This November, it was hard to pick ONE event as a Top Destination; a highly recommended event by Al Mahha Art Blog, because I personally want to be in four places at the same time! Starting with long awaited regional – moving toward international! – cultural conference/workshops/hub Nuqat in Kuwait on the 7th of November holding many activities notably in Contemporary Art Platform (CAP), moving towards Italian city Torino which is hosting ARTISSIMA, the international fair of contemporary art, on 8th of November. A week later, international art communities will gather in Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) for its second Art Night on 11th November, lastly – exactly one day after Art Night, Ayyam Gallery will launch first Young Collectors Auction – Jeddah Edition featuring emerging and established artists from Middle East.

Destination One: Executing Culture Shock in Kuwait

Flight Date: November 7 – 12, 2013

Building up on the continues annual success of previous conferences and workshops; Nuqat, a platform of Arab creative growth, communication and education, is back this year with Executing Culture Shock from November 7th – 12th in Kuwait. As referred in Nuqat press release, the purpose of this year’s conference is to challenge and examine the experience of cultural change and its effect on artists and designers. It will also assess the role of creatives in executing change within a transforming culture through the exploration of its transitional levels.

As it is known, the creative conference is divided into three dynamic sections: Lectures | Workshops | Cultural Entertainment. In the 3-days lectures at Al Americani, Nuqat brings a great selection of influencing speakers who are considered as milestone of creativity in Middle East. Such as Founder of Rose Issa Projects Rose Issa,  Founder, Creative Director and Editor of Kalimat Magazine, Dana Abdullah, award winning Arab American photojournalist and documentary filmmaker, George Azar, Iranian artist  Reza Abedini and more. For full speakers list click here & lectures schedule here.

The nine workshops, starting from 9 to 12 November at Bait Al Sadu vary from Multimedia workshop, light calligraphy, music, graphics in environment, street art and more. Workshops timetable click here.

The highlight of Nuqat 2013 is Cultural Entertainment: a collective exhibition of 12 Saudi Artists will be on show at Kuwait CAP – Contemporary Art Platform Kuwait from Nov 7th to Dec 25th 2013. Titled “Against The Grain”, the exhibition features both established and emerging Saudi artists with a broad range of works that reveal a brave and forward-looking art movement that is seeking constructive and sustainable change. However, the undercurrent of the exhibition also sheds light on their country of origin, whose encouragement as well as its criticism reveals a nation of people who are slowly but surely also going against the grain by calling into question their own deeply entrenched preconceived notions of what is acceptable.

Participating artists in “Against The Grain” are Manal Al Dowayan, Dania Al-Saleh, Jowhara Al-Saud, Samil Al-Turki, Ahmed Mater, Shaweesh, Ghadah Al-Rabea, Nasser Al-Salem, Majed Al-Thubaity, Abdulnasser Gharem, Faisal Samra and Ayman Yossri. Opening Reception: Thursday 7th of November at 7:30 PM

There is a special hashtag for Nuqat 2013 that is used in all official posts of Nuqat before, during and after the event on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. mark this tag (#nuqat2013) as we will actively use it. For further information go to Nuqat website and follow them on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram.

Destination Two: Artissima in Torino

Flight Date: November 8 – 10, 2013

Artissima is a window onto the most experimental frontier of the visual arts and attracts the interest of art professionals, the general public and the media, with 50.000 visitors and over 1.200 accredited journalists attending the fair in 2012.

Artissima’s features five major sections: Main Section, which includes the most representative galleries on the international art scene; New Entries, devoted to the most interesting young galleries; Present Future, a section by invitation characterized by solo shows of young international emerging artists; Back to the Future, a presentation of solo exhibitions by artists active in the 60’s and 80’s and selected by a jury of renown museums directors and curators; and Art Editions, devoted to galleries and other spaces presenting editioned works, prints and multiples by contemporary artists.

In 2013 Artissima will be inaugurating a far-reaching programme that features an outstanding selection of cutting-edge contemporary art galleries and a stunning calendar of parallel initiatives in collaboration with the city’s main institutions for contemporary art.

For the fourth consecutive year, the fair will take place in the spectacular premises of the Oval, an architecturally innovative pavilion with 20,000 m² of naturally lit space made for the Winter Olympic Games of Turin 2006, which proved to be an extremely effective setting for the event. For 2013 Artissima participants, click here.

Destination Three: Art Night in Dubai

Flight Date: Monday, November 11, 2013

Combining elements of art, music, design and cuisine, Art Nights will offer a relaxed setting in which Dubai residents can encounter all that DIFC has to offer as one of the city’s most popular centers. Showcasing a wide range of talent, Art Nights will emphasize the great extent to which art has become essential to the Dubai experience.

The ongoing series of Art Nights @ Gate Village has become an essential part of Dubai’s calendar highlighting the important role that DIFC Gate Village plays in bringing art enthusiasts together. The event has grown in popularity and esteem through the last two years, attracting everyone from art collectors and bankers to young creatives and families.

The unique location and line up of exhibition openings as well as live acts create an attractive ambience and experience for visitors and has come to play an integral role in promoting and supporting the arts and culture in Dubai. (source) For full events list, your few seconds away.

 

Destination Finale: Young Collectors Auction In Jeddah

Flight Date: November 12, 2013

 

Ayyam Gallery is delighted to announce that it will hold the first-ever The Young Collectors Auction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at its space in Jeddah on 12 November 2013 will feature 40 lots of painting, sculpture, photography and limited edition prints from acclaimed and emerging artists throughout the region. Exciting emerging talents will be showcased alongside renowned established artists Safwan Dahoul, Abdulnasser Gharem, Nadim Karam, Afshin Pirhashemi and Fateh Moudarres, among many others.

Reflecting Ayyam Gallery’s wider commitment to strengthening existing creative infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the auction will include lots by several of the most important and emerging Saudi artists, providing a platform for artists from the Kingdom to gain exposure to new audiences and continued success.

Without pretension and aimed at making the auction experience and the appreciation of art accessible and enjoyable to all, The Young Collectors Auction welcomes the public to a viewing prior to the auction where specialists are available to answer any questions visitors may have. With the flexibility to bid in person or register for telephone and absentee bids online. The Young Collectors Auction allows even those abroad to participate in the auction.

I can’t get enough of the catalogue! to view or download click here. For further information click here.

 

Enjoy your flights 😉

Cheers