HUB IN THE MAKING / DR. ZOLTÁN SOMHEGYI 3/5 ARTARTAFRICAAFRICA
FEATURE / HUB IN THE MAKINGThe economic power of the country and the collectors’ hunger for art production from
new markets has incentivised the mapping of new territories, however without the
conscious building and development of the scene itself, the aforementioned stimuli
would not automatically lead to sustained growth. Strong initiatives, a favourable
geopolitical location and the cosmopolitan nature of the United Arab Emirates –
with about two hundred nationalities and an expat-ratio of about 80% – are also
significantly helping this interest. In recent years a wide and growing focus has been
generated in both contemporary and classical art. Local heritage is as much a source
of analysis as global tendencies are influential.Many art enterprises are backed by the government, as well as by private and state
foundations. Corporate collections are rapidly growing. This is always a very clear
indication of a healthy artistic environment because companies’ and private collectors’
investments complement the museum acquisitions very well. What is also noteworthy
in the case of such purchases is that – unlike museums, where there is often an
attempt toward unbiased universality in their collections – companies and private
collectors can have a particular strategy and emphasis in building their art collections
that provides a great ‘playground’ for innovative curators when proposing a special
focus for the selection procedure.Connected to all this, another phenomenon that can’t be overestimated is the
United Arab Emirates’ artistic and cultural diversity. Global discourse often views
the country in a homogenised way. It is worth observing the important variety and
distinctive focus points of the different emirates, all of whom contribute in making
up an attractive cultural environment. The capital Abu Dhabi is regularly breaking
the cultural headlines with its efforts to establish a breathtaking museum scene in the
Saadiyat Cultural District. Here the Zayed National Museum (designed by Norman
Foster), Louvre Abu Dhabi (designed by Jean Nouvel), Guggenheim Abu Dhabi
(designed by Frank Gehry), the Performing Arts Centre (designed by Zaha Hadid)
and the Maritime Museum (designed by Tadao Ando) are planned to open in the
coming years. The inauguration of these institutes will certainly transform Abu
Dhabi into a significant global museum destination.Dubai is better known for its commercial galleries. At present there are close to a
hundred located in different parts of the city. Many of them are grouped in two distinct
areas: the DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) and Alserkal Avenue. While
the first is an elegant commercial centre where banks, insurance companies and legal
consultancies have their offices, the latter was originally an industrial zone. Some
years ago pioneering galleries started to sprout up there. Eventually, due to the area’s
popularity, it needed an extension. Apart from those galleries that have their primary
base there, it is also host to multiple local subsidiaries of international galleries,
such as Leila Heller (New York), Galerie El Marsa (Tunis), and Ayyam Gallery (with
another space in the DIFC and Beirut). Visitors to Alserkal Avenue can also enjoy
other events: presentations, urban markets and festivals. Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi