ABU DHABI.- The second edition of Abu Dhabi Art closed on Sunday, November 7, 2010. This year, the platform for regional and international Modern and Contemporary art brought together the art world’s most recognised names right on the crossroads of the ancient silk route. Artists, collectors, curators, and art lovers locally, regionally and internationally are unanimous in pronouncing this a superb success; educational workshops were filled to capacity with young and old and the boutique fair featured 50 galleries from around the world that registered strong sales throughout the week.

HIGHLIGHTS

•Talking Art -The series of forums, conversations and panels each day were attended by the internationally acclaimed practitioners including Paul Schimmelchief curator at MoCALos Angeles, Jeff Koons, representatives from Artcurial, Bonhams, Sotheby’s and Christie’s and Emilia Kabakov. The ‘Abu Dhabi Art Panel’ consisting of Jay Jopling, Saleh Barakat, David Zwirner, Thaddaeus Ropac and Johnson Chang discussed the world of Galleries which was moderated by Sarah Thornton while representatives of Agence France‐Museums and the Louvre Abu Dhabi as well as the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi spoke on the ongoing creation of world‐class museums.

•Opening the Doors: Collecting Middle Eastern Art (8,9) –Saw thousands of visitors enjoy an exhibition of works on collecting Middle Eastern art, secured by Christie’s and on loan from various art patrons. The exhibition was supported by a panel discussion entitled ‘With passion they Collect’ featuring local lenders including H.E. Abdul RahmanAl Owais‐UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.

•Art, Talks and Sensations –This labyrinth of art on the beach, curated by Fabrice Bousteau was a sensory awakening with its photography, film, dance and music.

•Beyond‐Zhao Guanghuiand Louise Bourgeois were amongst the artists included in this showcase of large scale contemporary works overlooking the spectacular grounds of Emirates Palace.

•Design Studio –A showcase of a collaborative project supervised by the Campana Brothers’from Brazil who mentored two young Emirati designers, Khalid Shafarand Noura Al Mehairi. The showcase of works and a workshop for the general public at Abu Dhabi Art 2010 followed a cultural exchange earlier this year led by Abu Dhabi Art and HSBC.

•Daniel Buren & Alberto Giacometti Oeuvres Contemporaines 1964‐1966 –Featured a silent dialogue that juxtaposes Daniel Buren's galaxy of stripes and Giacometti’s figures lying within a short window of time (1964‐1966) from which all the works originate.

•RSTW exhibition at Manarat Al Saadiyat‐featuring works from artists Rauschenberg, Ruscha, Serra, Twombly, Warhol and Wool. The exhibition will run until January 24 a novel exhibition of masterpieces from the private collection of one of the art world’s preeminent figures, Larry Gagosian.