A double bill of contemporary art arrives in Chelsea from 1 to 11 October.
Abu Dhabi Art is heading to London for a focused ten-day showcase at Saatchi Gallery on King’s Road, presenting two complementary exhibitions that connect the UAE’s creative scene with a global audience. The programme features Different Perspectives and Beyond Emerging Artists, presented by HSBC in partnership with Abu Dhabi Art, and marks the initiative’s London debut. Entry is free and pre-booking is not required.
Different Perspectives invites visitors to consider how artists frame the human experience through form, colour and material. Drawn from HSBC’s collection, the show brings together nine contemporary names whose practices span geographies and genres: Alvaro Barrington, Mohammed Kazem, Vivien Zhang, Xiao Wang, Jin Han Lee, Phoebe Unwin, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, Emmanuel Awuni and Alya Hatta. Seen together, these works open a dialogue around identity, migration, memory and our shared present.
Running in tandem is Beyond Emerging Artists, an annual Abu Dhabi Art initiative that commissions and mentors UAE-based talent before taking their work overseas. Curated by Lorenzo Fiaschi, co-founder of GALLERIA CONTINUA, the 2024 cohort features Fatma Al Ali, Dina Nazmi Khorchid and Simrin Mehra Agarwal. Their practices move between sculpture, sound and textiles, exploring transformation, memory and the relationships between people and place. First unveiled at Manarat Al Saadiyat in November 2024, the commissions have since travelled to Hong Kong and now arrive in London, extending the life and reach of these ambitious projects.
This London stop marks a milestone for the programme, representing its seventh international presentation and its first at the Saatchi Gallery, a venue renowned for championing emerging voices and bringing contemporary art to a wider audience.
Dyala Nusseibeh, Director of Abu Dhabi Art, said: “The BEA artists commissioned this year explore themes of heritage, capturing elusive stories of the past, examining our relationship with the world around us, and imagining possible futures through their diverse practices. The scale and ambition of the works in production are thrilling. The 2024 cohort’s upcoming exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery, supported by Friends of Abu Dhabi Art and global sponsor HSBC, highlights the power of community and partnership in championing young artists.”
GO: Visit saatchigallery.com for more information.