Top Spots Dubai shares Dubai’s top exhibition openings and cultural events for the month of September 2023.
DIFC Sculpture Park, DIFC
Tales Under the Gate at DIFC Sculpture Park
Until 23rd of September
The second edition of DIFC Sculpture Park, an open-air art space. The exhibit features a diverse selection of modern and contemporary sculptures from both renowned and emerging international artists, including Salvador Dali, Anthony James, and Jeff Koons.
Jameel Arts Centre, Jaddaf Waterfront
Polite Existence by Tsuyoshi Hikasado
4th May until 24th September
Tsuyoshi Hisakado, a leading contemporary Japanese artist, explores the principles of physics and mathematics in his diverse practice. Making his debut in the Middle East and South Asia, the exhibition showcases his work in multiple mediums—sound, light, sculpture, and immersive installations. Notable past exhibitions include ‘Practice of Spiral’ and appearances at the Hawai’i and Aichi Triennials, and the 58th Venice Biennale. He has received awards like the ‘Mercedes-Benz Art Scope 2018-2020’ and the Audience Award at the ‘Nissan Art Award 2015.’
Some Seasons: Fereydoun Ave and the Laal Collection, 1959 – 2019
27th September until 23rd March 2024
Over the last 50 years, Fereydoun Ave has curated a unique collection of Iranian art shaped by personal experiences and social context. Returning to Iran in 1970 after studying abroad, he spearheaded exhibitions at notable cultural venues and was the resident designer at the Theatre Workshop. Post-1979 Iranian Revolution, Ave founded 13 Vanak, a seminal arts space in Tehran that nurtured emerging artists for over two decades. An artist himself, Ave’s collection features works from over 30 artists and offers an insightful lens into Iran’s complex cultural landscape of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Zawyeh Gallery, Unit 27 Alserkal Avenue
Fragile, Handle with Care by Giampiero Romano
20th May until 17th September
In “Fragile, Handle with Care,” Giampiero Romanò merges artistic expression with expertise in restoration. Working with antique frames and mirrors, he creates artworks that explore themes of fragility and temporal universes. Romanò repurposes vintage materials, melding past, present, and future within each piece. His works feature fragmented mirrors and altered frames as a form of rebellion against traditional norms. Some pieces, like “Metamorphosis,” comment on current issues like global warming. Each artwork stands distinct yet collectively challenges historical and aesthetic uniformity.
Perrotin, DIFC
Group Show: Jeremy Demester, Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux, Gerard Schneider, Georges Mathieu, Jason Boyd Kinsella
21st August until 21st September
A group show featuring artists: Jeremy Demester, Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux, Gerard Schneider, Georges Mathieu & Jason Boyd Kinsella
ICD Brookfield Place, DIFC
Dastaangoi Gallery: The North
24th August until 23rd September
“The North” showcases the meeting point of the Karakoram, Himalaya, and Hindu Kush ranges, highlighting Pakistan’s climate-vulnerable landscapes. Climate change impacts have led to melting glaciers and flash floods in 2022, affecting 33 million people, killing over 1,700, and damaging 2.2 million homes. The exhibit features work from three artists—Louis Szápáry, Saara Knapp, and Phoebe Stewart Carter—along with the Dastaangoi team, providing unique perspectives on these urgent issues.
Dastaangoi Gallery focuses on contemporary art from the Global South, supporting emerging talent through residency programs and global promotion.
Ishara Art Foundation, Alserkal Avenue
Only Life, Myriad Places: Sudarshan Shetty
25th August until 9th December
Sudarshan Shetty’s art explores the nuances of daily life, blending dreams with reality and memories with fantasies. His work emphasizes the transient and shifting nature of things, both tangible and intangible.
Elmarsa Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
Brush Strokes & Perspectives – A Journey Through Interconnected Passages of Non-Figurative Art
6th September until 28th October
The exhibit features artists like Abdelkader Guermaz and Asma M’naouar, who broke away from traditional representation in their cultures. Influenced by Art Informel and Abstract Expressionism, their work belongs to post-war movements aimed at artistic liberation. These styles emphasize dynamic brush strokes and complex compositions. The rise of international travel and cross-cultural dialogue has further evolved these forms, allowing for diverse, intricate expressions focused on the brush stroke itself.
Green Art Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
Memory is the Seamstress
18th September until 3rd November
Memory is the Seamstress, a group exhibition curated by Murtaza Vali, featuring works by Hangama Amiri, Cian Dayrit, Melissa Joseph, Lebohang Kganye, Jagdeep Raina and Raed Yassin.
The Third Line Gallery, Alserkal Avenue
Sahand Hesamiyan Exhibition
24th August until 23rd September
Hesamiyan specializes in transforming elements from ancient geometry, mythology, and philosophy into modern sculptures and wall installations. He adeptly modernizes Yazdibandi and Rasmibandi, traditional Persian dome ornamentation methods, showcasing his mastery in structural design.
Opera Gallery, Atlantis The Royal
Fernando Botero
TBA
This exhibit highlights a diverse array of Fernando Botero’s art, including canvas paintings, works on paper, and sculptures. Botero, a Colombian artist with a distinct style, draws inspiration from both Italian Renaissance art and the traditional art and folklore of his homeland. Known for his playful use of irony, emotional depth, and creative flair, Botero transforms conventional shapes and proportions, giving his subjects and objects a bulbous, almost elephant-like appearance that is rich in sensuality and meticulous detail. With a career spanning over seven decades, Botero’s oeuvre is both unique and influential.
