ABU DHABI, 27 October 2007 — The capital city of United Arab Emirates is buzzing with acclaimed cultural activities.
Three notable ones — Cultures of Creativity exhibition that illustrates Nobel Prizes; Artparis that displays masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall, Joan Miro etc and International Fine Art and Antiques Fair, which will bring $100 million worth of exhibits from some of the finest galleries around the world — are or will be on view here.
The ‘Cultures of Creativity’ exhibition, which celebrates 100 years of the Nobel Prize, is in Abu Dhabi for the final leg of an international tour which commenced in 2001.
Abu Dhabi is the only location in the Middle East to host the Nobel Museum.
The exhibition was developed by the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, on the centenary of the Nobel Prize in 2001 and has since traveled to 13 countries including Sweden, Japan, Korea, America, Britain, Singapore and Australia. It is on display at the Emirates Palace Hotel until Dec. 31 and admission is free.
The centennial exhibition of the Nobel Prizes explores the creativity of scientists, writers, economists and peacemakers who have been recognized by the Nobel Foundation. Visitors will be able to follow the changes of the 20th Century through the Nobel Prizes and the laureates and explore the work and the ideas of more than 700 creative minds presented through a range of innovative exhibits including two specially designed theater, an audio pavilion, and an e-museum.
Connoisseurs will also get a chance to visit the International Fine Art and Antiques Fair that will bring $100m worth of exhibits from some of the finest galleries around the world to the UAE. The fair will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center from Nov. 21-24. The fair, the first of its kind in the UAE, will have a comprehensive vetting procedure by an exclusively appointed Standards Committee to ensure only the highest quality genuine pieces are exhibited.
Then art lovers will get an opportunity to enjoy the masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall and Joan Miro at Artparis Exhibition from Nov. 26-29.
Caroline Clough-Lacoste, co-founder and general commissioner of Artparis, said that Artparis-Abu Dhabi would also feature an extensive collection of Arabian art, including calligraphy and sculptures by leading Arab artists.
“Among the paintings on display at the exhibition, masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall and Joan Miro will certainly be the highlights along with a vast array of art from Middle East, bringing about a cultural fusion,” she said.
“Galleries from Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE have confirmed their participation,” said Clough-Lacoste.
“While the entire collection is conservatively valued at over $400 million (AED1.4 billion), there will be something for all art lovers including informative seminars on art appreciation and how to invest in art,” said Clough-Lacoste.
The prestigious art fair, which reinforces Abu Dhabi’s status as the region’s capital of arts, culture and heritage, is being held with the support of Sheikh Mohammed ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The fair is being organized in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) and the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC).