So good for the soul

While attention in Abu Dhabi this week certainly is mostly focused on the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a few miles down the road another big cultural event took place at Manarat Al Saadyiat, the annual Abu Dhabi Art fair. I took Linnea and went over Friday evening, to see what it was all about.

This art fair takes place here in the capital each year in November, this being the 9th edition. It features art gallerias, art and design foundations as well as exciting talks, events and educational programs. This year a total of 47 different galleries from 18 different countries took part.

This fascinated me. These are the winners in a competition involving designing bottles for the Abu Dhabi Perfume initiative, a brand activation project.
The Abu Dhabi perfume is a sensory application of the Abu Dhabi brand, where four scents have been developed to represent the Emirate. The first scent is inspired by the nature and the 200 islands of Abu Dhabi; another by the hospitality - with notes of coffee and dates. The third scent represents the culture of Abu Dhabi and is based on spices and oud; whilst the last one, inspired by the open markets is floral and spicy.

The concept designs of the bottles also had picked up a lot of local themes, one was inspired by the desert dunes and the beaches; others took inspiration from the architecture of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. One chose black colours inspired from the abaya and the kohl (eyeliner) and another used elements from the heritage such as camel leather and pearls. Very cool.

As much as I enjoyed the art, I also enjoyed the people watching at this event. The whole area was vibrating with this creative can-do, inclusive and openhearted attitude; it was very invigorating. 
I also have to mention all the fabulous outfits I saw, everybody were dressed to their teeth! Beautiful dresses, shoes and jewellery - and the local ladies and their amazing abayas... oaw! So pretty!

There was a huge Art Studio for children to try different art techniques, create and express themselves. Amazing!

We sat outside to have our dinner, the art installations stretched all the way out into the garden (and even into the bathrooms!) and there was soft music playing. What a good night!

It was truly an amazing experience to wander through the many galleries, with modern and contemporary art. The installations and artworks on display came from globally celebrated and up-and-coming artists. So much to see, all this beauty, all these colours, all the feelings the awoke - it was so good for the soul.
 
Next on the agenda - a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi! Can't wait!