The Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial kicked off its second phase this week with nine new works for locations across the emirate.
There were unveilings by Anga Art Collective, Arquitectura Expandida, Ayesha Hadhir, Lúcia Koch, Nnenna Okore, Sophia Balagamwala, Tarik Kiswanson, and Rand Abdul Jabbar (above: it’s on Corniche Street, here); the ongoing piece by Atelier Aziz Al Qatami continues to take shape at the Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal.
Coming soon: new installations by Hussein Sharif, Emily Jacir, Rami Kashou x Emirati Artisans, Alia Farid and Latifa Saeed. A participatory performance by Mobile Akademie Berlin will round out the Biennial celebrations in April.
As part of the second phase, a further public programme including talks, tours, workshops, and performances will activate the various Biennial sites – including this time the Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal, which gets several events.
The Biennial runs to 30 April, and we feel it’s been quite dramatically successful in its scale, variety, and relevance. The works have been good, and the Emirate’s reputation has been enhanced.
There are site-specific installations by more than 70 artists in the downtown areas of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, 40 new commissions among them. Clémence Bergal, who’s Public Art Abu Dhabi Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, is commendably bullish: “With every installation, we are harnessing the power of public art to advance the creative legacy, cultural infrastructure and quality of life within Abu Dhabi through placemaking and collective memory.”
Details, including maps, locations and event timings, are at paad.ae.
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