Exhibition: The Big Flat Now
Curated by Sophie Mayuko Arni
Organized by Global Art Daily Agency
Presented by Dubai Festival City Mall / Al-Futtaim Malls
Venue: Festival of the Arts, Dubai Festival City Mall, Dubai, UAE
Exhibition Website
The Role of Art in Public Spaces: Shopping Malls, Social Interactions, and Digital Activations
Celebrating the inauguration of Japanese artist Shoei Matsuda’s massive installation The Big Flat Now at Dubai Festival City Mall, this Artist Talk is a cross-cultural dialogue that aims to highlight the role of authenticity and participation of public artworks in the UAE, zooming into the local context of shopping malls in Dubai.
Photo:Anant Singh, Courtesy of Global Art Daily.
While the artist offered insights into his digital art practice and the historical impact of Japanese emojis, the discussion also provided the perspectives of Emirati researcher Rana AlMutawa on the social functions of shopping malls within Emirati populations. The discussion was moderated by Sophie Mayuko Arni, curator of The Big Flat Now and founder of Global Art Daily Agency, and ended with reflections on Dubai’s ability to attract viral social media content and the role of contemporary art in public urban spaces.
Panelists:
- Shōei Matsuda (Artist)
- Rana Khalid AlMutawa (Assistant Professor of Social Research and Public Policy, NYU Abu Dhabi)
Moderated by: Sophie Mayuko Arni (Curator, Founder of Global Art Daily Agency)