Old Articles About Art Dubai
In 2012, Harper’s Bazaar Art Arabia was launched with Arsalan Mohammad as Editor in Chief. He held that position for three years and during that period I contributed to the magazine four times, two of them my were about Art Dubai that I recently found when I was going through my old magazines.
Harper’s Bazaar Art Arabia didn’t last too long after Arsalan Mohammad left, and I don’t think the old issues were digitised to be available online. You can, however, find them at a few libraries in Dubai, including Mohammad Bin Rashid Library and at Jameel Arts Centre. Harper’s Bazaar Arabia which was launched in 2007 still exists, but it doesn’t really cover the arts and culture the same way.
I stopped attending the art fair since 2016, but since Art Dubai starts later this week, it’s a good time to share the two articles mentioned earlier. It’s also a hark back to a time when we had arts and culture editors who had a bit more freedom (and a sense of humour) to publish fun pieces of criticism, unlike today’s arts and culture media landscape in the country which is predominantly driven by PR.
Haper’s Bazaar Art Arabia - Summer 2012
In 2012, I reviewed Art Dubai but through the printed materials I collected during the week of the fair. The article was titled Papering the Town.
My feelings about Art Dubai changed after 2015, which explains why I stopped attending, something I may write about another time. But I’m glad to have experienced a few good years of the fair that were worthwhile.
Harper’s Bazaar Art - May-June 2013
In 2013, Austyn Allison and I contributed a piece about Art Bingo, a game we played with a few of our friends during Art Dubai and during the seasonal openings of new exhibitions in Dubai. A fun and snarky piece about the “art scene stereotypes” and due for an update, but I doubt an article like this would be commissioned or published in any of our magazines today.
An extract:
”Art Dubai is the Big One, where the art scene stereotypes are out in force, and cliche spotting at its finest. Often the game is over as soon as it’s begun.
Life size animal? Check.
An entourage of dishdashes? Check.
A manipulated Persian carpet? Check.
A waistcoat worn with jeans? Check.
Before the fair opened, we expanded the sheets. To extend our playing time, and for the sake of variety, we added a count for horses and bow ties, and a ‘Pant-tone’ chart of hipster trouser colours.”
