Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed to draw culture enthusiasts

Mina Zayed: Through the Lens of Jack Burlot

Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi’s newest arts and cultural destination, is set to draw people of all ages and backgrounds for an introductory three-day event from 19-21 November that is free and open to the public.  Under the theme, ‘Explore Your World,’ visitors can enjoy exhibitions exploring memory and transformation, hands-on creative workshops, live musical performances and energetic contemporary urban acts, as well as a Creative Market featuring the works of 22 designers of accessories, fashion, and interiors. The opening of Warehouse421 will also feature an array of international cuisines from well-known dining outlets.

Developed by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, Warehouse421 is a new venue for arts and culture located in the historic Mina Zayed district that has been converted from two of the port’s former industrial warehouses. Its objective is to celebrate art and culture, design and creativity, performance and music, by artists and designers from the UAE and around the world, and to let people experience these works in a unique and original space.

Her Highness Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, said: “A key part of our Foundation’s mission is to support the growth of the entire arts and cultural ecosystem of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. That means developing artists, but it also means facilitating the establishment of imaginative new spaces for people to experience arts and culture.  By combining exhibition space with a purpose-built artistic studio, Warehouse421 will make a unique contribution to the local arts and cultural landscape and I would encourage as many people as possible to come and see the new facilities at Mina Zayed.”

Warehouse421 is a new venue for arts and culture located in the historic Mina Zayed district of Abu Dhabi that has been converted from two of the port’s former industrial warehouses.

Warehouse421’s opening weekend will feature an array of interactive workshops, developed and led by art and design professionals, to provide engaging and educational experiences as well as greater insight into the creative process. Mix & Match Abu Dhabi, a print-making workshop, incorporates the mixing and matching of modular stamps to create unique interpretations of Abu Dhabi’s urban landscape.  The founder of Vinny Dolls will lead the Draw & Stitch workshop, a step-by-step doll-making workshop which uses witty details and creative techniques to produce dolls based on famous figures from the art and design world.  Zellij – a workshop which fosters practical skills in the arts and crafts of the Islamic world through traditional tile-making techniques by the artisans in Morocco – also takes place throughout the Warehouse421 inaugural weekend.  For visitors from 3-9 years, the Little Artists dedicated area includes various arts and crafts such as clay modeling, basket and paper weaving, amongst other activities. Timings and more information about each workshop and registration details can be found online at www.warehouse421.ae

The creative market, a curated selection of jewelry, crafts, accessories, and design pieces, enable Warehouse421’s visitors to take home a piece of art or design from the weekend. Visitors to the opening of Warehouse421 can also experience a number of exhibitions, including Lest We Forget: Emirati Family Photographs 1950-1999, which features everyday images captured by the first generation of UAE Nationals, Mina Zayed: Through The Lens of Jack Burlot, which celebrates the people that made the city’s port area so vibrant, and 1:100 The Warehouse Reimagined, which explores the theme of warehouse conversions in a fun and engaging way. A selection of works from the Salama bint Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship entitled Art: Process & Practice, will also demonstrate the journey of an artwork from inception to completion and exhibition.  Finally, for those interested in the design and construction process, a dedicated exhibition will also tell the story of the reinvention of these historic buildings.