Forty of the world’s leading contemporary and modern galleries gather in March in Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai for the first DIFC Gulf Art Fair (www.gulfartfair.com). The fair opens with an exclusive Patrons’ Preview on March 7, followed the next evening with a Charity Opening in aid of START. A cultural foundation, START provides funding for children’s art workshops in deprived communities in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. On March 9 and 10, the fair is open to the general public through ticket purchase.
Among the international line-up of galleries taking part are Bodhi Art (Singapore), Max Lang (New York), SCAI Bathhouse (Tokyo), Albion (London), White Cube (London), Pekin Fine Arts (Beijing), Ben Brown (London), Forsblom (Helsinki), Krinzinger (Vienna), Hyundai (Seoul), Gallery Chemould (Mumbai) and The Third Line (Dubai). The growing significance of the Asian art market is represented by the participation of galleries such as Continua (San Gimignano/Beijing), Sfeir Semler (Hamburg/Beirut) and Bose Pacia/Nature Morte (New York/New Delhi) who now operate successful galleries from within Asia as well as the West.
A three-day educational program sponsored by Sotheby’s will bring international speakers to discuss aspects of contemporary art and collecting. There will be planned site-specific installations by international artists like Subodh Kerkhar, Patricia Millns, Nadim Karam, Parviz Tanavoli, and Lara Baladi. A complementary fair celebrating contemporary regional art organized by Dubai’s growing number of contemporary galleries will take place along the Dubai Creek, coordinated by The Third Line gallery.
