Top Spots Dubai shares Dubai’s top exhibition openings and cultural events for the month of March 2024
Art Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah
“Art Dubai Contemporary” curated by Andree Sfeir-Semler, Priyanka Raja & Ursula Krinzinger
Art Dubai Contemporary presents galleries worldwide, showcasing diverse art scenes from emerging to established centers. Exhibits feature solo or group shows, offering fresh global perspectives to foster a culture of exploration and discovery.
1st to 3rd March 2024
“Art Dubai Bawwaba” curated by Emiliano Valdes
Art Dubai’s Bawwaba section, curated by Emiliano Valdés, focuses on artists using work for healing and social change. Featuring new pieces from the Global South, the exhibit explores themes of identity, tradition, and spirituality. Artists like Debashish Paul from India and Reinata Sadimba from Mozambique showcase rituals and craftsmanship, bridging personal and social narratives. Valdés aims to expand the notion of contemporary art and believes art serves a social purpose by connecting individuals and cultures.
1st March until 3rd March 2024
“Art Dubai Modern” curated by Dr. Christianna Bonin
Art Dubai Modern 2024, curated by Dr. Christianna Bonin, focuses on under explored non-Western art centres during the Cold War era. Dr. Bonin, an expert in Cold War cultures, examines artists from the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia who participated in exchange programs with the Soviet Union. The exhibition sheds light on cities like Kyiv, Cairo, Almaty, and Tashkent as hubs of cultural exchange.
1st March until 3rd March 2024
“Art Dubai Digital” curated by Auronda Scalera & Alfredo Cramerotti
Now in its third year, Art Dubai Digital section delves into the fusion of new media art and technology to enrich our grasp of contemporary culture. Curated by Auronda Scalera and Alfredo Cramerotti, directors of Multiplicity-XXnft and Web to Verse, the section aims to promote exhibitions and research on digital art from the 1950s to today.
1st March until 3rd March 2024
Aisha Alabbar Gallery, Al Quoz
“Threads of Existence” by Elham Shafaei & Sara Al Haddad
Aisha Alabbar Gallery presents ‘Thread of Existence’, featuring UAE-based artists Elham Shafaei and Sara Al Haddad. Sara crafts delicate objects from yarn, representing the passage of time, while Elham blends painting and stitching to explore human essence. Both artists delve into themes of loss and belonging, inviting viewers to reflect on identity and connection. Through their art, they offer a earnest journey into the bittersweet reality of existence, urging us to embrace life’s complexities and seek our place in the world.
27th February until 25th April 2024
Ayyam Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
“Immortal Moment II – Coping with the Shock” by Faisal Samra
In his Immortal Moment project, Faisal Samra presents a new work exploring the significance of single moments. Initially capturing emotions through gestural performances, Samra now focuses on coping with the shock of these moments. Intervening after the initial gesture, he transforms chance occurrences into post-shock creations. Through a meditative process of adding color and marks, Samra seeks meaning within abstraction. This ongoing artistic endeavor immortalises time by tracing its evolution, bridging the gap between abstract and figurative concepts, and establishing control amidst unpredictability.
27th February until 15th April 2024
Carbon 12, Alserkal Avenue
“Solo Exhibition” by Andre Butzer
André Butzer is one of Germany’s most pertinent contemporary artists who founded the Akademie Isotrop in Hamburg. Butzer has regular international coverage in art publications, with over 290 worldwide exhibitions. A self-proclaimed ‘colourist’, his work has advanced from chromatically intense large-scale representational paintings rife with pop-culture references to ‘minimalist’ black and white abstract paintings. Butzer originates his paintings from an unimaginable and non-picturable space, serving as the starting point and direction for his artistic creations.
8th February until 30th March 2024
Custot Gallery Dubai, Alserkal Avenue
“Invitation to a Mystical Dreamland” by Kenia Almaraz Murillo
Experience Bolivian artist Kenia Almaraz Murillo’s first solo exhibition in the region, showcasing six new and five existing works. Divided into six chapters, the exhibit offers a glimpse into Kenia’s dream world, where memories blend with symbolism. Each dream is noted and illustrated in her intimate dream journals, revealing landscapes and encounters. Through her art, Kenia explores the blurred lines between reality and imagination, seeking insight and self-discovery from her nocturnal odysseys.
27th February until 6th April 2024
Elmarsa Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
“An Ode to Interwined Histories” by Rachid Koraïchi
The exhibition will feature various disciplines integrated into Rachid Koraïchi’s practice, highlighting his fascination with layered creations. It will include the iconic Les Prieurs installation alongside bronze sculptures and unique Corten steel pieces, casting intricate shadows. Two-dimensional works in various mediums will offer moments of reflection for viewers, accompanied by silk organza tapestries embroidered with glyphs symbolizing timeless themes.
27th February until 25th May 2024
Firetti Contemporary, Alserkal Avenue
“Metamorphosis” by Laura Lappi
Laura Lappi’s ‘Metamorphosis’ attracts inspiration from majestic ancient basilicas, cathedrals, and medieval Scandinavian wooden structures. Using wood as her main medium, she crafts intricate wall sculptures, layering repurposed wood in geometric patterns. Employing a charring technique inspired by Japanese yakisugi, she transforms the wood into a deep, beautiful black texture. Lappi’s art serves as a analogy for the human experience, exploring the beauty that arises from life’s challenges and inviting reflection on the cyclical nature of existence.
26th February until 26th April 2024
Green Art Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
“How to Disappear” by Ana Mazzei
Ana Mazzei, lives and works in São Paulo, Brazil, and her artworks are like pieces and fragments of myths, lives and fictions that are represented in drawings, videos, sculptures and installations. The artist uses different sensory materials like felt and concrete in her experimental practice, connecting them to the conditions where she creates her art.
27th February until 20th April 2024
Grey Noise, Alserkal Avenue
“Lament of a Tree” by Iqra Tanveer
Karachi-born, Amsterdam-based artist Iqra Tanveer’s exhibit ‘Lament of a Tree’ expresses shared sorrow using projections and image alterations. The artist aims to create a sense of remembering in viewers through these transformed visuals.
27th February until 20th April 2024
Ishara Art Foundation, Alserkal Avenue
“Sheher, Prakriti, Devi” by Gauri Gill
The exhibition ‘Sheher, Prakriti, Devi,’ featuring works by Gauri Gill, Vinnie Gill, and Ladhki Devi, explores inquiries into world-making through investigations, beliefs, and care. The exhibition covering maps of the city, environment, and psyche is centered around Gauri Gill’s extensive documentation of the modern urban landscape in India since 2003.
19th January until 1st June 2024
Jameel Arts Centre, Jaddaf Waterfront
“Some Seasons: Fereydoun Ave and the Laal Collection, 1959 – 2019” by Negar Azimi, Sohrab Mohebbi & Talia Heiman
Some Seasons: Fereydoun Ave and the Laal Collection, 1959-2019’ is curated by Negar Azimi and Sohrab Mohebbi with Talia Heiman and offers understandings into Iran’s art production and circulation from the late 1950s to the present, spanning periods of monarchy and theocracy. Created before the current Iranian uprising, it presents works by artists such as Monir Sharoudy Farmanfarmaian, Rokni Haerizadeh, and others, capturing a rich historical narrative.
27th September until 23rd March 2024
“Guest Relations” by Murtaza Vali & Lucas Morin
“Guest Relations’ exhibition gives visitors a brief insight into the historical, political, social, and cultural shifts accompanying Dubai’s rapid tourism growth. With hotels as historical subjects and considering other hospitality sites like airlines and amusement parks, it unveils complexities beyond luxury, highlighting the cultural significance and historical narratives inherent in the ‘work of welcome’.
4th November until 28th April 2024
“Short Circuit” by Vikram Divecha
‘Short Circuits’ is Beirut-born and Dubai-based artist Vikram Divecha’s first survey exhibition, retracing his practice over the past decade. The exhibition features playful and poetic site-specific installations, video works, photography and drawings that engage with the UAE’s urban and social histories, and includes new commissions, loans from international museums and local collectors, plus works in the Art Jameel Collection.
1st February until 16th June 2024
Lawrie Shabibi, Alserkal Avenue
“A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” by Sami El-Enany & Chelsea Gordon
‘Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose’ blends painting, installation, video, sound, and performance. Inspired by personal Chinese and Palestinian symbols, alongside popular culture and newsprint, the artists crafts a bricolage of meaning. Referencing Gertrude Stein’s poem, the exhibit explores reclaiming words and concepts in times of censorship. Themes of poetry, migration, and revolution intertwine, offering fresh perspectives on current events and histories.
22nd February until 4th April 2024
Meem Gallery, Umm Suqeim
“The Rare but Unknown Phenomenon” by Zhivago Duncan
In his latest collection, Zhivago Duncan aims to capture the essence of nature’s cycles, mirroring them through meditative paintings. Amidst today’s confusion and materialism, we emphasise our interconnectedness as humans. By simplifying complexity, Duncan highlights the beauty in the ordinary, challenging perceptions of colour and existence. Free from narratives, his art invites viewers to be present, fostering mindfulness.
24th February until 25th May 2024
Leila Heller Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
“Carpets of Eden, Garden of Fantasy” by Behrang Samadzadegan
“Carpets of Eden, Gardens of Fantasy” showcases the role of carpets in art, highlighting their influence from historical to contemporary practices. The exhibition presents carpets as a medium for storytelling and artistic expression, featuring works that explore patterns, colors, and textures. It offers insights into the textile’s significance in cultural exchange and innovation in art.
25th February until 20th September 2024
Mestaria Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
“Taking L’s” by Charmaine Chanakira
“Taking L’s” is the latest exhibit by Charmaine Chanakira, showcasing her Afro-expressionist paintings. Born in Zimbabwe and raised in London, Charmaine’s art examines identity, mental health, and the Black experience in the UK. Through a mix of neo-expressionism, Manga, Pop Art, and African influences, she lets viewers to delve into their consciousness. The exhibit delves into loss, love, and learning, celebrating strength and empowerment.
27th February until 20th March 2024
Opera Gallery, DIFC
“Momentous Convergence” by Hermann Nitsch & Pieter Obels
‘Momentous Convergence’ brings together Pieter Obels and the late Hermann Nitsch’s art at Opera Gallery Dubai. Nitsch’s intense performances challenged norms, exploring life’s dualities through visceral rituals. Meanwhile, Obels’ steel sculptures, like Among the Leaves’, offer reflections on life’s fleetingness. Despite their differences, their works complement each other, with Obels’ minimalism contrasting Nitsch’s maximalism. This exhibit prompts reflection on creation and destruction’s essence, surpassing established boundaries. It celebrates the beauty within us, allowing viewers to engage with art’s power to connect diverse perspectives.
29th February until 15th March 2024
Opera Gallery, Atlantis the Royal
“Portraits & Perspective” by Andy Denzler
‘Portraits & Perspectives’ is Swiss artist Andy Denzler’s first solo exhibition in Dubai. Denzler’s twelve paintings, show his talent for capturing individuals and their environments uniquely. Combining figurative representation with conceptual expressionism, Denzler’s work offers dynamic insights into human experience. Through deliberate brushwork, he navigates the interplay of light and shadow, order and chaos, inviting viewers to delve into emotional narratives.
22nd February until 8th March 2024
Tabari Artspace, DIFC
“Battlegrounds” by Aya Haidar
‘Battlegrounds’ marks the debut exhibition of Lebanese-British artist Aya Haidar. Through this exhibit, Haidar portrays women and their bodies as symbolic battlegrounds, navigating through life’s conflicts as heroines or collateral damage. Each piece delves into various themes, from maritime exploration to domestic scenes and migrant narratives, all highlighting the pervasive impact of misogyny. Haidar’s work highlights the need to address and reveal the various forms of harm imposed upon women under patriarchy and societal conflict.
23rd February until 18th April 2024
The Third Line, Alserkal Avenue
“Toy World” by Farah Al Qasimi
The Third Line presents ‘Toy World’, Farah Al Qasimi’s fourth solo exhibition. Featuring a blend of still and moving images- in black and white and colour, this collection marks Farah’s debut with black and white photography. Exploring the inherent historicity of monochrome imagery, Farah invites viewers to contemplate on the interplay between past, present, and future.
27th February until 18th April 2024
Volte Arts Project, Alserkal Avenue
“It Lies Beyond” by Rashid Rana
Volte Art Projects presents a solo exhibition featuring Rashid Rana, a leading figure in South Asian art. His works, ‘It Lies Beyond’ and ‘Desperately Seeking Paradise’, invite viewers to rethink scale and perception. It Lies Beyond merges intricate imagery with AR technology, revealing a seascape tainted by human waste and climate change effects. Meanwhile, ‘Desperately Seeking Paradise appears minimalist but changes into a sprawling cityscape, exploring themes of nostalgia and displacement. Together, these pieces form a compelling narrative, challenging viewers to dig deeper into the complexities of the world.
20th November 2023 until 6th March 2024
Zawyeh Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
“Posters for Gaza Group Exhibition” by Hosni Radwan, Yazan Abu Salameh, Asad Azi, Nabil Anani, Sliman Mansour, Mohammed Joha, Hazem Harb, Aude Abou Nasr, Dyala Moshtaha, Khaled El Haber, Hassan Manasrah, Vera Tamari, Mahdi Baraghithi, Rana Samara, Jafar Dajani, Saher Nassar, Haneen Nazzal, Issam Al-Haj Ibrahim, Majdulin Nasrallah, Tayseer Barakat, Bashar Alhroub, Wadei Khaled, Reda Alyasari, Bashar Khalaf & Fuad Alyamani
In this special exhibition, twenty-six artists unite to highlight the ethnic cleansing and brutal massacres unfolding in the Gaza Strip. Through a series of posters created exclusively for this event, they demand recognition of Palestinian rights to dignity and freedom on their land. Each artist contributes a unique poster, showcasing diverse styles, materials, and narratives. Departing from digital methods, they utilise acrylics, inks, charcoal, collage, and mixed media on paper, adding depth and authenticity to their powerful messages.
26th January until 21st April 2024
