With 90 galleries from 31 countries, this 15th edition welcomes countries such as Georgia, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore and Chile for the first time.
Installations, performances, conferences, exhibitions... What to see?
The "Beyond Emerging Artists" initiative, which gives visitors a chance to discover the new Emirati art scene, this year featuring artists Almaha Jaralla, Latifa Saeed and Samo Shalaby. The exhibition showcasing new talent is curated by Morad Montazami, best known for developing Zaman Books and Curating, a platform dedicated to the study of Arab, African and Asian modernism.
In addition, Palestinian artist Samia Halaby will be presenting her kinetic paintings, a unique digital art form she began developing in the mid-1980s, in a performance alongside American multi-percussionist Kevin Nathaniel, known for his use of traditional African instruments.
Not to be missed is a talk by Abdallah Al Saadi, the Emirati artist who will be representing his country at the Venice Biennale. He will be discussing his artistic practice with Tarek Abou El Fetouh, curator of his exhibition at the UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Photo: Samia Halaby in her studio in New York. Copyrights Samia Halaby / Galerie Ayyam.