How Abu Dhabi is nurturing a thriving contemporary art scene

The arts ecosystem in the United Arab Emirates has grown rapidly in recent years, thanks to a significant cultural policy strategy that positions arts and culture as a key driver of economic development. This investment unfolds in different ways in different capitals: while Dubai offers a growing business scene typified by the Alserkal Avenue gallery district, Sharjah is home to the Sharjah Biennale – the epicenter of the SWANA region. An important international exhibition.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s capital is home to the Arab world’s first universal museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi.Considered a by-product of European colonialism, generic or encyclopedic museums – e.g. british museum or parisian The Louvre Museum– Play the role of showcasing artifacts of global origin, some of which were acquired as a result of war and plunder. In recent years, there has been some discussion about the geopolitical location of such museums, their enforcement of the West-centric world order, and their role in “legalizing” certain countries as must-visit art world centers.

Entering the conversation in a region that has long been at the center of Western imperial domination, the Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrated its fifth anniversary last November.As a contributor to the expansion of the local arts ecosystem, it will soon be joined by a new outpost GuggenheimScheduled to open in 2025.

“Previously, audiences who wanted to gain access to international art from prestigious collections needed to travel to Europe or the US. The establishment of these institutions has provided unprecedented opportunities to encounter a large collection of art and antiquities from all over the world in the UAE,” said founder Maliha Tabari Say Tabari Art Space, one of the oldest galleries in the country. “It marked the emergence of the UAE as a cultural hub in the Middle East and subsequently attracted important figures from the global art world.”

As well as bringing major international exhibitions to the region – such as the recently opened “Impressionism: Paths to Modernity”, with Musee d’Orsay and the French museum – the Louvre Abu Dhabi reflects a new expression of the encyclopedic museum look. “We reinvented the model in a very innovative way by creating a dialogue rather than categorizing knowledge,” explained museum director Manuel Rabaté. All communities converse, reflecting the diversity the region has to offer. Today, our museum successfully showcases all seven emirates, as well as heritage and art from all parts of the region.”

Strong community ties are a key driver not only of the museum itself, but of the UAE’s entire cultural ecosystem. With a constant flow of tourists and a predominantly expatriate population, the federal state embraces the ideals of tolerance, diversity and intercultural dialogue. “I find this area inspiring because of what it has done to establish its own commonality among conflicting historical sites. This is very close to my own practice and the concept of a third heaven,” shared the Italian artist Michelangelo Pistolettohis series of mirror paintings is currently in dialogue with the permanent collection of the Louvre Abu Dhabi to mark the museum’s anniversary.

Louvre Abu Dhabi also contributes to broadening the demographics of collectors and their tastes: “There is no institutional display, the gallery’s mission is to develop an audience, while collectors are more conservative, mainly composed of Arab and European expatriates, ’ explains Yasmin Atassi, director of Green Art Gallery, which has been active in the region for more than 30 years. “Today we have a much bigger base in the UAE, which is fantastic. We also have collectors who are more risky. I am able to show and sell difficult pieces that I would not have been able to do a few years ago.”

The growth of Abu Dhabi’s art market can also be attributed to annual events such as Art Abu Dhabi at Manarat Al Saadiyat, a few minutes’ drive from the Louvre. The fair, which celebrated its 14th edition this year, waived admission fees as part of a wider participation program.

“While at its core the show is of course represented by commercial sales, its identity is related to the community in many ways,” said Dyala Nusseibeh, who has been the show’s director since 2016. “We work with higher-level universities, schools, artist residencies, commissions and awards, and we try to stay in touch with our audience throughout the year.” This again reflects the vision of the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, which organizes Art Abu Dhabi. program, that sets a different tone than most privately owned high-profile shows.

Both Abu Dhabi Art Gallery and Louvre Abu Dhabi are committed to promoting local contemporary art, such as the fair’s “Beyond: Emerging Artists 2022” program and the museum’s “Louvre Abu Dhabi Art is Here 2022” exhibition, which includes Artists shortlisted for the Richard Mille Art Prize. Both showcase the work of Bay Area artists, meeting the efforts of local players to improve the likelihood of significant acquisitions by institutions and collectors – a challenge for a historically underrepresented important for the region.