10 things not to miss at World Art Dubai
World Art Dubai, the region’s most accessible and affordable retail art fair, is back for its seventh edition at Dubai World Trade Centre between 7 and 10 April 2021.
With stringent measures in place to ensure all attendees’ safety, the latest edition of World Art Dubai will feature over 200 galleries and artists displaying more than 2,000 pieces across a range of disciplines.
Running under the theme ‘Discovering new Perspectives’, visitors will be encouraged to see things differently and find inspiration across all aspects of the show. The carefully considered visitor journey will be brought to life through new and returning activations around furniture, mixed media, fashion, sustainability, digital art, photography, graffiti and sculptures.
International Artists:
World Art Dubai has long remained an event calendar staple to the international art scene, with multiple artists jetting in for the 2021 edition. Brand new countries with artists exhibiting this year include Israel with Eli Gross, whose landscapes often depict children, Nigeria with Olawuyi Samuel Art who focuses on African culture, and Uzbekistan with emerging artist Alimkhonov Bakhtiyor. Other award-winning and notable artists to keep an eye out for include OL’SVOL’D from Ukraine, who describes his pieces as energetic-vibrational, Xavier Bisbe, who hails from Spain and his old wood on canvas paintings, and the return of Kristel Bechara from Lebanon and her stunning work that features powerful women.
Urban Art DXB:
Curated by Louis Wright from London-based gallery, Vandalist Art, the zone will feature live sessions from local and international artists, including Maddy Butcher, Fink 22 and Pure Evil.
Visitors can also have artwork customised at Urban Art DXB with a live interactive print machine that prints pieces consisting of text and colours specially selected by the buyer. Artwork can also be customised by established street artists who apply stencil overlays on canvas.
Don’t miss the street art jam battle, which will occur throughout the four-day fair with two teams of two street artists competing to create the winning piece. Visitors can get involved with the competition by voting on Instagram for their favourites. The lucky two artists to get the most votes will receive a free-of-charge space at World Art Dubai 2022.
Live Art Performances:
Proving coffee is more than just a caffeine kick, Raha Coffee Art will be wowing visitors with their art performances using only coffee as well as Sijin Gopinathan, who will transform a car with his doodles.
Workshops & Talks:
Whether you’re an expert or an amateur, a grandparent or a ten-year-old, the workshop corner offers an array of educational seminars run by experts with attendees able to craft and take home their own art. Key workshops include jellyfish painting, calligraphy, and watercolour painting.
In addition, the Art Tea Talks are set to offer new perspectives to an array of topics in a casual environment, with both speakers and audience invited to speak about art over tea. The topics include the healing and positivity of art and what artists need to know about working with designers by the online art gallery, Artezaar. Art conversations with blank canvas and the transformative journey of awareness and creativity by Lebanese abstract artist Cynthia Nouhra.
Digital Art:
A collaboration with the revolutionary Theatre of Digital Art takes viewers on a breath-taking digital journey that combines high-end technologies with classical art and visual effects. The show will feature two incredible masterpieces, ‘Monet to Kandinsky’ and ‘The Impressionists’. In partnership with Samsung, Mahmoud Safwat will be offering visitors the chance to have caricatures of themselves speed drawn on his tablet, with the unique piece being sent directly to them.
Be A Robot’s Muse:
Have a photograph that you’d love to transform into art? Al NORN, a Robot from Russia, is making its regional debut at World Art Dubai, offering visitors the chance to transform a favourite photograph into art by using technological analysis of colours and shape.
Sustainable Art:
Curated by contemporary artists Diyali Bhalla and Beena Samuel, ‘Where Art and Sustainability Meet’ will see sustainability put under the spotlight in an installation created using upcycled newspapers and discarded printer papers.
Support Emerging Artists:
World Art Dubai is returning with a range of initiatives designed to build a new community of budding artists and emerging photographers in the emirate. Leveraging its long-term partnership with Rove Hotels and maximising burgeoning forward-thinking collaborations with Nikon and local schools, the show will be running a series of competitions for artistic talents.
Keep The Kids Entertained:
Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children will also be providing little artists with pottery classes and guided tours through work completed by creative children from the centre. If children prefer capturing art, Nikon’s Kids Photo Club offers a series of free photography classes designed to cultivate an aspiring young photographer’s skill set.
Meet The Curators:
With a quartet of incredible experts leading on the curation of the entire show, artists by trade Samar Kamel, Batool Jafri, Petra Kaltenbach and Louis Wright will also be exhibiting their own pieces at the show, as well as being on hand to answer any art questions visitors might have.
World Art Dubai will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, halls 1 and 2 from 7 to 10 April 2021, between 1pm and 9pm each day, except Saturday, which runs until 8pm.
Tickets cost AED 20 for adults, AED 10 for children, with family packages also available. Buy online to enjoy 20 per cent off ticket cost. Parking is free at World Art Dubai at Trade Centre Multi-Story Car Park.
GO: Visit www.worldartdubai.com for more information.
