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The Louvre Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Swiss watchmaking brand Richard Mille, has announced the jury and shortlisted artists for the fourth edition of the highly anticipated annual exhibition and competition, Art Here 2024, and the Richard Mille Art Prize. This initiative supports the region’s dynamic art scene by empowering local and regional artists, offering them a prominent platform to showcase their work and expand their creative horizons.

This year’s jury, now including North Africa alongside the GCC, comprises distinguished members from diverse cultural backgrounds, each bringing unique perspectives to the selection process.

Returning to the jury are H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Founder and Chairman of the satellite art platform ‘UAE Unlimited’ which supports emerging artists based in the UAE, a prominent patron and collector of the arts and a board member of the British Museum and Centre Pompidou for the acquisition of Middle Eastern Art, in addition to Guilhem André, Scientific Curatorial and Collection Management Director at Louvre Abu Dhabi, a seasoned museum professional, and art historian.

Dr. André is committed to building the collection at the highest level of quality and to show, within the museum’s galleries, artworks by local and regional contemporary artists, fostering cultural exchanges and celebrating artistic diversity.

New jury members include Simon Njami, independent curator, lecturer, art critic and novelist who has curated numerous international exhibitions spotlighting African and non-Western contemporary artists; Nujoom Alghanem, a renowned Emirati poet, artist and multi-award-winning film director; and Maya Allison, the founding Director of the Art Gallery and Chief Curator at New York University Abu Dhabi. This year, Louvre Abu Dhabi and guest curator, Simon Njami, invited artists to respond to the theme Awakenings.

The shortlisted artists are tasked with translating the concept of openness into visual forms. Openness signifies beginnings where possibilities are available at any given moment and implies the choices and decisions that lead to the direction one chooses to follow. The short-listed artists will produce sculptures or audio-visual installations that address questions of today and the near future. Produced artworks will be showcased at the museum from 20 September to 15 December 2024.

Manuel Rabaté, Director of Louvre Abu Dhabi, said: “We are delighted to acknowledge our esteemed partnership with Richard Mille for the fourth year, bringing together a distinguished international jury. This collaboration enables the museum to continuously innovate and present new, creative themes, such as Awakenings, inviting artists to engage in and translate the concept of openness into visual forms. Notably, for the first time, our open call extended to North Africa, underscoring our dedication to expanding to new geographies, and we are happy to produce and display the artworks of five shortlisted artists. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to enriching the region’s cultural ecosystem and our mission to narrate stories from diverse cultures around the globe.”

This year’s edition has attracted submissions from a wide array of talent residing across the UAE, GCC, North Africa, and beyond. Works by five exceptional artists from the UAE, Tunisia and Egypt, have been shortlisted from 230 total submissions to be featured in the 2024 Art Here exhibition, each bringing unique perspectives and artistic practices.

Férielle Doulain-Zouari, a Franco-Tunisian artist, utilizes installations, sculptures, and weavings to explore the coexistence of natural and artificial worlds. Lamya Gargash is an Emirati artist who focuses on the essence of inhabited and abandoned spaces, delving into cultural heritage amidst rapid modernization, and capturing the beauty of human trace and the value of the mundane. Egyptian artist Moataz Nasr investigates the notion of identity and belonging in a world of globalization, probing into the geopolitics and social development of Egypt and Africa.

Sarah Almehairi from Abu Dhabi focuses on language, materiality, and memory, using geometric shapes to unfold narratives. Lastly, Nicène Kossentini from Tunisia uses video to capture, picture by picture, the slow transformation of people and things, revealing intimate places and bodies and uncovering the buried truths of her heritage.

These artists’ works will be showcased at Louvre Abu Dhabi from 20 September 2024, each competing for the prestigious Richard Mille Art Prize and its accompanying $60,000 cash award.

Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille EMEA, said: “With the fourth edition of the Richard Mille Art Prize, I am thrilled to see our expansion into the North African region, a new frontier of artistic expression. The jury, selected by our esteemed partner, Louvre Abu Dhabi, will once again challenge and inspire our chosen artists. The 2024 Richard Mille Art Prize will showcase a diverse array of cross-cultural dialogues, highlighting the region’s rich societal tapestry and the transformative power of art. I eagerly anticipate the creations of our five selected artists, which will be exhibited under the Louvre Abu Dhabi’s dome for the 2024 Art Here exhibit.”

Simon Njami, Curator of Louvre Abu Dhabi Art Here 2024, said: “I am honoured to curate and join the jury for this year’s Art Here and The Richard Mille Art Prize. ‘Awakenings’ is a powerful theme that challenges artists to delve into moments of change, revelation, and transformation. My career has been dedicated to unveiling new voices in contemporary art, and I look forward to discovering how artists from the GCC and North Africa interpret this concept and express their unique perspectives through their art.”

This year’s expansion into North Africa leverages curator Simon Njami’s deep expertise in the region, highlighting the museum’s commitment to presenting a diverse array of artistic voices. Art Here 2024 will take place under Louvre Abu Dhabi’s iconic dome, drawing on the interplay of light and shadow, and offering artists a unique setting to exhibit their works.

The visitor journey will begin around the courtyard with the Damascene fountain and extends via a passageway towards a meditative shallow pool and the public art wall installation by Jenny Holzer.