Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, is hosting the world’s largest Banksy exhibition supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture). “The World of Banksy” will be the largest Banksy exhibition in the world, revealing 120 recreated pieces of Banksy’s most inspirational works to art connoisseurs and cultural explorers alike. All Banksy’s worldwide exhibitions are unauthorised, with the artist proclaiming that he encourages anyone to ‘copy and borrow’ his art.
With very little being known about Banksy, the artist’s recreated exhibitions are eagerly attended by art lovers across the world keen to learn more about the enigmatic yet mysterious figure. “The World of Banksy” will offer insight into the work, influences and inspiration of the artist, giving local art enthusiasts the opportunity to get up, close and personal with his work. The exhibition will showcase some of Banksy’s most iconic frames and murals such as: Girl with a Balloon, the Flower Thrower, the Mobile Lovers, and many other famed works.
The exhibition will be open every day between noon and midnight at Level 2 through the Theatre accessed straight from the car park under Ski Dubai and – as there is no set time limit – visitors are free to explore and immerse themselves in “The World of Banksy”. Spread out over 1,000sqm, the gallery allows visitors to follow in the great artist’s footsteps through time and space as they journey through a series of rooms, each organised by the location the murals appeared in.
Hala Badri, Director-General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, said: “This immersive exhibition will further enrich the emirate’s art scene and is in line with Dubai Culture’s vision to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent. The World of Banksy will embody the Authority’s firm belief in the importance of activities of this nature and their role in enriching the public’s thinking and culture, introducing residents and citizens alike to international art. This is in line with one of our strategic objectives to make culture everywhere and for everyone, enabling society’s participation in the flourishing cultural movement in the emirate. Hosting the works of one of the world’s most prominent artists in the world presents an exceptional opportunity to highlight Dubai’s creative and cultural sector on a global scale, coinciding with one of the sectoral priorities of our strategic roadmap to enhance the emirate’s cultural footprint on the global stage.”
Fuad Sharaf, Managing Director at Majid Al Futtaim – UAE Shopping Malls commented: “We are thrilled to partner with Dubai Culture in hosting the world’s largest Banksy Exhibition at Mall of the Emirates. As a provider of a truly premium customer experience, we are committed to create unique engaging experiences for our community. Enriching culture within our communities is one of our key pillars.”
Mall of the Emirates will continue to exceed recommended health and safety guidelines and have implemented an all-encompassing sanitisation and physical distancing plan to ensure that guests can enjoy a comfortable experience with added peace of mind.
With tickets available online, guests can avoid long queues and waiting lines when visiting the exhibition by pre-booking and purchasing their tickets at https://www.malloftheemirates.com/events/worldofbanksy or on site through the Theatre’s box office.
