Dubai-based Galloire has launched, commencing with an exclusive solo exhibition BENEATH, by Nick Veasey, the famed British contemporary artist known for his x-ray images of everything from supercars to high-fashion accessories. The award-winning artist whose work is held in many important private and public museum collections is being exhibited in the Middle East for the first time.
Just as Veasey seamlessly merges art and technology in his work, Galloire’s exhibitions are doing the same. Galloire is the first gallery in the Middle East to use virtual reality (VR) coupled with augmented reality (AR) to create a complete online exhibition experience. By integrating both physical and digital within its exhibitions, Galloire aims to make leading international artists’ work more accessible and to connect a wider audience to contemporary art in the region.
Founded by British businessman and art collector Edward Gallagher, Galloire is an omnichannel art gallery and platform providing exhibitions at its gallery, in other unique spaces around the region and also online. Galloire’s ongoing exhibition programme will offer art collectors access to works from major international artists not currently exhibiting in the Middle East.
Alongside its exhibition programme, delivering on its commitment to making contemporary art transparent and accessible for a broader audience, Galloire provides a curated catalogue of limited edition prints, photography, sculpture multiples and works on paper via its online store. These range from works by blue chip, investment grade artists like Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol to new,
highly collectible limited editions which Galloire publishes in collaboration with established artists from around the world.
Gallagher explained, “Prints and editions are a vital part of the art market which empower more people to start collecting fine art, given a more accessible price point. Collecting work by leading contemporary artists also represents a fantastic investment. Growth in blue chip modern and contemporary artists’ work has far outstripped the stock market over the last 20 years. Our online platform aims to make acquiring collectible work by these artists accessible, transparent and enjoyable – dispelling the illusion that collecting fine art needs to be elitist or complicated.”
Gallagher continued, “People spend millions of dollars daily buying fine art online, on works collectors have never seen in real life – from most major auction house sales to works sold from galleries across the world. This has only been accelerated by the recent pandemic, but the move to buy art online had already begun and only aligns with momentum and trends in all industries. So, at the same moment as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, set out an agenda to digitise every aspect of life in Dubai, we launch with every confidence that Dubai and the entire Middle East region will welcome the opportunity to access, view and collect fine art digitally as well as in person, starting with the outstanding work of Nick Veasey.”
Commenting on Galloire’s decision to launch with a Nick Veasey exhibition, the gallery founder said, “We’ve admired and collected Nick’s work for years, and his highly respected art is in permanent collections everywhere from MASS MoCA to the V&A in London, so we’re delighted to be launching with an exhibition from him. His unique blend of technology and art perfectly reflects one of the core values of Galloire, meaning his work absolutely aligns with us as a gallery. I’m sure his x-ray photography will be extremely popular with collectors here and, within the exhibition, there is a superb selection of work from his oeuvre for all to see.
“Especially in these times of restricted travel, we’re excited to offer the entire region the opportunity to visit Nick’s exhibition, as we bring the experience of viewing art digitally much closer to the experience of seeing it in real life. Anyone can visit the exhibition online from a browser or VR headset and, with augmented reality from their mobile phone, they can even hang any of Nick’s works in their home virtually, to see it in place before they buy.”
Nick Veasey added, “As an artist one thing matters to me more than anything, and that is people seeing the work. I mean what is the point in my painstaking process if nobody gets to see the results? Working with Galloire has been a revelation as they use technology as an integral and fundamental part of the gallery/artist relationship. It is not a nice add-on to a physical exhibition, but a strategic commitment to giving the contemporary art audience an engaging experience. Our collaboration has been enlightening in many ways, but I am thrilled with the integrity and quality of the virtual exhibition.”
On his experience with Galloire, the artist commented: “When an artist works with a new gallery there are always concerns and issues, but Galloire really do have themselves together and I am really pleased with their proactive approach in how they present my work. This is my first experience of working in Dubai and the Middle East and I look forward to connecting with the local community as my x-rays of classic cars and iconic fashion pieces will hopefully be appreciated.”
In a world obsessed with image, Nick Veasey’s work breaks through the surface and shows us what’s beneath; behind the mask of the superhero, hidden under the skin of high-fashion and secreted by sleek supercar facades. From lethal levels of radiation emerges the beautiful architecture of life itself and ghostly, gentle images of the framework that makes up the icons of our modern society. His works allow us to journey into a world otherwise hidden and unseen.
At a time where we are left asking questions about life, returning to society and what we value as we do, Veasey’s work has never been more poignant. Throughout the exhibition, moving from the natural world to modern icons, his focus on revealing the truth beneath the surface and digging past the veneer of society has never resonated more strongly.