The UAE has made significant strides in cultural development over the years. Next year's Sharjah Biennial is expected to be a major event on the global art calendar, highlighting the country's growing reputation as a hub for artistic expression. The biennial will be organized by the Sharjah Art Foundation, which was founded by Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, a writer and researcher who has been instrumental in promoting the UAE's cultural scene.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2024/11/29/how-the-uae-became-an-engine-in-the-arab-worlds-cultural-rise/The Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial is making art more accessible to the public by transforming public spaces in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain into outdoor galleries featuring over 70 UAE and international artists. The event showcases installations that reflect on the past and present, commemorating notable figures such as Fairouz's 90th birthday and highlighting rising artist Zeyne's new music video.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/podcasts/culture-bites/2024/11/28/uae-public-art-fairouz-zeyne/The Metropolitan Museum of Art's annual "Art Work" exhibition features over 600 pieces created by its 640 staff members, showcasing a variety of artistic mediums and styles. The show includes works from employees in various roles, such as security guards, technicians, librarians, designers, and volunteers. Christopher Fahey, a storeroom specialist and poet, is displaying an intricate sculpture made from a piece of redwood found in the trash, which he has been working on for two years. The exhibition, which has been held every other year since 1935, was previously only open to staff members but is now open to the public for the second time. This year's show features nearly double the number of artworks compared to previous exhibitions, with many employees finding connection and community through their art.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/every-two-years-staffers-at-the-met-get-to-see-their-own-art-on-the-prestigious-museums-walls-180985552/The Kochi-Muziris Biennale has announced its next edition, scheduled to open on December 12, 2025, in Kerala. The sixth instalment will be curated by Nikhil Chopra and his collective HH Art Spaces. Chopra's artistic practice spans various mediums including performance, painting, sculpture, and installation, and he has exhibited at notable events such as the 53rd Venice Biennale and Documenta 14. He co-founded HH in 2014 with fellow artists Madhavi Gore and Romain Lousteau. The curatorial team was selected by a panel consisting of Shanay Jhaveri, Rajeeb Samdani, and Dayanita Singh. Chopra views Kerala and India as rich cultural spaces that are abundant with layered histories and intellectual richness, which will be the focus of the upcoming exhibition.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/11/20/after-an-embattled-edition-the-kochi-muziris-biennale-announces-next-showThe fourth edition of Art Week Tokyo has condensed the city's vast art scene into a more manageable format, appealing to both serious collectors and curators. The event features exhibitions such as "Focus, Earth, Wind, and Fire: Visions of the Future from Asia" at the Okura Museum of Art in Tokyo, curated by Lisa Movius.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/11/27/art-week-tokyo-compacts-the-sprawling-city-into-something-digestibleYayoi Kusama's exhibition is set to open at NGV International in Melbourne. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life, including a conservative upbringing and wartime hardships, the artist remains committed to her craft, stating "I will have no regrets" about her work. Born in Japan in 1929, Kusama has experienced hallucinations since childhood, which she believes are reflected in her art.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/the-world-s-most-joyous-artist-brings-her-message-of-hope-to-town-20241123-p5kt03.htmlThe exhibition "Reimagining Technology" is a showcase of artworks that explore the intersection of art and technology, featuring pieces created between the 1960s and 1990s. The exhibit includes light projections by artists such as Vito Acconci and James Turrell, as well as 16-bit game stills from the early days of video games. It is set to run until June 2025 at an unspecified location, highlighting innovation that laid the groundwork for today's digital landscape.
https://africanews.com/2024/11/27/tate-modern-showcases-how-artists-have-used-technology-to-dream-up-the-future/Argentine artist Guillermina Grinbaum's exhibit "Hilo de Voz/Whispering Thread" in New York aims to raise awareness about gender violence and human trafficking through a multimedia display featuring painting, sculpture, and interactive installations.
https://www.voanews.com/a/from-voa-spanish-argentine-artist-s-nyc-exhibit-raises-awareness-on-human-trafficking-/7876660.htmlThe UAE has introduced a new law to promote the arts and culture sector by allowing private museums, art exhibitions, and creative performances to be established temporarily with permits from local authorities or the Ministry of Culture. The law aims to instil values of tolerance and coexistence among community members through artistic activities and simplify licensing procedures for artists. It also provides temporary customs exemptions for art collections and prohibits unlicensed artistic activities, as well as any content that incites hatred or sectarian conflicts. The law regulates various types of artistic activities, including visual and audio arts, performing arts, literature, and music, and requires artistic institutions to be licensed by the competent authority.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uaes-new-arts-law-tax-incentives-simplified-licensing-to-boost-creative-economy