text Arsalan Mohammad

From the comically high prices achieved at auction to the proliferation of cutting-edge spaces in the industrial estate of Al-Quoz, there’s an art boom in full swing in Dubai. Last March, London-based dealer John Martin brought the Gulf Art Fair to the salubrious surroundings of the Madinat Jumeirah, where over 40 international galleries displayed a diverse array of contemporary art. Buoyed by its phenomenal success, the fair is being doubled in size and re-branded Art Dubai for this year’s outing (19-22 March).

Yet the emirate’s own galleries were largely ignored. This failure led to the launch of a parallel, independent Creek Contemporary Art Fair, organised by Mona Hauser, owner of XVA Gallery. Taking place amid the winding alleys of historic Bastakia, it featured contributions from every major gallery in Dubai, most relishing the experimental nature of the event.

It was such a success, Hauser’s doing it all over again (15-30 March). And as with Art Dubai, she’s promising an even more ambitious happening this time round. “Art Dubai is wonderful,” says Hauser. “But it’s not something that local galleries can take part in without huge sponsorship. The Creek Fair is more by the people, for the people.”

“With international events like Art Dubai, there should always be a parallel art fair for local galleries,” adds Iranian artist Fereydoun Ave, whose Ave Gallery will be making its mark at the fair. “Local galleries don’t have a big budget and it’s really important for them to be able to show their wares.” www.xvagallery.com