Benedetta Ghione, Executive Director at Art Dubai, discusses the impactful art showcased at Art Dubai.
What is the purpose of Art Dubai?
Art Dubai stands as the premier global art event in the Middle East. For its 2025 edition, the fair is set to showcase around 120 galleries from over 40 nations, divided into four unique gallery segments: Contemporary, Digital, Modern, and Bawwaba. Visitors can look forward to performances, installations, and innovative commissions from artists such as Mohammed Kazem, Héctor Zamora, and Ania Soliman. Additionally, engaging talks will take place during the Global Art Forum and the Digital Art Summit, ensuring a rich experience from April 18 to April 2025, with preview days on April 16 and 17. Throughout the year, Art Dubai actively supports the arts community with various initiatives, including the A.R.M Holding Children’s Programme and Campus Art Dubai, aimed at nurturing emerging art professionals.
How has Art Dubai transformed since its inception?
Nearly two decades since its launch, Art Dubai has developed into more than just a week-long exhibition. It has become a vital gathering point for the global art community, including artists, collectors, and institutions. By fostering a new generation of talent, Art Dubai embraces its responsibility to lead in innovation and thought within the arts sector. Since its inception, the fair has consistently aimed to highlight artists from underrepresented regions, with approximately 76 percent of this year’s program featuring artists from the MENA region and South Asia.
What are the notable features of this year’s program?
Art Dubai is continuously evolving, and the 2025 edition will introduce new initiatives in collaboration with Alserkal Avenue, beginning with the renowned Mexican artist Héctor Zamora. His impactful performance will delve into themes of transformation and liberation, complemented by a site-specific installation at Alserkal Avenue. The emphasis on digital art and its influence on creative practices will remain at the forefront, particularly during the Digital Summit, themed ‘After the Technological Sublime.’ Curated by Gonzalo Herrero Delicado, the summit will explore how AI and digital art are pushing artistic boundaries. This year promises to be one of the most dynamic yet, with profound discussions and innovative experiences to engage attendees. The Modern section will also expand its reach to Latin America for the first time, featuring Venezuelan artist Darío Pérez Flores, whose work addresses shared themes between Latin America and the West Asia/North Africa region.
“Art Dubai has established itself as an essential institutional platform and a driving force for Dubai’s cultural landscape,”
This year’s Global Art Forum, titled ‘The New New Normal,’ aims to delve into which significant discussions and themes?
The Global Art Forum this year will explore how ongoing changes transform our world, making daily life increasingly seem surreal and unpredictable. Over nearly 20 years, the forum has positioned itself at the forefront of cultural dialogue and innovation. Commissioned by Shumon Basar and curated by the UK-based duo Y7, which includes Hannah Cobb and Declan Colquitt, participants can expect insightful discussions from leading thinkers, technologists, artists, and futurists.
In the context of swift digital advancements, how does Art Dubai maintain a balance between technological innovation and artistic integrity?
Art Dubai Digital has chronicled the growth of digital art throughout the years, showcasing a range of innovative artists who are redefining contemporary art and culture. The exhibition features pieces that investigate how artists are utilizing advanced technologies like AI, virtual reality, and augmented reality to address critical environmental, social, and political issues.
What role does Art Dubai play in fostering creative talent in the UAE?
Art Dubai serves as a significant driver for the flourishing art scene and creative economy in the UAE and beyond, making it a pivotal gathering place for global art collectors and creatives. The city’s vibrant cultural landscape, rich artistic communities, and dynamic atmosphere are reflected in the diverse representation at this year’s fair. With 23 galleries from Dubai and a range of local artists including Sara Al Haddad, Sara Ahli, and Faris Abdulla Alshafar featured among others, the event captures the essence of the local art scene. Additionally, the Dubai Collection, a project supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and managed by Art Dubai, represents the emirate’s first institutional art collection, boasting over 1,000 artworks sourced from private collections within Dubai and the surrounding region, while also maintaining an international outlook with contributions from artists across more than 40 countries.
How is this year’s summit expected to shift our perspective on art and technology?
Art Dubai Digital chronicles the progression of digital art and continues to be a pioneer in this field since introducing a dedicated digital section four years ago. The 2025 Art Dubai Digital Summit will facilitate thought-provoking discussions on ecological activism in media art, addressing biases within artificial intelligence, and exploring the future of museums in an increasingly digitized landscape. Through public talks, presentations, and interactive sessions, museum directors, curators, artists, and technology innovators will share insights into what lies ahead.
This year, attendees can expect to see a variety of digital installations and hybrid works that integrate digital elements within traditional art, challenging preconceived notions of both mediums. One highlight is Ania Soliman’s work Kahrabaa, which explores connections between technology, nature, and memory through large-scale installations and performative acts that involve both artificial and real plants. Additionally, pioneering kinetic artist BREAKFAST will unveil a major interactive installation titled Carbon Wake, which will occupy a prominent place 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
What influence do blockchain, AI, and immersive technology hold for the future of Art Dubai Digital?
Curator Gonzalo’s theme for the 2025 Art Dubai Digital section, ‘After the Technological Sublime,’ showcases artists and creatives utilizing digital technologies to confront pressing challenges facing humanity and our planet. The artworks prompt essential inquiries about the current and future role of digital technology. This year’s focus is particularly on artists engaged in artificial intelligence, virtual/augmented reality, and other tech advancements, allowing them to scrutinize significant environmental, social, and political themes.
How is Art Dubai impacting the region’s contribution to the global art dialogue?
Art Dubai remains the foremost global art event in the Middle East, offering artists and galleries a substantial platform to engage with international audiences, fostering dialogue and creating new opportunities worldwide. This year, the event will include 67 cities represented from across 39 nations. Over the years, Art Dubai has become a vital institutional platform and a propeller for Dubai’s cultural economy, significantly shaping its artistic landscape.
In this year’s Design Issue, what can you share about art with design significance?
This year’s presentations will feature a wide array of mediums, including textile art, marble and resin sculptures, and glass installations. Notably, French artist Joana Vasconcelos will exhibit her textile sculptures inspired by the ceramic works of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, while American sculptor Bryan Hunt will present his wall pieces through Thomas Brambilla Gallery.
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Images: Provided