This week’s editorial musings
from magpie’s nest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quote:<\/mark><\/strong> Architecture is a dangerous mix of power and importance\u00a0Rem Koolhaas …<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Abu Dhabi art week?<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Abu Dhabi seems to be acquiring an art week, possibly a whole art festival. There’s\u00a0Abu Dhabi Art<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(plus its beyond-the-art-fair manifestations) and the\u00a0Manar Abu Dhabi<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0public light art installations (plus talks, workshops and performances \u2013 all free, even\u00a0Tarek Yamani<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s). Add to that the arrival of\u00a0NOMAD Abu Dhabi<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 a boutique alternative to the conventional art\/design fair, a peripatetic showcase for collectible design and contemporary art that pops up in \u201cextraordinary architectural settings\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No arguments there \u2013 NOMAD Abu Dhabi is being held in the decommissioned Terminal 1 at\u00a0Zayed International Airport<\/strong>, 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\u2019re especially looking forward to seeing\u00a0Dale Chihuly<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s gorgeous blown glass there, courtesy of Leila Heller …<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOMAD<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is open 20-22 Nov, 1-9pm, access by preregistration only\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>;\u00a0Abu Dhabi Art<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0runs 19-24 Nov, 2-9pm, tickets\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>. And\u00a0Manar Abu Dhabi<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is already running in Al Ain, 15 Nov in Abu Dhabi city, ends to 4 Jan \u2013\u00a0talks etc<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0are mostly on Jubail and mostly during November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throwing light<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong> In fact it looks like\u00a0November<\/strong>\u00a0is becoming the key month in the region for\u00a0light\u00a0art<\/strong>, with\u00a0Manar Abu Dhabi<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Dhai Dubai<\/strong>\u00a0(on now, ends 19 Nov). And\u00a0Noor Riyadh<\/a><\/strong>, the world\u2019s 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 \u2013 the likes of Michelangelo Pistoletto, Monira Al Qadiri, James Clar, Ivana Franke, Christophe Berthonneau. More info\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Treasures of Abu Dhabi<\/mark>\u00a0<\/strong>DCT Abu Dhabi is once again seeking nominations to its fifth annual\u00a0Urban Treasures awards<\/strong>, celebrating \u201chistorically significant cultural establishments that continue to serve the emirate as local gems\u201d. 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\u2019s a fine idea; you have until 30 Nov to get your suggestions in via the\u00a0online form here<\/strong><\/a>. (If you want to see what\u2019s already been selected, try\u00a0this page<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 but it wasn\u2019t loading when we checked\u00a0…)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a0Don\u2019t try this at home<\/mark><\/strong><\/strong> Elon Musk\u2019s AI-generated encyclopaedia Grokipedia<\/strong> is supposed to be \u201cmore neutral and more accurate than Wikipedia\u201d. It\u2019s neither. As one commentator noted, \u201cin an age of misinformation, it acts as a reminder of\u00a0the importance of well-researched and impartial sources of knowledge<\/strong>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n School improv<\/mark><\/strong> The Courtyard\u2019s\u00a0Inter-School Theatresports Tournament<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0returns at the end of the month \u2013 training\/explaining on 29 Nov, competition on 30 Nov (though the webpage was sort-of saying 7 Dec when we last visited). It\u2019s 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\u00a0marie@courtyardplayhouse.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to sign up …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best buildings<\/mark><\/strong> Finding the best architecture in the Middle East is the remit of the inaugural\u00a0RIBA Middle East Awards<\/strong><\/a>. We\u00a0cast an eye over the nine winners<\/strong><\/a>, and we’re pretty happy with the jury’s choice …\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n A bit of Banksy<\/mark><\/strong> CHAMPOP Gallery<\/strong><\/a>, originally of Paris and now of Dubai Downtown too, is opening\u00a0a Banksy show<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0today \u2013 authenticated limited edition screenprints and cut-from-the-wall stencilled originals. Probably as near as you\u2019ll get to the man himself; must be worth seeing, though …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three more to catch<\/mark><\/strong> So many good-looking gallery shows are opening in the next few days to catch the Abu\u00a0Dhabi Art \/ NOMAD Abu Dhabi crowd. Here are three we won’t miss:\u00a0Aliyah Alawadhi<\/strong><\/a>‘s reminiscences of girlhood at Bayt AlMamzar, the ever-reliable\u00a0Gil Heitor Cortes\u00e3o<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0at Carbon12, and\u00a0Mohammed Joha<\/strong><\/a>‘s collages of metaphor at Zawyeh …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Believe<\/b><\/mark> TikTok user\u00a0Nikalie Monroe<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0has 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\u2019s not asking for money, just for a can of formula. At time of writing she\u2019d called\u00a044 such organisations<\/strong><\/a>: just\u00a011<\/strong>\u00a0have 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\u2019 …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Useful app of the week<\/mark><\/strong><\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Learn your way<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is a Google online app that turns \u201ccontent\u201d (PDFs, perhaps of textbooks) into \u201ceducational formats\u201d (interactive slides and mind maps). It’s ostensibly for classrooms but obviously has\u00a0wider application …<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something for the weekend<\/mark><\/strong> Anna\u2019s Secret Garden<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is a\u00a0small, 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.\u00a0Try it here<\/a>\u00a0…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Things we didn\u2019t know no.94<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0world\u2019s largest living organism<\/strong>\u00a0is a\u00a0honey fungus<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in Oregon\u2019s Malheur National Forest. It covers about 2,385 acres (nearly 1,000 hectares), mostly underground \u2013 though you do see its mushrooms (which are edible but need careful preparation). It\u2019s reckoned to be more than 2,400 years old, and that makes it one of the\u00a0oldest<\/strong>\u00a0living organisms as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Earworm of the week<\/mark> <\/a><\/strong>Baby Dave : <\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/a>San<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> Pellegrino<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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