BLOUINARTINFO.COM | MARCH 2016 ART+AUCTION43
FROM TOP: MARCO BECERRA VIA FLICKR; THE STUDIO, DUBAI; ALSERKAL AVENUE
DUBAI
Art Dubai, the Middle East’s leading contemporary art fair, turns 10 this month.
In advance of its opening on March 16, Art+Auction speaks with Dubai-based artist
Kate Toledo about her go-to places in the sunny, constantly evolving Emirati city.Often called the City of Superlatives, Dubai offers
a dazzling diversity of cultures and a packed social
calendar, which suits Tanzanian-born painter and
scarf designer Toledo just ine: “There is always
something happening.” Toledo, who was raised in
Africa and New Zealand and lived in Brazil for
20 years, has called Dubai home since 2006.
Toledo inds inspiration not in the city’s glittering
skyscrapers and malls, but rather in its understated
suburbs. “I often wander around Al Satwa, a rather
unglamorous neighborhood illed with tailors, plant
shops, and picture framers,” she says.
“Dubai takes pride in supporting the arts, and thus
we have a vibrant and committed art community,”
says Toledo, who draws highlights from several
districts. Top among them is Alserkal Avenue (Street 8,
Al Quoz 1; alserkalavenue.ae), where converted
warehouses host nonproit spaces alongside local
and international commercial galleries. The rapidly
expanding enclave, together with the new Dubai
Design District, or d3 (Ras Al Khor Road; dubai-
designdistrict.com), has played a major role in estab-
lishing the city as a progressive destination for culture.
Other art spaces that Toledo frequents include the
Dubai International Financial Centre, or difc
(Sheikh Zayed Road; difc.ae), for its several important
galleries and massive lineup of art and cultural
events. The Al Fahidi Neighborhood boasts the
XVA Gallery (Bur Dubai; xvagallery.com) and its
boutique hotel, which is “housed in one of the original
buildings in Heritage Village, with a charming
outdoor café, an eclectic collection of books, and an
artist-in-residence usually on hand.” Toledo describes
the 40-year-old Dubai International Art Centre
(Villa No. 27, Street 75b, Jumeirah 1; artdubai.com)
as “an antidote to the glitz and commerce” of the city.
Art Dubai (Al Sufouh Road, Umm Suqeim;
artdubai.ae) takes place in the Madinat Jumeirah
hotel and convention complex, located midway
in a string of beach resorts. Toledo gives the new Four
Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach (Jumeirah
Beach Road, Jumeirah 2; fourseasons.com/dubaijb) a
thumbs-up for its great location, restaurants, and
trendy rooftop bar. She also recommends that
visitors to the city make a stop at the resort Atlantis,
The Palm (The Palm Island, Crescent Road,
atlantisthepalm.com), where the Dubai outpost of the
world-famous Japanese restaurant Nobu is located.
As for shopping, Toledo’s go-to is The Cartel
(6 Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1, Street 17; thecartel.me).
Situated in one of Alserkal Avenue’s repurposed
warehouses, it is a curated showcase of fashion
from around the world. On Jumeirah Beach Road,
Toledo a l so re com mend s Comptoir
02 (102 Beach
Road, Jumeirah 1; comptoir102.com), a concept store
housed in a formerly abandoned villa offering retail
therapy and fresh organic fare in its in-store café. Any
bibliophile’s appetite will be satisied by the sprawling
Books Kinokuniya (Dubai Mall, Level 2, Burj
Khalifa; uae.kinokuniya.com), which “has almost
every title you could possibly want.” —LOW LAI CHOWCULTURE+TRAVEL
From top: The Burj al Arab
hotel, which sits on a
man-made island off
Jumeirah beach, at dusk;
installation view of
Indonesian artist
Arahmaiani’s I Love You,
2015, at Tyler Rollins Fine
Art’s booth during last
year’s Art Dubai; and the
urban market on
Alserkal Avenue.