for the flourishing art scene in the UAE and the wider region, acting as a meeting point for international art collectors and creative professionals. The vibrant cultural landscape of Dubai, combined with its dynamic communities of artists and creatives, is well-represented in this year’s eclectic roster. The fair includes 23 local galleries and features prominent local talents like Sara Al Haddad, Sara Ahli, and Faris AbdullaAlshafar, alongside established figures such as Hassan Sharif and Mohammed Kazem at Gallery Isabelle. Additionally, the Dubai Collection, managed by Art Dubai and initiated by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, stands as the emirate’s first institutional art collection, further enhancing Dubai’s artistic presence. Comprising over 1,000 artworks sourced from private collections, the collection represents a global spectrum with artists from over 40 countries while maintaining a focus on the Middle East.
What transformation in perspectives about art and technology can we expect from this year’s summit?
With its launch four years ago, Art Dubai Digital has pioneered the integration of digital art within the international fair framework. This year, the Art Dubai Digital Summit will facilitate engaging conversations surrounding ecological consciousness in media art, hidden biases in AI, and the future of museums in an increasingly digital society. Through a series of public talks, lectures, and breakout sessions, museum directors, curators, artists, and tech pioneers will offer valuable insights into the next steps and potential challenges ahead.
This year, several digital installations and hybrid works will showcase how artists are merging digital elements with traditional art forms, prompting a fresh perspective on both mediums. For instance, Egyptian/Polish/American artist Ania Soliman’s large-scale installation, titled Kahrabaa (meaning ‘electricity’ in Arabic), explores the intricate relationships between technology, nature, and memory through performances involving both real and artificial plants. Notably, pioneering kinetic artist BREAKFAST will present a cutting-edge interactive piece, Carbon Wake, prominently displayed at the entrance of the Digital gallery section.
Alfred Basbous, Le mysterieux, Ed.8, 1991, Bronze, 46.5 x 21 x 16 cm, Courtesy of Alfred Basbous Foundation
How will blockchain, AI, and immersive technologies impact the future of Art Dubai Digital?
Curator Gonzalo’s theme for the 2025 Art Dubai Digital section, ‘After the Technological Sublime,’ unites artists utilizing digital tools to confront pressing challenges confronting humanity and the environment. Through their work, the artists pose critical questions and illustrate the significance of digital technology today and into the future. This year, our focus lies on artists engaged in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and other technological advancements to tackle vital environmental, social, and political concerns.
How is Art Dubai influencing the region’s role in the global art narrative?
Remaining the preeminent art gathering in the Middle East, Art Dubai’s regional and international scope offers artists and galleries a global stage to engage with worldwide audiences, nurturing dialogue and opportunities on an international scale. This year, we proudly feature representation from 67 cities across 39 countries. Over the years, Art Dubai has forged its position as a significant institutional platform and an essential driver of Dubai’s cultural economy, playing a pivotal role in the development of its artistic landscape.
In this Design Issue, how does art embody design principles?
This year’s presentations will illustrate a wide range of media, including textile art, marble and resin sculptures, and glass artworks. French artist Joana Vasconcelos will showcase her textile sculptures, inspired by 19th-century Portuguese artist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro’s ceramic works, which incorporate handmade cotton crochet and intricate lace. Additionally, Thomas Brambilla Gallery will feature the American sculptor Bryan Hunt and his wall piece series during this edition of Art Dubai.