FreeJ Dubailand

Another VIP gala evening was unfolding at the Madinat Jumeirah on Wednesday April 30. "FreeJ Dubailand" was the big announcement. Freej - meaning neighbourhood - is the Arabic animation created by Mohammed Saeed Harib. The series depicts four grandmothers in traditional attire. Guests first lounged around with fresh juices and tasty chicken skewers soon after the doors had opened at 6:30pm. An hour later they were urged to enter the auditorium and soon found themselves walking down a dark hall and experienced FreeJ in 3-D. Hologram like projections of the four main Freej characters were just a peek at the show that was too unfold. By 8pm it seemed the house was full and guests anxiously waited for the key speakers. Thirty more minutes pass by, which of course is a typical event timeline in Dubai. Finally the five minute warning was announced only to find out 20 minutes later that it would be another 20 minutes. Two hours after sitting in the dining room chairs, watching the same animation loop, Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum arrives - the reason for the delay - and the half hour show unfolds. Dancers, drummers, props and projections told Tatweer's future development plans in building FreeJ Dubailand which is planned to open in 2013. The theme park includes four main areas: Window on the UAE, Golden Age of Discovery, Myths and Legends, and the Land of Freej. The four Freej characters will be ambassadors to the various sections where restaurants to roller coaster rides, can be found.

Khor Dubai - a new creative time

Sheikh Mohammed and the team representing the Dubai Arts and Cultural Authority have announced their big plan for cultural development in Dubai.

Creek Art Fair

A busy month for the arts, the Creek Art Fair has returned bigger and better than its launch in 2007. With the support of the Dubai Cultural Council, the galleries wind through the old houses of Bastakiya. Participants included galleries from Dubai, Iran, and others in the region as well as artists from Lebanon, Italy and London. XVA who are the organizers behind this alternative platform also held a series of inspiring panel discussions. Visit www.creekartfair.com

In the photo's Colleen Quigley working in her installation "Constructing the Constructor", students playing dART magazine's Color Match.

Art Dubai 2008

Global Art Forum returned to the air-conditioned tent on the beach and provided an intimate conversation and interview platform some great speakers. Speakers included Hans Ulrich Obrist, Lawrence Weiner, Catherine David, Venetia Porter, Ai Wei Wei, Tony Cragg, Monir Shahroudy Framanfarmaian, Daniel Buren, and a final day on talks about cultural cities and museums with words by MoMA's Glenn Lowery and finishing the day off with architect Rem Koolhaas.

Art Dubai begins

The second year of Dubai's contemporary art fair begins. Held again at the Madinat Jumeirah, with a new name and about twice the size its 2007 show, gallerists and art enthusiasts were excited at what this year would bring. In comparison, there was an increase of figurative work and a selection for all. Some galleries were doing great in terms of sales while others were disappointed, although enjoyed the experience of seeing Dubai. This year Art Dubai expanded with a section called the "Pakistani Pavillion" and had the Biduon video lounge and some other installations taking up space in by the car park. Visit http://www.artdubai.ae for more info.

In the photos: Ben Brown Fine Arts; Sung-Tae Park's horses; Torch Gallery with Fred Eversley walking in the background.

Art Paris in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi takes us down modern art lane at Emirates Palace. The art market is beginning to take momentum within the United Arab Emirates. Not as big as Art Dubai - previously known as the Gulf Art Fair – but buyers were trickling in constantly.

Istanbul Biennial

"Not Only Possible, But Also Necessary: Optimism in the Age of Global War" was the title of the 2007 Istanbul Biennial curated by Hou Hanru. A handful of leading contemporary artists take over various parts of city buildings including the warehouse beside Istanbul Modern. Across the river in the plazas of shops we find a mix of works, some interactive and some that just make you wonder. But even in Turkey you find the fascination of animal painted sculptures, in this instance it was the cow, while at the same time visitors are consumed by the complexity of architectural variations between the Ottoman, Byzantine and Modern designs.

In the photos we find the works of Lee Bul, and Ken Lum which seemed to be the most successful piece of people looking at the unaware. http://www.iksv.org/bienal10/english/giris.asp

Elleven at DIFC

The graduating class of Latifa College Campus, Zayed University, was a brilliant mix of photography, drawing, painting and design. It was set up in the atrium of the DIFC located in the Trade Centre area. The professionalism of the show seemed that we were walking into an international biennial or fair. The concept "elleven' was a great achievement and the show design a success.

Minus Reality in Dubai

This exhibition, curated by Lateefa Maktoum, is one of the first exhibition containing over 20 artists that live and work in the UAE. The artists representing a cross of nationalities packed the house of Art Attack Gallery on the evening in June. The exhibition focused on works that in some way portrayed an illusory realm. Visit http://www.lateefa-art.com for more information about the exhibition and artists.

Zayed University at Meem

Located across from Mall of the Emirates, and in the industrial area of Al Quoz is Meem Gallery. This spring the gallery opened its doors to the universities of the region to display artists and student work. "Rtoosh" exhibited the works of Colleen Quigley, Jennifer Theokary, Karen Oremus, Ayyub bin R. Hamilton, Todd Devriese, Janet Bellotto and Thomas Tucker, as well as student works.

A Cultural Island of Happiness

As the art and culture are further looked at theArts Center investment opportunity in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi has put its wheels in motions and has commissioned leading architects to create "Saadiyat Island" - meaning the island of happiness. This will be a leading cultural hub that will host the infamous names of museums such as the Guggenheim and the Louvre. Architects include Frank Ghery, Zaha Hadid, Tado Ando, and Jean Nouvel - my favorite.

Photos include model of Hadid's Performing Arts Centre and Nouvel's Classical Museum.

Emirates Palace

Abu Dhabi is located next to the emirate of Dubai and is the capital of the United Arab Emirates. What makes the city on an island different, compared to Dubai, is a more laid back atmosphere and the traffic is not excruciating. Many people opt for taking taxis as you can get to about anywhere for less than 10 dhs (dirhams: $1 US=3.66 AED).

Driving along the corniche, soothing turquoise water hugs the shore on one side as a handful of 4 and 5 star hotels, which also house some great restaurants, sit on the other. Further along is the ultimate 5-star hotel (which is more like a 7-star), Emirates Palace, made for the ultimate fairytale experience.

As you drive through the gates of Emirates Palace, you may think you are entering the Sheikh's palace, which is actually located nearby. The experience will blow you away as you wander through the Arabian style, majestic palace constructed with 1 grand and 114 smaller domes, adorned with gold, silver and marble. You can spend hours lounging around the main floor, but for an incomparable experience order the Emirate Palace cappuccino, a delicious cup of espresso, steamed milk and perfect froth sprinkled with gold leaf. Now that’s Majestic!

Torrential Rains in Dubai

Not a common occurence in April, Dubai has been experiencing the occasional downpour. Temperatures are now rising to 30 degrees C, and the nights are also comfortably warm.

Sharjah Biennial 8 Opening

The Arts Area in Sharjah was a buzz with artists, curators, art afficionados and delegates who were enjoying the opening reception of "Still Life". The Sharjah Museum seemed to be a never-ending maze of artworks, as the contemporary museum consists of two adjoining buildings with a coinciding exhibition by the Emirates Fine Art Society.

A Gala dinner continued across the street, which served some delicious dishes including lobster bisque and some rare fruits. Speeches included the award announcement The party continued in Dubai at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club hosted by The Third Line gallery and Bidoun. The music was booming inside (which left something to be desired) but the waterfront terrace was missing a bit of ambience for the guests looking to dance under the stars. But it was the intermingling that connected Cairo, Istanbul, New York, Toronto and other cities that kept people from leaving.

Photo: His Highness speaking with Italian artist Claudia Losi; far left biennial curator Mohammed Kazem; far right background SB8 artistic director Jack Persekian.

Sharjah Biennial 8

Off to Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, the place where you may encounter bears (so the myth goes), or spend 2 hours driving around in circles (which do not exist) trying to get out of the Emirate and only 15km away to Dubai. This was the experience last night as I dropped Fred Eversley off to his host's home and drove Yvonne Lammerich and I back to Dubai.

Here is a sneak preview of works unfolding in "Still Life: Art, Ecology and the Politics of Change" curated by Mohammed Kazem, Eva Scharrer, and Jonathan Watkins.

The Sharjah Biennal 8 opens tonight April 4 at 5pm. The biennial runs until June 4, 2007.

More to come....