The panel discussion, held on 6 October at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in London, UK, was attended by various dignitaries, including Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, and Sheikh Khalid Saud AlQasimi, Deputy Chief of Mission at the UAE Embassy in the UK, diplomats and decision-makers in the fields of culture and the arts as well as media representatives.
Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, expressed her gratitude to HE Mansoor Abulhoul, the Ambassador of the UAE to the UK, and his team for the warm hospitality at the Embassy. She continued: “In close cooperation with the UAE’s diplomatic missions around the world, and in partnership with UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the patronage and inspiration of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, we present Art @ Embassies, a pioneering cultural diplomacy initiative.
Our aim is to showcase the works and achievements of our talented artists, shining a light on the UAE’s vision and craftsmanship in building its culture; and to contribute to enriching the global dialogue on Emirati creativity. We are delighted to host the respected artist Farah Al Qasimi, who will be in conversation with the exceptional art curator Maya El Khalil, to highlight the remarkable journey of the artist and her first solo exhibition in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with Delfina Foundation.
Her Excellency Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival
Deputy Chief of Mission, Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi has commented, “It was a privilege to participate in this cultural event. The discussion between Farah Al Qasimi and Maya El Khalil, two renowned names in the Middle Eastern art world, was both fascinating and thought-provoking. ADMAF’s ‘Art @ Embassies’ initiative consistently fosters meaningful channels for cultural exchange and it is events like these that remind us of the power of art to bridge divides and strengthen ties”.
This session was a celebration of the arts and a testament to ADMAF’s commitment to fostering creativity and promoting cultural understanding. It was dedicated to Farah Al Qasimi’s solo exhibition, “ABORT, RETRY, FAIL”, and was centered on Farah’s diverse body of work, which encompasses art that blends tradition and modernity, childhood memories, family, and society in a visual exploration of our relationship with technology. Farah’s experience includes having her work acquired by renowned art museums such as the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York, the Guggenheim Museum in both New York and Abu Dhabi, the George Pompidou Center in New York, Paris, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona (MACBA), Tate Modern in London, and many others.
The panel discussion at the Embassy of UAE in London further solidified ADMAF’s dedication to fostering artistic dialogue and nurturing emerging talents. Through its ‘Art @ Embassies’ programme, ADMAF continues to create platforms for cultural exchange, furthering its mission to inspire creativity and celebrate diverse expressions of art.
About the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF)
Founded in 1996, ADMAF is one of the oldest, not-for-profit cultural organisations in the Arabian Gulf. Pioneering new artistic practices, it seeks to deepen global cross-cultural dialogue and inspire a renewed interest in the creativity of the UAE and Arab world. Often in partnership with leading national and international institutions, it delivers multidisciplinary initiatives for people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities through the Abu Dhabi Festival, year-round youth platforms and community programmes.
For more information, please visit ADMAF website at: www.admaf.org.
About Abu Dhabi Festival
Founded in 2004, the Festival was generously granted the patronage of the President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, from 2007 to 2011. The first Abu Dhabi Festival was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the then Minister of Information and Culture (currently the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation).
Abu Dhabi Festival is the festival of “Bilad Al Khayr”, the land of blessings, the land of Zayed, and embraces the values of dialogue, tolerance, respect and peace.
For more information, please visit www.abudhabifestival.ae.
