A Symposium Performance Celebrating Contemporary Arab Creation
The inaugural ‘Abu Dhabi Art, Talks & Sensations’ cultural event, organised in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and the Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), will debut on Tuesday 18 November at Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation.
Under the theme “What aesthetics is the Arab world creating today”, the event celebrates contemporary creation as part of the second annual artparis Abu Dhabi 2008, the Middle East’s leading modern and contemporary art fair.
“At a time of unprecedented development and change, our ambition is to preserve the best of our heritage and national identity, while looking forwards to the future. By initiating this important cultural event, we believe we have created a significant platform for cultural dialogue between the Arab and contemporary art worlds,” said His Excellency Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Director General, ADACH.
Moderated and conceived by Fabrice Bousteau, Chief Editor of leading French art magazine ‘Beaux Arts’, the symposium performance will feature works of art specifically created for the event, intellectual debates, video projections, gourmet surprises, poetry and a live DJ set.
More than thirty distinguished artists, actors, philosophers, architects, curators, designers, chefs and musicians will address the evolution of contemporary Arab aesthetics in a performance of two acts and sixteen individual scenes.
“Abu Dhabi is now firmly positioned as the region’s most progressive cultural hub for arts and ideas, and it is our aim to support and encourage intellectual ferment, artistic innovation and creative flowering in the nation’s capital in the lead up to the opening of Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District,” said Rita Aoun-Abdo, Art & Cultural Advisor, TDIC.
The unrivalled line-up of international and regional personalities starring in the avant-garde ‘Abu Dhabi Art, Talks & Sensations’ event include:- artists Abdel Abidin (Iraqi & Finnish), Kader Attia (French & Algerian), Sarnath Banerjee (Indian), Youseef Nabil (Egyptian & American), Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige (Lebanese & French).
As well as curators and art critics – Fereshteh Daftari (MoMA, New York), Alka Pande (Habitat Centre, New Delhi), Hans-Ulrich Obrist (Serpantine Gallery, London) and Martina Corgnati (Turino).
Major players in the Middle East art world will also make a starring appearance – Isabelle de La Bruyère (Christies), Enrico Navarra (Galerie Navarra, Paris), Zeina Arida (Arab Images Foundation, Beirut) and Karl Bassil (Mind the Gap, Beirut).
‘Food from the Desert’ will be provided by renowned French chef Alain Passard, with music by DJ Michel Gaubert & Soundwalk plus an honoured contribution from the ‘Prince of Poetry 2008’, Mauritania’s Sidi Mohamed Ould Bemba . A unique water bar by Collette will refresh the audience with samples of over thirty specialty mineral waters, while German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk will stimulate and enliven their thoughts.
‘Abu Dhabi Art, Talks & Sensations’ commences at 6.15pm on Tuesday 18 November with a reception, with the symposium performance commencing at 7.30pm at the Al Dhafra Theatre in Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation. Entrance to the event is free.
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