The personal versus the universal at the Louvre Abu Dhabi launch

November 16, 2017 by Lisa Reinisch in art, architecture, anecdotes, Abu Dhabi, construction, design, launches, master plans, UAE

There is this thing I do whenever I drive across the bridge that links Abu Dhabi to Saadiyat Island, the emirate’s cultural tourism megaproject: I look over towards the stretch of shoreline where the master plan envisages five major cultural institutions (Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a performaing arts centre and a maritime museum) to take shape. I did it back when there wasn’t anything to see except an empty patch of sand. I did it when construction on the first of them, Jean Nouvel's Louvre Abu Dhabi, finally began. And I do it now, that the museum has been open for almost a week.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi opens in two months and I'm still here

September 07, 2017 by Lisa Reinisch in Abu Dhabi, art, architecture, construction, design, events, history, journalism, launches, master plans, UAE

Having followed the twists and turns of the Louvre story for eight years, I found myself walking into yesterday's press conference, at which the museum would reveal its opening date, in a state of giddy anticipation. As they addressed an auditorium full of journalists, publicists, curators, officials and dignitaries, the speakers seemed to share the sentiment. When the first address, by HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, was over the opening date suddenly appeared on a large screen. An awkward, short ripple of applause went through the crowd. 11 November 2017. On deadline and just over two months away. And so, voilà, just like that, le chat was out of the bag.

Art Dubai 2015: Best solo artist booths

March 18, 2015 by Lisa Reinisch in art, Dubai, events, launches, UAE, art fairs

The ninth edition of Art Dubai opens today and I am happy to report that ‘the most global of art fairs’ lives up to its tagline: this year's programme includes work by more than 500 artists and 92 galleries hailing from more than 40 countries. More galleries than ever are presenting high-concept booths focused on just one or two names, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the work of individual artists more fully than is usually possible at events as busy (and commercially driven) as this. Here are three galleries at whose booths I couldn’t help but linger.

Sharjah Biennial 12: Take One

March 09, 2015 by Lisa Reinisch in art, events, launches, UAE, Sharjah

This year, the launch of the Sharjah Biennial, now in its 12th iteration, marked the opening salvo of the UAE art season's busiest period. At the press preview, excited throngs of tote-bag carrying guests drifted back and forth through the narrow alleyways of Sharjah's old town, keen not to miss any of the artworks now occupying parts of the labyrinthine historical neighbourhood. Until June 5th, SB12 presents works by over 50 artists from 25 countries, loosely riffing on the theme The Past, The Present, The Possible. Here are some impressions from opening day.

Good deed of the week? Go see Champ of the Camp

February 01, 2014 by Lisa Reinisch in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, construction, launches, Movies, UAE, cinema

This weekend, Champ of The Camp, the remarkable documentary film by locally based filmmaker Mahmood Kaboor (Being Osama and Grandma: A Thousand Times) hit cinemas nationwide. For a film like this, in a country like this, to get a theatrical release is a major achievement and it follows months of social media campaigning, international press coverage and negotiations with local distributors. But if ticket sales don’t live up to the distributor’s expectations, Champ of the Camp might disappear from cinemas within days. Right now, there is no better way to support two historically disregarded groups in the UAE: manual workers and independent documentary filmmakers.

Visit Palestine poster remixed by Larissa Sansour

September 10, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch in art, Dubai, events, israel, launches, recommendations, UAE

Last night I came across this poster at the eminently busy season opening at Al Serkal Avenue. It caught my eye because I have the original version, bearing the words "Visit Palestine" and the silhouette of the Dome of the Rock, hanging in my front room. With that random connection to my humble dwelling, I was captivated and, undoubtedly, so will be multitudes of others. Such is the power of pop culture references, which come in many shapes, most of them addictive. It's all very tongue-in-cheek, as was much of the art on display last night. Humour, it seems, is not just the safety vent of political and social subversion; it is also a sharp hook for the slippery attention span of the viewer.

Magazine movement: new mags from Dubai and Beirut

June 18, 2013 by Lisa Reinisch in Dubai, lists, local culture, media, recommendations, UAE, launches

Magazines in the UAE are not what they used to be and, unlike in some other places, that's a good thing. We now have access to a larger number of less predictable titles, as well as more interesting places to buy and read them. Case in point: The Magazine Shop in Dubai, pictured above. At the open-air pop-up shop in DIFC, stalwarts of the Middle Eastern mag pile, such as Canvas, Bidoun and Brownbook, now share shelf space with spirited uppers-and-comers like Watad, We Are Here, The Outpost and The Carton. I call them the 'Generation X of Mid-East Magazines' because they are experimental, exquisite and unapologetically expensive.