This week’s editorial musings from magpie’s nest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quote<\/mark><\/strong> All things have been given to us for a purpose, and an artist must feel this more intensely. All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art Jorge Luis Borges<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Summer in Venice<\/mark><\/strong> We had a fun few days checking out the recently-opened Biennale Architettura<\/strong><\/a> and especially the UAE\u2019s participation, Azza Aboualam\u2019s very interesting Pressure Cooker<\/strong><\/a> exhibition. We overstayed, so the report we promised for last week has taken this long to go live. It\u2019s worth it, though \u2013 read our feature\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Short, Sweet and nearly done<\/mark><\/strong> It\u2019s finals weekend for Short+Sweet 2025<\/strong><\/a> at the Junction \u2013 the best of the ten-minute playlets that have been competing over the last few weekends to reach this point. You get around a dozen plays per evening, so there\u2019s guaranteed to be a real mix of styles and participants: tickets<\/strong><\/a> are AED 135 for Friday and Saturday, AED 175 for the grand finale on Sunday …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treasure hunt<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0DCT Abu Dhabi has named another 15 recipients of its Urban Treasures<\/strong><\/a> plaques for \u201clong-standing businesses that have played a key role in shaping Abu Dhabi\u2019s cultural and social landscape\u201d. They include a collection of restaurants, perfume shops and confectionery makers, but there\u2019s also a gym, a clinic, and Al Sidr Natural Honey<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(which is yummy). Here’s a link<\/strong><\/a> to all 60 of the treasures\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who\u2019d have guessed it?<\/mark><\/strong><\/strong> The world\u2019s first ultra-luxury residential hospitality brand has launched in Dubai. Omoria Private Residences<\/strong><\/a> promises \u201ca new era of ultra-luxury living … defined by cultural depth, personalised service, and a bold global vision … blends sophisticated design, holistic wellbeing, exclusivity, and a longevity-centric approach to modern living\u201d. Of course it does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeking performances<\/mark><\/strong> Dubai Culture is inviting community theatres, art and music centres, production houses, and indeed any Emirati or resident talent to submit original work for the Dubai Youth Performing Arts Festival<\/strong><\/a>. Scheduled for November, the festival aims \u201cto support and empower emerging artists in drama, music, and traditional folk arts\u201d. Apply by 19 July. More info here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n See in Sydney<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Hoor Al Qasimi<\/strong>, who\u2019s curating the 2026 Biennale of Sydney<\/strong><\/a>, is going with the theme \u2018Rememory\u2019 (\u201crevisit, reconstruct and reclaim histories that have been erased or overlooked\u201d) and has listed 15 Australian and 22 international artists for it …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gameplay at ADU<\/mark><\/strong> Abu Dhabi University is launching a four-year BA in Video Game Design<\/strong><\/a>. Also involved are DCT Abu Dhabi, which drives the emirate\u2019s ambition to become a world centre for game design and will provide mentoring and internships;\u00a0and \u2013 interestingly \u2013 Rubika<\/strong><\/a>, a newish, probably unique and definitely quite exciting specialist French college of video game design. More here<\/strong><\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Uni in Liwa (not<\/mark>)<\/strong> Also in Abu Dhabi, Liwa College has become Liwa University<\/strong> following UAE Ministry of Higher Education approval, with 30 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes on offer. There are campuses in Abu Dhabi and an outlier in Al Ain, though not as it happens in Liwa …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Starstruck<\/mark><\/strong> Dubai\u2019s fourth Michelin Guide<\/strong> lists a total of 119 establishments, including two that now have three stars (ZN by Bj\u00f6rn Frantz\u00e9n<\/strong><\/a> and Tr\u00e8sind Studio<\/strong><\/a>) and two new one-star eateries (Jamavar<\/strong><\/a> and Man\u0101o<\/strong><\/a>). There are now 19 restaurants in Dubai with at least one Michelin star …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Art now<\/mark><\/strong> Several good-looking shows opening this week include Omar Al Gurg<\/strong><\/a> at Lawrie Shabibi, Ahmad Kasha<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0at Ayyam Gallery,\u00a0Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd<\/strong><\/a> at Carbon 12,\u00a0B\u00e9chir Boussandel<\/strong><\/a> at Tabari, and\u00a0a group show titled\u00a0Architectures of the In-Between<\/strong><\/a> at Aisha Alabbar …\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The apology<\/mark><\/strong> Apparently a problem with the send meant that some readers didn\u2019t get last week\u2019s issue, or received it late. If you\u2019d like to see what you were missing, the top-of-the-news summary (basically, this bit) is here<\/strong><\/a>; or you can read the whole newsletter (complete with what\u2019s-on selections) here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tonight’s the Night<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Get in quick for the opening night of Shrek the Musical<\/strong><\/a>, another of the Courtyard’s PowerPointless Networking Nights<\/a>, and Jo Koy<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0at Etihad Arena …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something for the weekend<\/mark><\/strong> What\u2019s the mystery image?<\/strong><\/a> Click on the dots, and keep on clicking to drill down to get a guessable solution …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things we didn\u2019t know no.94<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Men in Franc<\/strong>e<\/a> have a 26% higher carbon footprint than women. Researchers say this is largely due to increased consumption of \u201cgender stereotypical\u201d goods \u2013\u00a0cars and red meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earworm of the week<\/mark><\/strong> Skunk Anansie : An Artist is an Artist<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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