Abu Dhabi Festival ensures audiences continue to enjoy the captivating journey of the UAE’s pioneering art scene online
Abu Dhabi Festival’s flagship Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives exhibition came to a close on Saturday, April 16, but the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) announced the virtual launch of the exhibition which will allow visitors to interactively experience the over 100 artworks including 17 commissions by the 62 pioneering and emerging artists who have shaped the nation’s visual arts landscape.
H.E. Huda Ibrahim Alkhamis, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives, the Virtual Exhibition, redefines the way art exhibitions are experienced in the digital age, opening the door to innovative ways to connect with the world”.
“At ADMAF we believe in bringing people together in unique experiences which is why we welcome the fusion of technology and art to tell our story of 50 years of creativity and innovation, further advancing our commitment to making art accessible to all.”
The virtual exhibition can be toured through (https://abudhabifestival.ae/portrait-of-a-nation-ii-virtual-tour-experience/) where visitors can explore the five essential themes of the exhibition. Reclaiming/Reimagining Home, looks at the early days in the places artists called home and explores their wider sense of belonging.
In Shifting Landscapes, home yields ground to its opposite, and artists must negotiate both stability and transformation, authenticity and modernism.
Configurations of Togetherness examines the spaces that draw people together and the relationships that transcend cultural difference to embrace diversity.
Reclaiming/Reimagining Language looks to the mediums of communication that make togetherness possible.
Finally, Shifting Sociality addresses changing social modes, including consumerism, custom and the organising structures of time and travel.
In Shifting Landscapes, home yields ground to its opposite, and artists must negotiate both stability and transformation, authenticity and modernism.
The exhibition enables people around the world to engage and immerse themselves in the story of the UAE’s journey through the artistic and cultural transformation that transpired over the past 50 years.
Additionally, visitors can click on the audio guide to learn more about the artworks and the inspiration behind them, taking the time to truly appreciate the creativity and collaboration behind the innovative, Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives exhibition.
The 19th edition of Abu Dhabi Festival 2022, held under the theme: Creation, Innovation and Joy, is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa Bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, and supported by Lead Partner Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala) and Energy Partner GS Energy.
Abu Dhabi Festival 2022 encompasses over 1,000 participating artists from around the world to present more than 300 performances and events. The 19th edition will also include two world tours and 17 world premieres.
The 2022 Abu Dhabi Festival programme is part of the contribution made by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation to the UAE capital’s designation as a UNESCO City of Music.
For more information on Abu Dhabi Festival’s upcoming events, please visit: https://abudhabifestival.ae, and find the Festival on: Facebook (abudhabifestival), Twitter (@abudhabi_fest) and Instagram (@abudhabifestival).
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