DUBAI
Dubai’s glitzy, fort-like Madinat Jumeirah resort hosted the emirate’s anchor fair, Art Dubai (March 1–5), drawing more than 30,000 visitors from around the world to this spotlight of art from the Global South. Now in its 16th edition, Art Dubai in 2023 was all about “currency”—in all senses of the word. With the UAE’s relatively lax sanctions on Russia, as compared to western counterparts, there was an sudden influx of foreign investment and migration spurred by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. These shifts in geopolitical alignments fueled speculations of where most art purchases might be attributed.
Sales reported during the VIP days across the fair’s Modern and Contemporary sections proved to be a mixed bag this year. (2018), placing it in a Dubai collection for USD 52,000, sculptor El Anatsui’s (2022) took longer. Contemporary works reportedly experienced slower overall demand, although many galleries found plenty of success. Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery (Berlin/London) sold seven works to various Middle Eastern and European collectors. Among them were British-Egyptian painter Nasir Tanbouli’s dreamy oil-on-canvas (2022) for USD 25,000 and South African multimedia artist Kimathi Mafafo’s embroidery (2023) for USD 12,000.
