Studies have shown creating and observing art can reduce cortisol, the 'stress hormone'. So it’s always amazing to hear that another gallery is ensuring art lovers can still enjoy looking at its masterpieces while its doors remain closed. Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery, known for its modern conceptual art and sculptures, has become one such gallery after launching an online virtual gallery tour of its space on Dubai’s Blue Waters island. The Italian art gallery, which usually has a strong programme of workshops, educational initiatives and is a cross-cultural exchange platform between Dubai and Pietrasanta in Italy, is using the market’s latest video graphics and techniques to showcase all of its artworks.
“It is important that whilst we fight the virus in every way possible, we also try and prevent it from stopping our lives and love for art,” Paola Marucci, a Founding Partner of the gallery that has a corresponding branch in Tuscany’s Forte de Marmi, said.
Culture aficionados are treated to a visual feast while freely roaming through the gallery and zooming in to over 50 masterpieces. Each artwork comes with information about the artist, composition of the piece and dimensions. One of the high points of the digital tour is getting to know talented artists’ work that encompasses different disciplines and backgrounds. Artists include Colombian minimalistic marble sculptor Gustavo Velez, hyper-realistic photography painter Enrico Ghinato and conceptual animal sculptor Stefano Bombardieri. Work from leading Latin American painter Julio Larraz and classical sculptor Igor Mitoraj, who echoes old Roman and Greek cultures with a post-modern twist, is also on display.
“I believe that a virtual gallery is something that will not only be of benefit to our Dubai space now, but will also be a great platform to use going forward, for people to view our artists from abroad as well as from the comfort of their homes,” Emanuela Venturini, the gallery’s other Founding Partner, said.
“The idea of such a mixture of beautiful works by such talented artists, sitting in a space which is not accessible is very saddening. Thankfully we don’t have to worry about that anymore!”
The virtual tour of Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery on Blue Waters island begins here.
