Cristiana de Marchi - Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi’s new annual contemporary art exhibition has kicked off. The inaugural edition, named “Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2021,” will be on view at the Jean Nouvel designed musuem’s Forum until March 27, 2022. The exhibition showcases artworks by the seven shortlisted artists for the first Richard Mille Art Prize. The accolade is set to “lay down the foundations for what is certain to be a very exciting chapter in the development of the region’s rich and nuanced art scene,” according to Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille Middle East.
Mays Albailk - Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi Photo Seeing Things
Cristiana de Marchi, Latifa Saeed, Mays Albaik, Mohammed Kazem, Nasser Alzayani, Tarek Al-Ghoussein, and Taus Makhacheva made the cut after responding to this year’s theme of ‘Memory, Time and Territory’ with their own unique interpretations. The shortlisted artists for the prize by the maker of Swiss watches that are marvels of technology were selected by a jury following an open call for proposals from UAE-based artists.
Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi Photo Seeing Things
The creatives addressed questions of memory and belonging and explored the geography of identity through their personal relationships with territories. They brought each of their visions to life through different mediums. De Marchi is presenting a hand-embroidered canvas with her artwork “Mapping Gaps: Beirut,” while Saeed uses glass for her piece, “The Pathway.” Additionally, Albaik’s “Awaiting Weightlessness” is an installation of aluminium video sculptures, while Kazem is displaying his photographic series, “Photographs with Flags.” Meanwhile, Alzayani uses sand artefacts, collected recordings and works on paper in his installation titled “Watering the distant, deserting the near.” And Al-Ghoussein is presenting prints from his ongoing “Odysseus” series, as Makhacheva has employed a mix of video and body-oriented objects for her work, “Mining Serendipity.”
HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Photo by Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
“We are proud to offer greater visibility to these incredibly talented UAE-based artists for this inaugural edition of the exhibition and prize,” Manuel Rabaté, Director of the museum that focuses on building understanding across cultures, said. “Living in the UAE, they were uniquely placed to respond to this year’s theme of ‘Memory, Time and Territory,’ especially in a year where the nation reflects on 50 years of progress and development.”
Tarek Al-Ghoussein - Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi Photo Seeing Things
Dr Souraya Noujaim, Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Scientific, Curatorial and Collections Management Director and prize jury member, also commented on the impressive works, saying: “The artists have really shown a deep understanding of the theme and have responded with incisive, nuanced works. This exhibition and art prize are a significant addition to the contemporary art ecosystem of the UAE, and this focus on contemporary artists is an important extension of the universal storytelling our exhibitions and collection convey.”
HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of UAE Unlimited and an art collector and patron of the Centre Pompidou, the British Museum and Sharjah Art Foundation, was also part of the distinguished jury. Art critic Christine Macel, who is Chief Curator at the Musée national d’art moderne, Centre Pompidou, and Hala Wardé, founding architect of HW Architecture and Jean Nouvel’s long-term partner, were the other two members.
The winner of The Richard Mille Art Prize, who will be awarded $50,000, will be selected by the prize’s jury and will be announced at a ceremony in January 2022.
