This week’s editorial musings
from magpie’s nest
The quote: Architecture is a dangerous mix of power and importance Rem Koolhaas …
Abu Dhabi art week? Abu Dhabi seems to be acquiring an art week, possibly a whole art festival. There’s Abu Dhabi Art (plus its beyond-the-art-fair manifestations) and the Manar Abu Dhabi public light art installations (plus talks, workshops and performances – all free, even Tarek Yamani’s). Add to that the arrival of NOMAD Abu Dhabi – a boutique alternative to the conventional art/design fair, a peripatetic showcase for collectible design and contemporary art that pops up in “extraordinary architectural settings”.
No arguments there – NOMAD Abu Dhabi is being held in the decommissioned Terminal 1 at Zayed International Airport, designed in the late 1970s by the Paris CDG architect Paul Andreu; NOMAD is using the spectacular and highly decorated circular arrivals/departure hall plus other rooms. We’re especially looking forward to seeing Dale Chihuly’s gorgeous blown glass there, courtesy of Leila Heller …
NOMAD is open 20-22 Nov, 1-9pm, access by preregistration only here; Abu Dhabi Art runs 19-24 Nov, 2-9pm, tickets here. And Manar Abu Dhabi is already running in Al Ain, 15 Nov in Abu Dhabi city, ends to 4 Jan – talks etc are mostly on Jubail and mostly during November.
Throwing light In fact it looks like November is becoming the key month in the region for light art, with Manar Abu Dhabi and Dhai Dubai (on now, ends 19 Nov). And Noor Riyadh, the world’s largest light art festival and one of the best reasons to visit Riyadh in November, runs 20 Nov to 8 Dec with 59 artists from 24 countries – the likes of Michelangelo Pistoletto, Monira Al Qadiri, James Clar, Ivana Franke, Christophe Berthonneau. More info here …
Treasures of Abu Dhabi DCT Abu Dhabi is once again seeking nominations to its fifth annual Urban Treasures awards, celebrating “historically significant cultural establishments that continue to serve the emirate as local gems”. Qualifying are commercial consumer-facing enterprises that have been operating in Abu Dhabi for 20 years or more. After a six-month assessment, 15 selected establishments will be honoured at the Urban Treasures ceremony. It’s a fine idea; you have until 30 Nov to get your suggestions in via the online form here. (If you want to see what’s already been selected, try this page – but it wasn’t loading when we checked …)
Don’t try this at home Elon Musk’s AI-generated encyclopaedia Grokipedia is supposed to be “more neutral and more accurate than Wikipedia”. It’s neither. As one commentator noted, “in an age of misinformation, it acts as a reminder of the importance of well-researched and impartial sources of knowledge” …
School improv The Courtyard’s Inter-School Theatresports Tournament returns at the end of the month – training/explaining on 29 Nov, competition on 30 Nov (though the webpage was sort-of saying 7 Dec when we last visited). It’s an afternoon of competitive improv for teams of 2-6 students, and if you know a school that might like to enter (it’s free and fabulous fun) get in touch with Marie at marie@courtyardplayhouse.com to sign up …
Best buildings Finding the best architecture in the Middle East is the remit of the inaugural RIBA Middle East Awards. We cast an eye over the nine winners, and we’re pretty happy with the jury’s choice …
A bit of Banksy CHAMPOP Gallery, originally of Paris and now of Dubai Downtown too, is opening a Banksy show today – authenticated limited edition screenprints and cut-from-the-wall stencilled originals. Probably as near as you’ll get to the man himself; must be worth seeing, though …
Three more to catch So many good-looking gallery shows are opening in the next few days to catch the Abu Dhabi Art / NOMAD Abu Dhabi crowd. Here are three we won’t miss: Aliyah Alawadhi‘s reminiscences of girlhood at Bayt AlMamzar, the ever-reliable Gil Heitor Cortesão at Carbon12, and Mohammed Joha‘s collages of metaphor at Zawyeh …
Believe TikTok user Nikalie Monroe has been calling up religious institutions across the USA and presenting herself as the mother of a two-month-old baby in desperate need of formula. She’s not asking for money, just for a can of formula. At time of writing she’d called 44 such organisations: just 11 have said yes. Most of the brush-offs were from Protestant Christian churches; the good guys include a mosque, a Buddhist temple, and two Black Baptist churches. Just sayin’ …
Useful app of the week Learn your way is a Google online app that turns “content” (PDFs, perhaps of textbooks) into “educational formats” (interactive slides and mind maps). It’s ostensibly for classrooms but obviously has wider application …
Something for the weekend Anna’s Secret Garden is a small, virtual garden, created and planted by anonymous visitors from all across the web and the world. Draw your own and plant it with the rest. Simple, pointless, perfect. Try it here …
Things we didn’t know no.94 The world’s largest living organism is a honey fungus in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest. It covers about 2,385 acres (nearly 1,000 hectares), mostly underground – though you do see its mushrooms (which are edible but need careful preparation). It’s reckoned to be more than 2,400 years old, and that makes it one of the oldest living organisms as well.
Earworm of the week Baby Dave : San Pellegrino
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