10 reasons to love Art Dubai

The region’s biggest fair touches down at the Madinat Jumeirah on March 18. Let us walk you among a few of the stands Discuss this article

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Elementa
Where would Art Dubai be without the home team, all those galleries building a scene from the ground up on a local level? Start out at Elementa and see how controversial artist Huma Mulji is dealing with the conflict in Gaza.

Bitforms
Do not miss Bitforms, a New York gallery which gives focus to experimental media. It’s presenting works by U-Ram Choe, a Korean artist who creates stunning and seemingly organic forms from metal and plastic.
Stand B-15

Mapping Palestine
Anyone who swung by Art Dubai last year will remember the Pakistani Pavilion that got collectors, artists and punters talking. This year, the focus has turned to Palestine’s contemporary artists and filmmakers.

Green Cardamom
Back to the galleries and this one from London is not to be missed. Focusing on south Asian and Middle Eastern contemporary artists, Green Cardamom will be bringing works by Nazgol Ansarinia, one of the winners of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize, but also a rare pyrographic (burned on to wood) image by Indian Anwar Shemza.
Stand B-11

Selma Feriani Gallery
We got a look at a recent show from this London gallery, and were impressed. It’ll be bringing along works by Rula Halawani and Sama Alshaibi, two celebrated Palestinian artists, but also a number of pieces by Philippe Pasquier.
Stand A-32

PYO Gallery
Head over to this Korean gallery, for ultra-modern reflections on an irradiated, CCTV world by Hong Dok Lee or soak up the strange horsey theme it has brought to the fair from its Chinese and Korean roster.
Stand A-24

Paint it big
Artist Sacha Jaffri hosts a workshop for art charity START, where teams of three- to 18-year-olds go to work on a six-feet square painting on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1pm-3pm. Head for the START desk, near the main entrance.

Rossi & Rossi
Check out Tibetan artist Kesang Lamdark on this London gallery’s stand. Born in Dharamsala, India, Lamdark explores what it means to live in asylum and his nostalgia for his homeland, passed on from his father.
Stand B-8

The Third Line
You have to see The Third Line’s stand. Among the 12 artists that this Dubai gallery is bringing to the stage, keep an eye out for Hayv Kahraman. Part Hieronymous Bosch, part swan, these striking figures keep blowing us away.
Stand A-12

Read Best Art in the UAE click here
Read 10 Reasons to love Bastakiya Art Fair click here
Read 10 Reasons to love Sharjah Biennial click here