Images, words, music and sound are all celebrated as part of Abu Dhabi Art, and forms the basis of its performance series, Durub Al Tawaya. Back for its second edition, the programme features a variety of live entertainment for those who enjoy shows and exhibitions with an experimental twist.
The name of the programme reflects the evocative nature of the performances. Tawaya is an Emirati word used to describe desert rest stops that have underground springs. Durub are the markings leading travellers to the water stations. In classical Arabic, tawaya also refers to hidden meanings and unfolding ideas.
The theme of the performances this year is the 12th-century novel by the Arab philosopher Ibn Tufail titled The Improvement of Human Reason: Exhibited in the Life of Hayy Ibn Yaqzan. The fantastical plot centres on a young child who is stranded on a desert island, where he is raised by a gazelle. When the animal dies, the youngster conducts an autopsy and begins a journey of self-discovery.
Thankfully, the Abu Dhabi Art performances will not feature any onstage dissection, as the novel’s themes are presented in a more abstract style.
The first show, on November 5, Wednesday night at 8.30pm in the Auditorium, is an eye-popping concert by the South African visual artist William Kentridge and his compatriot, Phillip Miller.
The multisensory treat features video images by Kentridge screened with a live music score from Miller. This is truly a must-see event, as Abu Dhabi is only the third city to host the performance, after Florence and New York. There will be a second performance the following night at the same time.
On Thursday, November 6, the entertainment moves to the plaza at 6pm. The Lebanese visual artist Joe Namy's latest project, Automobile, is a live exhibition in which eight local cars are fitted with custom-designed stereo systems synchronised with field recordings. The 45-minute exhibition pays "homage to the ever-present modern-day ritual that defines Arab male youth culture".
Friday, November 7, is a day for the theatre, with a pair of performances in the auditorium. At 4pm, the British experimental theatre director Tim Etchells will lead young Abu Dhabi performers between the ages of 8 to 14 in a show called That Night Follows Day. The young actors will directly address the crowd on a range of societal issues that affect their world view. There will be a second performance at the same time the following day.
At 6pm, the Turkish artist Cevdet Erek will take to the stage to perform SS Shore Scene Soundtrack, a 15-minute piece in which he uses his hands and carpet to mimic sounds of the sea.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
