Building on the reputable success of its previous episodes, Abu Dhabi Festival 2021, with Mubadala Investment Company (“Mubadala”) being the Lead Partner, and under the theme “The Future Starts Now”, announced the launch of sixth and final episode of “Art Amid Covid”, part of the Festival’s annual “Riwaq Al Fikr” talks series. Moderated by Director and Curator of the series Jalal Luqman.
Launched this month on ADF digital platforms, this special episode sees the artists who participated in the five previous episodes convening virtually to answer questions from the public who called in from different parts of the world. The episode features a video message from Her Excellency Huda I. Alkhamis, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, who commended the artists’ resilience during the exceptional time of COVID and their will power to keep going and not be silenced. She stressed that the conversation that Art Amid Covid started and has reached many artists around the world, must continue.
During the 6thepisode of Art Amid Covid, Jalalinterviews artists Dr. Najat Makki, Sumayyah Al Suwaidi, Mattar Bin Lahej, Azza Al Qubaisi, Saggaf Al Hashimi, Khulood Al Jabri,Obaid Al Budoor,Patricia Millns and Michael Rice.
Previous episodes of the series, which debuted in January, focused on the pandemic’s impact on the art world and received substantial engagement from the public and intellectuals around the world with over one million people watching the 5 episodes.
The series has offered unique insights into how the pandemic has affected the artists’ work and the impact of quarantines and lock-downs, as well as whether virtual exhibitions can replace traditional exhibitions, the importance of patrons and what the future might hold in a post-pandemic art scene.
Since its inception in 2010, the Riwaq al Fikr Talks Series has become an integral part of Abu Dhabi Festival, and has fostered a unique environment embracing meaningful cultural and artistic dialogue. To date, the series has brought more than two dozen talks with over 100 panelists to audiences in the UAE and around the world.
To watch the 6th episode of Art Amid Covid, you can visit: https://abudhabifestival.ae/art-amid-covid/episodes-videos/ and to check the complete 2021 Abu Dhabi Festival programme, visit: AbuDhabiFestival.ae and follow the Festival on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
