ARTMargins Article Analyzes Dubai's 2012 Art Month Within Gulf's Political and Economic Context

Nat Muller's article published on February 5, 2013, critically examines Dubai Art Month 2012, focusing on the Art Dubai fair and its Global Art Forum symposium. The piece explores the complex interplay between art as critical practice and its role as both a modernity marker and hyper-capitalist commodity within the MENA region. Muller analyzes how internationalist and activist art discourses are imported into the Gulf's conservative monarchies, where freedom of speech and expression face significant restrictions. The article also considers the commercial, educational, and curatorial functions of Dubai's burgeoning gallery scene. Content for this analysis is available through MIT Press under a subscription-only model. Dubai's art ecosystem is positioned within broader cultural, economic, and political frameworks specific to the region.