United Emirates

Seeing Dubai through the eyes of…

Tell us about your artistic background? 

I have very little artistic background other than being an overly visual person receptive to what I deem “aesthetically pleasing and stimulating”. That said, I’ve always been interested in arts and started collecting when I was young.

I came to Dubai about three years ago to manage Opera Gallery. Prior to this, I lived in Geneva and Boston where I held various private banking positions. Coming to Dubai has been the last step into transitioning from banking to the arts. 

What is it about Dubai that interests you artistically? 

Almost everything. Living here, you’re constantly bombarded visually by the architecture, the landscape and the arts. Adding to this is another sensory stimuli provided by fashion, fragrances and music. The fact that Dubai itself is an amalgamation of a million things – not just East and West – makes the entire city feel like a never-ending art project or performance. Dubai offers the perfect “boiler room effect” for arts and we’re about to see some pretty incredible things happen in the region.

Apart from Opera Gallery, where else is top of your list for viewing great art in Dubai? 

My neighbours in DIFC consistently do a great job at promoting art. And then there’s Alserkal Avenue, Art Dubai, D3, government initiatives, festivals. I could go on and on about how each of these places and entities do their part in providing great art. We’re all working hand in hand; this is the smartest approach to elevating the conversation.