New Art Space Set to Open on Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island

The burgeoning art and culture scene in the UAE is about to welcome a new art space on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island Cultural District. The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation is set to open its new space on March 4th for its inaugural exhibition, ‘Echos of the Orient’. Artworks will be drawn from His Excellency Bassem Freiha’s private collection, showcasing iconic work from the Orientalist movement, alongside works by Arab modernists and 19th-century photographers.

Many of the works on display for ‘Echoes of the Orient’ follow a theme of femininity, and its perception by the European Orientalist artists of the time, from candid representation of chambermaids in the harem to depictions of maternal affection. Standing in juxtaposition will be a succession of modern and contemporary art from Arab artists across the last two centuries.

H.E. Bassam Freiha, the philanthropist and art collector behind the soon-to-open art space, hopes that the foundation will be a flagship space to inspire other collectors in the region to share masterpieces they have accrued with the public, contributing to the thriving cultural scene in the Emirates and the wider region.