Prolific Emirati filmmaker offers intimate insights into creative collaborations with the pioneer of contemporary art practice in the UAE

Panel discussion organised as part of diverse programme of events accompanying ADF18’s headline visual arts exhibition, ‘From Barcelona to Abu Dhabi – Works from the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) in dialogue with the Emirates’

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Abu Dhabi Festival 2018 (ADF18) hosted a panel discussion for film and arts enthusiasts with acclaimed Emirati filmmaker, Nujoom Al Ghanem, to discuss excerpts from her latest film, Sharp Tools (2017). Titled Sharp Tools: Reflecting on Filmmaking and Friendship, the talk offered intimate insights into Ghanem’s creative collaborations with one of the most influential figures in contemporary art in the UAE and the Gulf, the late Hassan Sharif. The poet, scriptwriter and award-winning director was joined by Mohammed Kazem, a prominent Emirati artist and student of Hassan Sharif, and Nasser Abdullah, co-curator of From Barcelona to Abu Dhabi: Works from the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) in dialogue with the Emirates and Chairman of the Emirates Fine Arts Society at Manarat al Saadiyat on 04 February.

Discussing key excerpts from the documentary, Nujoom shed light on Hassan Sharif’s relentless efforts to lead and shape a modern art scene, training young talents and spearheading initiatives to introduce international artistic concepts to locally emerging artists and visual arts practitioners. Supported by Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), Sharp Tools features insights from friends, collaborators and commentators about his vital contribution to conceptual art and experimental practice in the Middle East through 40 years of performances, installations, drawings, paintings and assemblage.

The talk was organised as part of ADF18’s Visual Arts Education Programme, accompanying this year’s landmark headline exhibition, From Barcelona to Abu Dhabi: Works from the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) in dialogue with the Emirates, which features the artwork of Hassan Sharif and local, regional and international pioneers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The cooperation with the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) culminates in a historical artistic dialogue that encompasses various media and contemporary approaches as different generations of artists come together to demonstrate the breadth of the contemporary art movement in the past 90 years. Aimed at inspiring and encouraging creative engagement across all ages, the diverse programme of visual arts events will also feature a series of interactive talks, guided exhibition tours and dynamic creative sessions led by renowned Emirati and UAE-based practitioners who feature in this year’s exhibition.

As well as daily hour long tours at 11 am, 2 pm and 3 pm, find a full calendar of events below:

Public Programmes

Curator’s Tour with Ferran Barrenblit, Nasser Abdullah and artist Farah Al Qasimi

Friday 2 Feb; 3 – 4.30 pm
Gallery A, Manarat Al Saadiyat

Sharp Tools – Reflecting on Filmmaking and Friendship with Nujoom Al Ghanem and Mohammed Kazem

Sunday 4 Feb; 7 pm

Auditorium, Manarat Al Saadiyat

Street Photography Walk with Ammar Al Attar

Saturday, 17 Feb; 11am – 5 pm

Manarat Al Saadiyat

Ages: 15+ years

‘From Sharjah to Abu Dhabi’ | Two Emirates, Two Exhibitions, One Curator – with Nasser Abdullah

Saturday, 24 Feb; 11am – 8 pm

Sharjah Art Museum

Art Trilogy: Figure, Environment, Form – Workshop with Al Anood Al Obaidly

Saturday, 10 March; 2–4 pm

Art Studio, Manarat al Saadiyat

Ages: 10 – 15 years

Panel Discussion: ‘Collecting Contemporary Art – Public vs. Private in Europe and the Middle East’ with M

Friday, 9 March; 6–7.30 pm

Manarat Al Saadiyat

‘From Barcelona to Abu Dhabi’: The End of the Journey – Final Co-Curator’s Tour

Saturday, 17 March; 6–7 pm

Manarat al Saadiyat

Workshops:

Express Art!

Tuesdays, 11 am – 12 pm: February 6, 13, 20, 27 | March 6, 13

Fridays, 2–3 pm: February 9, 16, 23 | March 2, 9, 16

Manarat al Saadiyat

Ages: 6+ years

‘Less Sticks, More Bricks’ | Construction for Kids with Shaikha Al Mazrou

Saturday, 10 Feb; 11 am –1 pm; 1–3 pm

Manarat al Saadiyat

Ages: 12–15 years

Drawing Rhapsody – Form and Harmony: Free-Hand Drawing Workshop with Live Oud Music

Wednesday, 28 Feb; 11–1 pm

Manarat Al Saadiyat

Ages: 15+ years

-Ends- 

Abu Dhabi Festival 2018 Ticket Information
Tickets are available to purchase at: https://www.800tickets.com/abudhabifestival  

Students receive 50% discount (ID required).

Performance: Emirates Palace

Ticket Prices

Nicola Benedetti with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Diamond (AED 350); Gold (AED 250); Silver (AED 175), Bronze (AED125)

The Merchants of Bollywood

Diamond (AED 350); Gold (AED 250); Silver (AED 175), Bronze (AED125)

Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia – Rome

Diamond (AED 350); Gold (AED 250); Silver (AED 175), Bronze (AED125)

Waves of My Life by Emirati composer Ihab Darwish

Open to all by registration

Opera in Concert: Deborah Voigt and Bechara Moufarrej

General admission AED 200

Singing the Legends: A Night of Jazz with Omar Kamal

General admission AED 200

We the Living: Classical Indian Dance by Tanusree Shankar Dance Academy

General admission AED 200

Pink Martini Live in Abu Dhabi

Diamond (AED 350); Gold (AED 250); Silver (AED 175), Bronze (AED125)

Pianographique: Works for two pianos by Philip Glass, Steve Reich and Maurice Ravel with live visualisation

General admission AED 200

The Sarod Master: USTAD Amjad Ali Khan

General admission AED 200

The Bach Project

AED 100

Don Quixote: Compañía Nacional de Danza

Diamond (AED 350); Gold (AED 250); Silver (AED 175), Bronze (AED125)

About Abu Dhabi Festival
Patron: H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Tolerance

Founded in 2004, the Abu Dhabi Festival was held under the Patronage of the then Minister of Information and Culture (and now Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. This was followed from 2007 to 2011 with the Patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Today, the Festival is held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Tolerance.

Each year, Abu Dhabi Festival brings audiences together to share unique experiences that testify to our shared humanity and the deep bonds we share. Always growing, always innovating, it brings the best of the world to Abu Dhabi and takes the very best of Abu Dhabi to the world.

The 15th Abu Dhabi Festival presents the cultural excellence of 30 countries and the creativity of over 200 Emiratis alongside more than 500 artists from the four corners of the globe. In keeping with its reputation for ‘firsts’, Abu Dhabi Festival 2018 presents 2 Festival debuts, 4 UAE debuts, 6 Arab world debuts and 3 world premieres. From music to theatre, literature and visual arts, this year’s Festival continues to spread its arms across the UAE and the world. Beyond the national programme, audiences in Europe and beyond will experience new productions, concerts and exhibitions during the year, made possible by Abu Dhabi Festival.

For more information please visit our website at: www.abudhabifestival.ae

About ADMAF 
Patron: H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Tolerance
ADMAF is among the oldest, non-profit cultural organisations in the Arabian Gulf.  Founded in 1996, it is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, of development, of culture and of creativity. Over those last 20 years, ADMAF has pioneered new practices and new works, it has supported Middle Eastern debuts and nurtured the careers of gifted young professionals throughout the Arab world. 

Today, ADMAF reaches nearly 40,000 children, young people and adults annually through arts-education and community-outreach programmes as well as the Abu Dhabi Festival. The annual multidisciplinary Festival is the largest cultural celebration in the entire region and reaches across the world through co-commissions and the international presentation of innovative Arab creativity. Each year, the Festival Awards honour outstanding individual contributions to arts and culture with previous recipients including Plácido Domingo and Amin Maalouf. In essence, the Abu Dhabi Festival strives to deepen global cross-cultural dialogue whilst inspiring a deeper interest in the cultures of the Arab world.

The diversity of ADMAF’s programmes has been astonishing and seminal, including pioneering music in hospitals; embedding best practice for art therapy among PMLD and SEND children; co-commissioning with international cultural organisations, such as the Zaha Hadid JS Bach Chamber Music Hall (with Manchester International & Holland Festivals); City of Light: Ravel's Mother Goose with Installation (with the Los Angeles Philharmonic); presenting the Arab world debuts of Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Valery Gergiev, The London Symphony Orchestra and The Bolshoi; fostering innovation through initiatives such The Christo & Jeanne-Claude Award; and nurturing contemporary cultural expression among musicians such Naseer Shamma and composers Mohammed Fairouz.

For more information please visit our website at: http://www.admaf.org/en

© Press Release 2018