This week’s editorial musings
from magpie’s nest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quote:<\/mark><\/strong> I recommend the freedom that comes from asking: “Compared to what?” Gloria Steinem<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Catch ’em while you can<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Today and tomorrow (1 and 2 October) Abu Dhabi\u2019s Bassam Freiha Art Foundation<\/strong><\/a> is hosting the first public fine art show that Sotheby\u2019s<\/strong> has put on in the UAE \u2013 six works by van Gogh<\/strong>, Gauguin<\/strong>, Khalo<\/strong>, Magritte<\/strong>, Pissaro<\/strong>, and\u00a0Munch<\/strong>, together worth a guesstimated $150m. None have been seen in the Middle East, and three haven\u2019t been seen in public for 50 years. They\u2019ll be sold in New York in November, but for now they\u2019re free to view<\/strong>. It\u2019s also a teaser for Sotheby\u2019s luxury marquee sale n November under the label Abu Dhabi Collectors\u2019 Week; Sotheby\u2019s is of course part-owned by Abu Dhabi\u2019s sovereign wealth fund ADQ<\/strong><\/a>, which has a minority stake in the auction house …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Money for Saudi Culture<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0KSA’s first Cultural Investment Conference<\/strong><\/a>, which finished a couple of days ago, apparently delivered the goods in the shape of new cultural funds and agreements worth more than SAR\u00a05bn. The tone was set by the first session, ‘Culture as a strategic investment’; details of the external investments are a bit sketchy, but there will definitely be a new\u00a0Riyadh University of Arts<\/strong>, opening in 2026 with courses in film, performing arts, and theatre …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curating Venice<\/mark>\u00a0<\/strong>Bana Kattan<\/strong><\/a> has been named curator for the National Pavilion UAE<\/strong><\/a> at next year\u2019s Venice Biennale<\/a><\/strong>. Currently Curator and Associate Head of Exhibitions at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, she\u2019s an Abu Dhabi native who had a successful stint at the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery<\/strong> (including a hand in the seminal 2017 exhibition But We Cannot See Them: Tracing a UAE Art Community, 1988\u20132008<\/strong><\/a>). A great choice, in our opinion …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meet for free<\/mark><\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0Jameel Arts Centre<\/strong> is offering free meeting spaces<\/strong> for \u201cindependent groups, creative communities and grassroots organisers\u201d who need somewhere for regular meetups and shared activities. It\u2019s strictly non-commercial, and private celebrations are also disqualified (you could probably enquire about paid-for room hire for those, though). Here\u2019s the enquiry form<\/strong><\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why Shakespeare works<\/mark><\/strong> Coming to the NYUAD Arts\u00a0Center the weekend after this is a really interesting take on Othello<\/a><\/strong>, an adaptation by\u00a0Lara Foot from Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre. The play has been relocated to 1880s Namibia, a time of genocidal colonisation, and the racism inherent in the play is transferred from the personal to the social. Which started us thinking about how and why Shakespeare can be updated<\/strong><\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Art fair eco-footprints?<\/mark><\/strong> The Gallery Climate Coalition<\/strong><\/a> (the other GCC, a non-profit which aims to halve the art world\u2019s carbon emissions by 2030) has a bit of a coup \u2013 a group of 22 blue-chip galleries at the upcoming Frieze London <\/strong>and Frieze Masters<\/strong><\/a> (15-19 October)\u00a0has committed to donate 10% of the sale price<\/strong><\/a> of “some”\u00a0works to the initiative. A dedicated online viewing room goes live on 4 October. Art fairs, known for their heavy environmental footprint, are a particular target for the GCC;\u00a0it has signed up a number of them (mostly European) for its Art Fairs Initiative<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 not including Art Dubai or Abu Dhabi Art, though we hear Art Basel Qatar<\/strong> may be on board\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abwab embroidered<\/mark><\/strong> The winner of the Abwab<\/a> <\/strong>commission at this year\u2019s Dubai Design Week<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(4-9 Nov) is the Bahraini architecture and design platform Maraj<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0founded by architects Latifa Alkhayat and Maryam Aljomairi. This year\u2019s Abwab theme was In the Details, \u201cexploring Ornamentalism as an aesthetic language of meaning, symbolism and embedded knowledge that has influenced architecture, objects and textiles across cultures\u201d; the winning project, Stories of the Isle and the Inlet<\/strong>, explores the ecological and cultural layers of a Bahraini island located between wetlands and an industrial zone through work by local artisans, especially embroidery\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sing along<\/mark><\/strong> There\u2019s now an Emirati Birthday Song<\/strong><\/a>, \u201ca defining, unique moment that grounds a familiar tradition within a shared identity\u201d. Which translates as the Happy Birthday music with a Khaleeji twist and Arabic lyrics. The UAE Year of Community<\/strong><\/a> crowdsourced ideas and Ferjan Dubai<\/strong><\/a> produced the result; here it is<\/strong><\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting the show on the road<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> The first ever DXB Theatre Awards<\/strong> is (are?) being held on 5 October, \u201cattended by over 200 of Dubai\u2019s best and brightest writers, actors, directors and theatre makers\u201d and with 116 nominations spread over 22 productions \u2013 which surely demonstrates the vitality of Dubai\u2019s theatre scene. Leading the nominations are two musicals, Guys and Dolls<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and Romeo+Juliet<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(the one featuring songs by Queen). The awards ceremony is open to the public and free<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0at The Bagot, McGettigans JLT …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Waterworld<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> Hooray, the Dubai Fountain<\/strong> is back! After a five-month refurb, the world\u2019s largest choreographed fountain system exploded back into life at 6.30pm yesterday with leaks fixed, a glow to its bottom, and more oomph for the lighting\u00a0and sound. Emaar says there will be a Phase Two<\/strong> of\u00a0renovations, with \u201cinnovative new features designed to elevate the Dubai Fountain experience even further\u2019; that should be ready next Spring. For now, there\u2019ll be two afternoon performances each day (1pm and 1.30pm most days, an hour later on Fridays) with evening shows from 6 to 11pm …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bank of laughs<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> The seventh Dubai Comedy Festival runs 2\u201312 Oct. Big names abound, some with ticket prices to match. But we will be queuing for Omid Djalili<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Joanne McNally<\/a><\/strong>and Masood Boomgaard<\/strong><\/a> …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three shows to see<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> Newly opened at Alliance Fran\u00e7aise:\u00a0Seaty<\/a><\/strong>‘s cross-cultural high-colour portraits.\u00a0Sophie-Yen Bretez<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0offers “the dramaturgy of passage” at JD Malat. Nat Bowen<\/strong><\/a> has high-gloss poured resin at Bassam Freiha Art Foundation …\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Useful app of the week<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Poolsuite<\/strong><\/a> is one of my favourite play-and-forget internet-radio mixes to play during housework sessions and elsewhen. Web, iOS and Android …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something for the weekend<\/mark><\/strong> Bloquecitos<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is a simple, soothing, \u2018merge the pieces\u2019 game \u2013 match tile groupings based on their patterns, keep going for as long as possible til the screen clogs up …\u00a0Try it here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things we didn\u2019t know no.94<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Wombat poo<\/strong> is cube-shaped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earworm of the week<\/mark> <\/a><\/strong>clipping : Mirrorshades pt 1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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