It was touchdown Dubai this past week as all roads led to Art Dubai and Design Days, the region’s pre-eminent art and design fair. I should’ve guessed it would be a round of non-stop socializing when I saw my friend Ms Successful Entrepreneur walk on to the flight with her tan lambskin Hermes Birkin. “Dahling, how lovely to see you,” she exclaimed, telling me she was on a brief business trip. She wanted to know all about my intended doings in Dubai. “I have a Christie’s lunch and a Piaget party,” I told her, “but on the rest of the days I’ll just go with the flow.” This was the truth. The Dubai art fair brings in all the beautiful people in the region and one really never knows whom one will bump into.
I arrived at the fair in time for the VIP opening and once again marvelled at how well Dubai marries commerce with culture. In this case, the pairing of fancy jewels and watches with art was seamless as the swish set thronged the Piaget gallery – a sponsor of the fair - located right at the entrance. The high wattage crowd gushed over the exquisite array of jewellery on display and I later learned sales had been swift.
At the uber exclusive Abraaj lounge, the doyennes of the South Asian art world were in attendance – Lekha Poddar, Kiran Nadar, Rajeeb and Nadia Samdani. As the Ruinart flowed, the crowd swelled to huge proportions. I decided it was time to duck out and have a look at the art. India was represented by four galleries – stalwarts Jhaveri Contemporary, Chatterjee & Lal, Experimenter and DAG but other galleries showed contemporary Indian works including New York’s Aicon, London’s Grosvenor and Paris’ Daniel Templon.
Just as I was perusing the Thukral & Tagra works at Chatterjee & Lal, a mini India delegation seem to converge. “Ah look and the bubbles have arrived, would everyone like some?” asked gallerist Tara Lal. Art Dubai not only treats its patrons well, it also treats its gallerists with care, providing them with champagne so that after manning booths all day they too can have a bit of fun.
At the Christie’s lunch the next day, which I attended along with my super chic, social friend, all eyes were on the one of a kind Boucheron gold and pink, yellow and white diamond bracelet watch with an exquisitely designed falcon perched on the top. It could be mine for anywhere from a quarter of a million to a half a million dollars. Sigh. I would have to pass. My fancy friend seemed to have more luck. She seized upon a chocolate brown Hermes Kelly handbag available at the private sale and bought it on the spot. Lucky girl.
“This week is always so hectic, what with all the lunches and dinners,” she said in between bites of lamb. “It all started with the Inked lunch, you know that creative group that does all these dining experiences – they did a lunch and dinner in collaboration with Christian Louboutin inspired by Dali’s book Les Diners de Gala. Then there was the party for designer Paul Marciano, and for shoe maker Gianvito Rossi. In Dubai there’s always someone in town to promote their brand.” I listened, amazed and exhausted by her grinding social schedule.
Next we headed over to Al Serkal Avenue, the city’s art district, to see the newly opened venue CONCRETE. Designed by OMA architects, better known as starchitect Rem Koolhass’ firm, it’s first show, Syria : Into the Light, is poignant.
At this point we were both a bit art-ed out so we air kissed our goodbyes before resting up for the evening’s Piaget party at the new Jumeirah Al Naseem hotel.
As I rolled into the late night party, looking severely underdressed amongst the sea of bling, a throbbing crowd was bopping to the beat and the champagne was literally flowing like water. Just then walked in the most striking woman in the Middle East, Princess Deena Aljuhani AbdulAziz, editor of the just launched VOGUE Arabia. With her super short cropped hair and Instagram ready sartorial style, she embodies the guilt free glamour that makes the region so fascinating. My trip was made.
This fortnightly column tracks the indulgent pursuits of the one-percenters.
