The four-day exhibition promises futuristic art that appeals to all tastes and ages.
Photos KT/Sherouk Zakaria
You’ll know you’ve entered an artistic paradise once you visit World Art Dubai, which opened to the public on March 16.
From 3D art and robot artist to NFTs, live graffiti drawing and live sculpture making, the four-day exhibition promises futuristic art that caters to all tastes and at all ages.
Spanning three large halls of the World Trade Center, the event offers art lovers and collectors the opportunity to “discover art in all its forms”.
With over 4,000 works of art from over 300 artists and galleries, the 8th edition of the region’s largest affordable art fair is the most diverse yet.
Here are eight things to do at World Art Dubai before the annual event wraps up on Saturday, March 19:
1. Have your photo drawn by a robot
It’s hard to miss two large impressionist portraits of Angelina Jolie and Elon Musk, especially when there’s a little robot painting in the foreground. Using brush, acrylic and oil paints, the robot can paint your photo onto a 40x40cm canvas in a process that takes several days. Thanks to the stand, visitors can upload their photos online with a bid that starts at $50 (about 180 Dh). The result is a neuro-impressionist painting through artificial intelligence perception.
2. Buy an NFT painting
For the first time, a separate booth allows art lovers and collectors to purchase digital paintings.
The Non-Fungible Token (NFT) Art Exhibition brings together 19 exhibitors showcasing 60 exclusive NFT artworks for local and international artists to blend traditional fine art with the digital world.
Under each work, a QR code directs buyers to an online marketplace, helping them add an original digital work to their collection or acquire it as their very first NFT.
3. Discover a world of 3D art
One of the highlights of this year’s World Art Dubai is the range of options for 3D art. One 3D painting that turned heads was by Japanese artist Sanae Kumaki who showed a realistic white furry cat with a gold flower background inside a white frame. The art, which is a result of wool stitches on cotton mould, aims to capture the animal’s expressions and gestures. Another eye-catching booth features Persian and Arabic-inspired 3D characters that capture the ordinary daily life of the communities.
4. Explore sculptures inspired by Covid-19
A special exhibition is dedicated to sculptures and ceramic art of different themes and sizes. Two giant sculptures titled ‘Earth on Mask’ and ‘Transformation’ capture life on earth after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, as part of artist Davinchi Suresh’s ‘Awakening’ series. The thought-provoking artwork aims to create social awareness and inspire visitors to develop empathy towards the different lives in the ecosystem.
5. Leave a message of peace to Ukraine
Russian artist Dasha Lapushka has a booth calling for world peace amid the Ukrainian-Russian crisis. Along with a painting that displays shoes glued together colored with the Ukrainian flag in a message of solidarity, the artist has placed a blank canvas titled “Message for Peace” to allow visitors to leave their own message of solidarity with the victims.
6. Watch street art come to life
In an area dedicated to lively music, visitors can watch artists draw street-style graffiti and live murals. The youth-centric area offers visitors dynamic break-dancing, freestyle and hip-hop performances.
7. Observe the art and sculptures in the making
Visitors can see sculptures and works of art slowly come to life through artistic performances. From a paper car sculpture to spinning art using buckets of oil paint, artists from around the world give visitors a glimpse of how their creativity pours out in colored rooms. Experience the action in an area centered around the Dubai Art World.
8. Attend an art conference
Artists from around the world share their expertise and knowledge with art lovers in a series of must-see talks. Art lovers can get inspired, learn from different experiences and meet different artists to hone their own skills.
