June 1st, 2009 Bidoun
It might be commonplace among savvy travelers that for excellence in hotels, Dubai, UAE is a breed apart. The gorgeous beaches and rich urban environment speak to a city built for international guests looking for an experience deep in luxury and culture. Expectations run high, and it is no small fete that the same guests return year after year. Recently, Dubai has been experiencing a surge in international residents, as economic opportunity grows along with a fascinating artistic identity.
This artistic identity is a key piece to the puzzle that is Dubai, a port city that has always been in touch with the world at large, but suddenly connecting to global artistic themes, and even setting trends, as never before. With extremely knowledgeable scholars and critics, and a very smart and sophisticated artist base, there is a dialogue in the city that every traveler picks up on. Bidoun Magazine is one beautiful example of this savvy in print. Begun in 2003 as a forum for writing about art, culture, and contemporary life, this quarterly is achieving a Harper’s level of status, and the organization that puts out the magazine is also sponsoring highly-visible public events. There is no doubt that culture is being reflected in the pages, and possibly, and even likely, is also being shaped here.
Antonia Carver, one of Bidoun’s more visible editors, speaks to the surge in art activity in the past few years as stemming from a few key high-ticket auction items that brought the art world’s attention to the city. There is also, she suggests, a number of other factors at work here. The other factor is one of the larger art fairs, Art Dubai, which has grown exponentially, due in large part to the visionary efforts of the organizers, as well as the city’s ability to respond to such efforts. Whatever the cause, it is certainly a fascinating and complex theme, and many variations on the theme, and many more, are played on with intellectual deftness, and a wicked sense of humor, in Bidoun.
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