The 4th edition of the mega Art Bahrain Fair organised under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa concluded recently in Bahrain
Every year, we set a theme for the Art Bahrain Across Borders fair that acts as more than a representation of the beautiful work on display, but as a stepping stone for the next step forward in the Kingdom’s art community.
This year’s theme, “Legacy,” is the concept that has carried us throughout our international exhibitions in the past year. “Legacy” exists to augment Bahrain’s claim of the arts, an ownership that has been an indisputable heritage in Bahrain’s history, passed down through generations past. It exists to demonstrate Bahrain’s position as one of the firmest creative economies in the world. The local art platform stands firmly on the base of over 100 working artists in the country, a figure that is not merely the highest in the region, but given the country’s size, extremely remarkable on a global scale.
Within “Legacy,” we’ve hit upon milestones that advanced the way forward; our Talks program is in its largest form to date, adding a parallel to “Legacy” through the endorsement and demonstration of the traditional alongside the acquiring and adaptation to the leading- edge, like blockchain technology, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. Bahrain’s ability to distinguishably retain our rich history while still adapting to the current makes us a perfect amalgam for art connoisseurs around the world.
In this year’s significant edition, we prepared to welcome over 16 international galleries from over 15 countries. In line with retaining and adapting our “Legacy,” what makes this edition of even higher significance is our first step towards strengthening Bahrain’s artisanal sector, a wealth of which the country has developed through the ages. Today, we’re witnessing older and experienced artisans passing the torch to younger generations that will take their legacy forward. To bring the industry to the forefront of the creative sector, we have meticulously designed the Bahrain Room, a showcase of the kingdom’s artisanal wealth in design form, the outcome of which I am incredibly excited to see.
The BAB Pavilion is also witnessing an entirely new dimension. What is the most rewarding achievement for me in “Legacy” is that this also marks the first edition in which the Pavilion is co- curated by Art Select’s own “Generation Next,” Bader AI Saad and Tasneem Al Shurougi. I’ve been proud to watch their curation process unfold to bring forth a new and emerging generation of Bahrain’s incredible artists.