For the third year running and as part of the fair’s initiative to foster rising talents, Abu Dhabi Art has invited galleries to present the work of an emerging artist through a dedicated booth. “I think the Signature section is very interesting for participating galleries as it provides great exposure for a lesser-known artist,” says Galerie El-Marsa’s Lilia Ben Salah, who is showing works by Tunisian artist Thameur Mejri through Signature. “Abu Dhabi Art’s audience is international and comprises private collectors and renowned institutions; it is the right place to show up-and-coming artists.” Entitled "Ideology Vs. Post-Cannibalism and Silicon," Mejri’s pieces on display glimpse issues pondered by Tunisia’s youth. “His video works and paintings deal with bodily taboos in the Arab world,” adds Ben Salah. “The themes of censorship and freedom weave in and out of his pieces.”

At almost three metres high, Lebanese artist Zena Assi’s large-scale mixed media works, "Keychain," are visually commanding, to say the least. Dressed in long robes and holding a key, the figures’s imposing stature evokes a sense of power, shedding light on the social hierarchy of today’s contemporary society. “We chose to show "Keychain" in Signature as I wanted to break certain stereotypes about Middle Eastern art. The works from our region are not about violence or overtly political and I want to communicate that,” explains Amel Makkawi of Dubai-based gallery Art Sawa. “Assi’s oeuvre tackles themes pertaining to the city – its infrastructure, demographic and governmental influences. The figures depicted in "Keychain" represent the creators of the city; they hold the keys of authority.”

This year marks Jason Bereswill’s third participation at Abu Dhabi Art, through New York-based Tony Shafrazi Gallery. His work in Signature is inspired by the revolutionary events that have swept the Arab world in recent months. His piece, "Protests at Tahrir Square, Cairo, satellite view, January 29, 2011 am," depicts an aerial panorama of Egypt’s capital at a pivotal moment in the country’s history. “The city plan of Cairo really helped facilitate the protests by channelling all of its avenues right into a major square, Tahrir,” explains Bereswill. “So I thought a satellite image of the early days of the protest, combining digital imaging technology, the photo sharing service that brought it to me, and the inkjet printing that serves as the under-painting, made for an immediate, new, and important kind of history painting.”

Waterhouse & Dodd present British Contemporary artist Jemimah Patterson in Signature. Drawing inspiration from her experiences being a twin, the multidisciplinary artist uses mirrored motifs in her compositions, expressing twofold reflections that aim to shed light on the dualities of man at different crossroads in life. Hong Kong-born artist Ho Sin Tung tackles themes pertaining to cartography in her multimedia work on display in Hanart TZ Gallery’s Signature booth. “She is a young artist who creates engaging work, which is why we decided that she was a good fit for this section,” says the gallery’s Angelica Li. 

With participating galleries hailing from all corners of the world – China, the USA, the UK, the UAE, and Tunisia – Signature presents a medley of artists all looking to break through on a global platform. “This sort of opportunity can undoubtedly boost an emerging artist’s career,” concludes Zeidan. “It provides great exposure which is necessary for an artist to succeed in the long run.” 

Abu Dhabi Art runs from November 16 - 19 in the Saadiyat Cultural District