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Contempo-
rary Art
Galleries
Third Line (p81)
Gallery Isabelle
Van Den Eynde
(p80)
Courtyard (p82)
JamJar (p81)Modern Architecture
In contrast to the traditional architecture that was all about function
over form, and was built with regard for the environment, modern
architecture in Dubai and (less so) Abu Dhabi has (until recently)
embraced an ‘anything goes’ ethos with complete disregard for the
climate. About 90% of Dubai’s architecture can be described as in-
ternational and is built using concrete, steel and glass. However,
many architects have recently started to question the thinking be-
hind building glass towers in a country with extreme heat. The huge
cooling costs alone are reason to go for designs that better respond
to and integrate with the weather and surroundings. Because these
cosmopolitan materials absorb heat and transfer it to other parts
of the construction, they also cause damage over time. As a result,
high-tech, state-of-the-art materials with greater heat resistance are
now starting to be used. Designs that are ageing well – and plenty
aren’t – are usually the ones produced by established architects, such
as Carlos Ott (National Bank of Dubai building), whose fame stems
from designing the Opéra de la Bastille in Paris, France.Since the financial crisis, many high-profile, commercial and
urban-scale projects have been cancelled� Although considerable
losses were incurred, Dubai shifted from being a city defined as a
fast-paced spectacle to one that possesses a distinctive character
and complexity� It suddenly became a very real city� In 2011 the city
saw a steady, but slow, rise in construction which meant that there
was a lot more time for quality control and planning�Sharmeen Syed, architect, urban designer
and researcher based in DubaiviSual artS
At the turn of the millennium there were only a handful of galleries in
Dubai, most of which offered little more than clichéd watercolours of
Arabian horses, camels and the like. Within the space of a few years,
the city has become a focal point for contemporary Arabic and Persian
art. With customary foresight, Dubai’s decision-makers have recog-
nised the potential of the art market in the region and gone all out to
make sure it doesn’t miss a trick.
The inaugural Gulf Art Fair in 2007 (retitled Art Dubai the follow-
ing year) brought gallery owners, artists and dealers from around the
world to the plush setting of Madinat Jumeirah to talk business. In
2011, Art Dubai’s annual event welcomed more than 20,000 visitors
and hosted more than 70 of the world’s most dynamic galleries.Why Dubai?
Dubai’s location at the crossroads of the Middle East, the Indian sub-
continent and Africa has helped it become an art industry hub. But
it’s also Dubai’s relative openness that makes it such an attractive
location for artists hoping to show their work. All the usual taboos,
including anything that could be construed as criticism of Dubai,
remain off limits. Nudity is a no-no, but Dubai is still more open
than cities such as Tehran and Damascus, where some of the artists
come from. Major exhibitions at venues such as the British Museum
have fuelled a keen interest in Middle Eastern contemporary art, and
Dubai is a lot more accessible to Western dealers than other citiesa
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