This week’s editorial musings from magpie’s nest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quote<\/mark><\/strong> The only end of writing is to enable readers better to enjoy life, or better to endure it Samuel Johnson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Documenting the UAE<\/mark><\/strong> The inaugural Dhikhr Award<\/strong>, launched by the NYUAD Institute to recognise \u201cindividuals who have made exceptional contributions to preserving and advancing the understanding of the UAE\u2019s history and culture\u201d, has gone to Frauke Heard-Bey<\/strong> of the Centre for Documentation and Research in Abu Dhabi (author of the classic From Trucial States to United Arab Emirates<\/em>, among many other works) and the late David Heard<\/strong> \u2013 her husband, a noted geologist late of ADNOC, and donor with his wife of the substantial Frauke Heard-Bey and David Heard collection of archive materials about the Emirates. A good choice, and a good way to mark National Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dubai’s reputation<\/mark><\/strong> Dubai is the world\u2019s fifth best city brand (behind London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo) says the latest Brand Finance Global City Index<\/strong> which surveys perceptions of a hundred cities as places people would want to live, work, study, visit, retire, and invest in. Abu Dhabi comes in at 30; download your own copy here<\/strong><\/a> to see why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re rich<\/mark><\/strong> Boston Consulting Group’s annual global wealth report<\/a><\/strong> suggests that global net wealth \u2013 financial wealth plus liabilities and real assets \u2013 grew by 4.3% in 2023 to hit $477 trillion. The UAE contributed $2.9tn of that and is growing faster than the average (up 10% over 2022). Hooray!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bee happy<\/mark><\/strong> The winner of the 12th Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award<\/strong><\/a> was unveiled at the opening of Abu Dhabi Art a couple of days ago. It\u2019s a bee hotel by Sara Farha and Khaled Shalkha from Datecrete Studio, constructed from their date pip based cement alternative Datecrete: \u201cbeautiful, useful, and important\u201d said the Award\u2019s director. Here’s our take on it<\/strong><\/a>, and if you fancy your chances here<\/strong><\/a> are the application details for the next edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Footfall in Venice<\/mark><\/strong> The National Pavilion UAE<\/strong> recorded a total of 308,719 visitors for its eighth participation at 2024 Venice Biennale with Abdullah Al Saadi: Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia<\/strong><\/a><\/em>. That means nearly half the Biennale\u2019s total of around 700,000 visitors made it to the Sale d’Armi for the UAE. There\u2019s still info on the website here<\/strong><\/a>, along with a virtual tour here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shedding light on Saudi<\/mark><\/strong> One of the best reasons for visiting Saudi Arabia \u2013 the always excellent Noor Riyadh<\/strong><\/a> festival of light art \u2013 opens today and runs to 14 December. Held across three locations (King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Wadi Hanifa, JAX) it has 60+ works by Saudi and international artists. Info here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meet and eat<\/mark><\/strong> Mysk.ae<\/strong><\/a> now has an outlet in the lobby of the NYUAD Arts Center<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 just right for coffee or a snack before a show (great wraps and salad bowls too: the jackfruit wrap is recommended).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile the Mahaweb Art Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/a> in Goshi Warehouse Village is reopening this evening, 6-9pm, promising \u201ca vibrant atmosphere filled with art, creativity, and community spirit\u201d. Go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you want some art on your plate, try Fouquet\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> at Louvre Abu Dhabi \u2013 chef Balveer Balkisson has recreated the colours and styles of C\u00e9zanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Seurat in a four-course menu (AED 325) to celebrate the Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances<\/em><\/strong><\/a> exhibition. So Van Gogh\u2019s \u201cswirling emotions\u201d are captured in cauliflower puree; Seurat\u2019s pointillism is realised in \u201ca colourful carrot and beetroot gradient\u201d. It\u2019s available Tuesday to Sunday, midday to 11pm up to the end of the show on 9 February. Book here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Making records<\/mark><\/strong> After a brief hiatus, Dubai is back in the Guinness World Record<\/strong> game \u2013 this time with The Longest Line of Sustainable Pizzas<\/strong>. We\u2019re not sure what a sustainable pizza is, mind, and the press release forgot to mention just how long it was. So being Proper Journalists, we asked; seems it was 657.76m (aka 2,059 pizzas). And indeed, it does look really quite long<\/em> in the photoshoot at the Festival Bay Intercon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bluesky starter pack of the week …<\/mark><\/strong> A collection of art and design creatives plus associated publications etc is here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n … Make more of Musk<\/mark><\/strong> Elon Musk\u2019s star jumps have been turned into a font here<\/strong><\/a>. Probably ok for ransom notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three to book ahead<\/mark><\/strong> Mezzotono and Nesrine<\/strong><\/a> under the stars on Sharjah\u2019s Al Noor Island next weekend (and Mezzotono<\/strong><\/a> also do Abu Dhabi\u2019s Cultural Foundation a couple of days later); an evening of bike films and BBQ at the fourth Dubai Motorcycle Film Festival<\/a><\/strong>; and the stunning young British piano star Benjamin Grosvenor<\/strong><\/a>, even at an impressively inflated price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand it looks as though The Streets <\/strong>has postponed (was due 30 Nov at the Coca-Cola) …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something for the weekend<\/mark><\/strong> A musical sketchpad: draw something, then listen to it here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things we didn\u2019t know no.94<\/mark><\/strong> Your brain burns 400-500 calories a day. That\u2019s about a fifth of your total energy requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earworm of the week<\/mark><\/strong> Young Fathers : I Saw<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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