Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Back with the first full-scale fair since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the 15th edition of Art Dubai is exploring new frontiers with the launch of its new section highlighting digital and NFT (non-fungible token) art.
Alongside the regular contemporary and modern showcases, Art Dubai Digital gathered 18 galleries from March 10-13 at Madinat Jumeirah, some of which were only founded in the last few years. The new section was created in response to a serious shift in the global art scene, which has seen increasing interest in digital mediums and the rise of NFT art.
“We’ve been observing how the digital universe has been developing and having a stronger voice during lockdown,” Art Dubai artistic director Pablo del Val said.
“What we intended is to put together something that could be a 360-degree project, that could become a bridge between the digital and the physical, where both worlds can get together.
“Taking into consideration that Dubai has become a crypto capital, it’s a place where some of the most exciting minds and projects are coming,” he added.
“NFTs at the moment are like an entire universe by itself – a universe that people are afraid of entering because people don’t have knowledge of this universe. I think this is an edition that is stepping up, that is bringing something new.”
‘Beyond the canvas’
Solo exhibition “Cosmodreams” by artist Marina Fedorova has bridged traditional art and digital technology, incorporating virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into her paintings and sculptural installations.
The exhibition displays how technology can be used to make art more interactive and immersive. Her works capture the beauty of outer space and how modern technology has affected our planet.
Viewers can use their smartphones to see the animated AR features on the paintings and sculptures, or take photos…