Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Opens in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District
The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation (BFAF), a non-profit private art foundation, will open on 4 March 2024 in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District. Founded by philanthropist and art collector Bassam Freiha, it is the first private art foundation in the district. BFAF will showcase rarely seen works from private collections through exhibitions and cultural initiatives. Its inaugural exhibition, 'Echoes of the Orient,' explores East-West dialogue via Orientalist works from Freiha's collection, 19th-century photography, and modern Arab art. Curated by Michaela Watrelot, the show features Orientalist artists like Rudolphe Ernst and Léon Comerre alongside Arab modernists Habib Srour and Moustafa Faroukh. A parallel exhibition, 'Reclaiming Visions,' presents Sama Alshaibi's photographic series and Azza Al Qubaisi's sculptures, challenging Orientalist portrayals of Arab women.
Key facts
- Bassam Freiha Art Foundation opens 4 March 2024 in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District.
- It is the first private art foundation in the Cultural District.
- Founded by philanthropist and art collector His Excellency Bassam Freiha.
- Inaugural exhibition 'Echoes of the Orient' runs at BFAF.
- Exhibition curated by Michaela Watrelot, BFAF curator and director of exhibitions.
- Features Orientalist works by Rudolphe Ernst, Léon Comerre, Paul Leroy, Jan-Baptist Huysmans, Fabio Fabbi.
- Includes Arab modernists Habib Srour, Moustafa Faroukh, Cesar Gemayel, Tawfik Tarek, Abdul Qader Al Rais.
- Photography by Gabriel Lékégian, Jean Pascal Sébah, Tancrede Dumas, Hippolyte Arnoux.
- Parallel exhibition 'Reclaiming Visions' features Sama Alshaibi's 'Carry Over' series and Azza Al Qubaisi's sculptures.
- Reclaiming Visions includes 19th-century portraits by Alexandre Leroux and Aram Alban.
Entities
Artists
- Bassam Freiha
- Rudolphe Ernst
- Léon Comerre
- Paul Leroy
- Jan-Baptist Huysmans
- Fabio Fabbi
- Habib Srour
- Moustafa Faroukh
- Cesar Gemayel
- Tawfik Tarek
- Abdul Qader Al Rais
- Gabriel Lékégian
- Jean Pascal Sébah
- Tancrede Dumas
- Hippolyte Arnoux
- Michaela Watrelot
- Sama Alshaibi
- Azza Al Qubaisi
- Alexandre Leroux
- Aram Alban
Institutions
- Bassam Freiha Art Foundation
- Saadiyat Cultural District
Locations
- Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates
- Saadiyat Cultural District