Dubai Culture takes the arts experience to the city’s outdoors
- Public display of works by UAE national artists to adorn outdoor space
- Ten large billboard-size art pieces on display in key locations across the city
Dubai, UAE; March 17, 2010: Dubai’s outdoor spaces are getting an artistic facelift. The city is setting a new cultural trend as the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) takes the arts experience to the outdoors.
Large billboard-sized art pieces by UAE nationals will now adorn the public spaces through Dubai Culture’s novel ‘Outdoor Art Project’ initiative.
Dubai Culture, the Emirate’s dedicated authority for culture, heritage and the arts, will be showcasing ten displays of art pieces by emerging Emirati talent – all of them celebrating the richness of the Emirati cultural identity.
The displays not only bring art to the public but also present interesting artistic perspectives on Dubai through the eyes of Emirati artists. In another strategic cultural shift, Dubai Culture shines the spotlight on creative expressions through new media with this ‘Outdoor Art Project.’
The works of art are being displayed in key locations across the city. They include art and new media artworks by Her Highness Sheikha Lateefa Bint Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Maitha BinDemaithan, Saeed Mohammad Al-Madani, Alia AlMalik, Zeinab Alhashemi, Fatma Saeed Saifan, Nawal Khoory, Sumayyah Al Suwaidi, Afra Bin Dhaher and Maitha Huraiz.
The 400 cm x 300 cm displays are compelling creative works, all expressions centred on life in the UAE. The inspirations are as varied as Dubai’s cultural fabric- from the evolving skyline in mixed media to abstract renditions inspired by the UAE’s heritage, and photo-art montages depicting the unique cultural identity of Dubai.
The media used cover traditional and futuristic styles – from water colours to photography, scanography, painting, drawing, print-making and typography, among others.
Saeed Al Nabouda, Chief Projects Manager, Dubai Culture, said the public art project is a unique initiative in the region, and is aimed at bringing together Emirati artists to express their national identity, cultural language and vision for the future.
“Apart from adding to the aesthetic appeal of the city, the Outdoor Art Project initiative breaks down the barriers between artists and the public. We are taking art from the confines of galleries and exhibition spaces to become a part of people’s everyday life,” he said. “This complements Dubai Culture’s goal of fostering stronger dialogue among all cultural stakeholders – the artists, art patrons and the audience, while promoting Dubai-based artists to a larger audience.”
This initiative also coincides with Art Dubai, the leading art exhibition in the region, and the Bastakiya Art Fair, an annual fringe art event that takes place in the houses of Al Bastakiya, under the patronage of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.