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The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) has announced the return of its ‘Portraits of the Nation’ series of exhibitions after a successful first in 2016. Organised in conjunction with the 19th Abu Dhabi Festival (ADF), the exhibition focuses on creating the UAE’s mindset: Creativity, Innovation and Joy. Exhibited at Manarat Al Saadiyat from 21 January to 16 April 2022,Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond NarrativeHighlights the innovations and collaborations that have shaped the UAE’s visual arts landscape over the past 50 years, focusing on the people, histories and stories of the rich and diverse indigenous creative scene.
Through an exhaustive display of multimedia artwork, oral testimony, archival materials and mayflies, Portrait of a Nation II continues to explore art practice in the UAE. Curated by Maya El Khalil and co-curator Roxane Zand, it showcases the artwork and perspectives of UAE-born or UAE-based artists, curators and gallerists, about five years of continuous artistic growth, exchange and Stories of Experimentation. At the heart of the exhibition are more than 100 important artworks, including 15 special commissions, covering the work of 62 key artists, from the founders of the UAE art scene to today’s emerging generation.
HE Huda Ibrahim Alkhamis, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Arts Festival, Said: HE Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Arts Festival, said: “Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narrative brings us together to witness the infinite creative energy of the UAE. The exhibition is part of Art Abu Dhabi 2022 Part of the festival, with the theme ‘Building the UAE’s Spiritual State: Creativity, Innovation and Joy’, is the embodiment of a cultural milestone in the UAE. Over 62 artists and 100 artworks, including the debut of 15 special commissions, Portrait of a Nation II is an unprecedented celebration of the UAE’s 50th anniversary of visual arts. It’s inspiring to see the artists who have brought this country to life telling our nation’s timeless story of creativity and collaboration.
“The exhibition will take visitors on a tour of America’s art world, sparking new conversations inspired by five fundamental themes. Reclaiming/Reimaging Home looks back on early life in the place artists call home and explores their broader sense of belonging In Shifting Landscapes, the home creates opposites, and the artist must negotiate between stability and transformation, authenticity and modernity. Unity’s configuration examines spaces that bring people together and transcend cultural differences to embrace diversity. Relationships. Reclaiming/Reimaging Language looks at the medium of communication that makes solidarity possible. Last but not least, transforming sociality addresses changing social patterns, including consumerism, customs, and the organization of time and travel.
A dedicated section of the exhibition pays tribute to the late artist Christo and his partner Jeanne Claude, whose innovative spirit redefines public art and shows us its true value. The tribute highlights Christo’s pivotal role in developing young artists and his dedication to supporting creative talent in the UAE and the world,” he added.
“Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narrative is a testament to the creativity, innovation and joy that define our nation, and it builds a bridge to the UAE’s boundless ambitions for the next fifty years,” she concluded.
Curator MayaEl Khalil Said: “The development of Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narrative has been, from the very beginning, a process of approaching people, history and stories. We propose ways of viewing culture as space rather than time, recognizing that art is made possible by Shaped by encounters that lie dormant and then return, relationships accumulate meaning in and where they originate, people assimilate ideas of their world into their activities. What emerges are polyvalent and polyphonic communities formed through camaraderie and communication portrait.
Exhibition showcases important loans from prominent partners including Barjeel Art Foundation, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, UAE Unlimited, HE Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, UAE National Pavilion Venice Biennale, Farjam Collection, HE AbdulRahman Al Owais , Cleveland Clinic, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim Museum Abu Dhabi, Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah Museum, Art Jameel, NYU Abu Dhabi, RaminSalsaliMuseum and Samawi Collection.
To maximize public engagement, a rich series of lectures, workshops and performances will be held during the three-month exhibition period.
New work in conjunction with the “Portrait of the Country II” exhibition
In conjunction with the exhibition, as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival’s Composer Platform, which promotes the work of Arab artists globally through the production of albums, the festival will showcase the works supported by the Composers Platform in a dedicated installation from January to April. Latest version 2022.
Guests attending the exhibition will have the unique opportunity to enjoy these new albums, including IsmarkCreated by Saudi pop singer Tamtam; Ihab Darwish Hekayat: Symphony Stories, It captures the musical traditions and cultures of every continent, offering 13 pieces performed by 128 musicians from 20 countries; and Cairo Jazz Station’s first album in collaboration with the Aix-en-Provence Festival, featuring music from Young performers from Egypt, Turkey, Portugal and Italy.Other albums include First Piano Concerto Omar Rahbany fuses music of his own Arab and Lebanese origin with European Baroque, composed by famous composers such as Bach and Vivaldi, with intricate Indian rhythms and irresistible swings of Brazilian beats.
With the support of Abu Dhabi Music Festival, in collaboration with the Arab Music Archive and Research Foundation, Arabian Ebony Tour Will be published as a comprehensive archive of the Arab region’s most iconic instruments, a set of 2 CDs and 1 DVD, complete with a booklet. The festival will also feature revolutionary new musical innovations by Belgian-Iraqi composer and researcher Qoutayba Al Neaimi, Polyphonic Muqam System, which will change the way musicians around the world understand Arabic music.
Emirati director and artist Nujoom AlGhanem will also participate in Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narrative, presenting her short films aisle. The film was commissioned by the UAE National Pavilion Venice Biennale to design the UAE Pavilion for the 2019 Venice Biennale and was filmed in the UAE and Venice, Italy. It is curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, founders of the multidisciplinary curatorial platform Art, for the repositioning and directors of the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum of Contemporary Art. The Abu Dhabi Foundation for Music and Arts, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Arts, made possible the film’s return to the UAE, courtesy of the UAE National Pavilion – Venice Biennale and the artist.
The exhibition also pays tribute to Christo and Jeanne Claude, whose legacy in the UAE began more than 40 years ago and flourished through the years through their partnership with ADMAF until Christo’s death on 31 May 2020.
The 19th Abu Dhabi Festival 2022 is sponsored by His Highness Sheikha ShamsaBint Hamdan Al Nahyan and supported by key partner Mubadala Investments (Mubadala) and energy partner GS Energy. Abu Dhabi Arts Festival 2022 attracted over 1,000 participating artists from around the world, presenting over 300 performances and events. The 19th edition will also include two world tours and 17 world premieres.
The Abu Dhabi Festival 2022 programme is part of the Abu Dhabi Foundation for Music and Arts’ contribution to the designation of the UAE capital as a UNESCO City of Music.
For more information on upcoming events at Abu Dhabi Festival, please visit: https://abudhabifestival.ae, and find the festival on Facebook (abudhabifestival), Twitter (@abudhabi_fest) and Instagram (@abudhabifestival).
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