The NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Art Gallery concluded its TRACE: Archives and Reunions series this month, which virtually welcomed back curators and artists from past exhibitions, through a range of public conversations and gatherings on where they are now and the future of art in light of COVID-19. Ten archive releases of the Gallery’s previous shows were also launched to mark each of the online gatherings, which viewers can continue to digitally explore on the TRACE: Archives and Reunions page.
TRACE: Archives and Reunions welcomed 34 artists and curators, and drew over 1,000 audience members from 30 countries, spanning four different continents.The virtual program featured key figures from the industry including Jameel Arts Centre founder Antonia Carver; Barjeel Art Foundation founder Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi; Ways of Seeing curators Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath; artist Diana Al-Hadid; as well as artists from the Speculative Landscapes exhibitionAreejKaoud, Ayman Zedani, Jumairy, and Raja’a Khalid; among several others.
Reflecting on the program’s success, Executive Director of The NYUAD Art Gallery and the University’s Chief Curator Maya Allison said: “This began as a response to the pandemic, to pivot online through a series of archive events. However, it grew into a multi-faceted interrogations of art practice, curating, and exhibitions today, with deep dives into questions that transcend the pandemic moment. I was particularly heartened by our final event, a kind of a ‘founder’s summit’ for the UAE visual arts scene, with a focus on small independent organizations, crowdsourcing the questions of now and tomorrow. It served as a wonderful reinforcement of both the humbling responsibility, and potent importance, of how we identify and serve our mandates. I hope the archives generated throughout this process continue to serve our audiences and scholars, today, and tomorrow.”
TRACE: Archives and Reunions includes a range of interactive materials, such as the youth guides, illustrated by a local artist and developed by Assistant Director of Publications Alaa Edris; book publications; installation photos; videos; brochures; and audio guides, as well the series’ online gatherings, which can be viewed on The Art Gallery’s YouTube channel.
The NYUAD Art Gallery is preparing to unveil its first ever virtual exhibition later this year, curated in collaboration with one of NYUAD’s faculty members, the transdisciplinary artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg.
Next in a series will be the 2021 launch of a six-year retrospective book, publishing key new texts that reflect on The Art Gallery’s journey from 2014 to 2020.
