Some 100 pieces of artwork will be on show at the centre.
Calling all connoisseurs of culture, the Portrait of a Nation series returns today (21 January) for your perusal at Manarat Al Saadiyat.
Held in conjunction with the 19th edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival (ADF), Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives highlights the innovation and collaboration that shaped the UAE’s visual art landscape over the past 50 years, focusing on the people, histories and stories of a rich and multifaceted homegrown creative scene.
Running until 16 April 2022, The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) organised exhibition will feature the artworks and perspectives of artists, curators and gallerists living in the UAE, narrating a story of five decades of artistic growth, exchange and experimentation.
Curated by Maya El Khalil with co-curator Roxane Zand, the exhibit will contain more than 100 key artworks including 15 special commissions, covering the work of some 62 pivotal artists, ranging from founders of the Emirati art scene to today’s emerging generation.
Speaking on the unveiling of the exhibition, H.E. Huda Ibrahim Alkhamis, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, H.E. Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, said the exhibition was a testament to the creativity, innovation and joy that defines the nation and the UAE’s ambitions.
They said: “Organised as part of the 2022 Abu Dhabi Festival, held under the theme Crafting the Emirates State of Mind: Creation, Innovation and Joy, the exhibition is an embodiment of the UAE’s cultural milestones. With more than 62 artists and 100 works of art, including 15 special commissions debuting for the first time, Portrait of a Nation II is an unprecedented celebration of 50 years of visual art in the Emirates. It is truly inspiring to see our country’s timeless story of creativity and collaboration told by the artists who have given it life.
“The exhibition leads visitors on a tour through the nation’s art scene, sparking new conversations inspired by five essential themes. Reclaiming/Reimaging Home looks at the early days in the places artists called home and explores their wider sense of belonging. In Shifting Landscapes, home yields ground to its opposite, and artists must negotiate both stability and transformation, authenticity and modernism.
“Configurations of Togetherness examines the spaces that draw people together and the relationships that transcend cultural difference to embrace diversity. Reclaiming/Reimaging Language looks to the mediums of communication that make togetherness possible. Last but not least, Shifting Sociality addresses changing social modes, including consumerism, custom and the organising structures of time and travel.
“A dedicated section of the exhibition honours the late artist Christo and his partner Jeanne-Claude, whose innovative spirit redefined public art and showed us its true value. The tribute highlights Christo’s pivotal role in nurturing young artists and his dedication to supporting creative talent in the UAE and the world.”
The exhibition features prominent loans from art partners including the Barjeel Art Foundation, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, UAE Unlimited, HE Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, The National Pavilion UAE La Biennale di Venezia, The Farjam Collection, HE AbdulRahman Al Owais, The Cleveland Clinic, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah Museum, Art Jameel, NYU Abu Dhabi, Ramin Salsali Museum and the Samawi collection.
There will also be a rich series of talks, workshops and performances around the exhibition to take place throughout its three-month run.
For more information visit Abu Dhabi Festival.
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