Sultan Bin Tahnoon opens Saadiyat Art Cars Expo

Running until 30th November, Art Cars is open daily from 10am until 8pm and features an intriguing mix of European and American classic cars which have been given 'pop art' makeovers by local and international artists and a line-up of vintage models which trace the motoring development of Abu Dhabi through the 50s, 60s and 70s.

"Art Cars is a very timely initiative coming as it does in the run up to this weekend's 2009 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,"

said Sheikh Sultan.

"It is part of the visitor enhancement programme undertaken by ADTA and when viewed alongside the Grand Prix demonstrates this emirate's love of all things automobile while serving to track the emirate's motoring history from the 1950s until the present day.

"Some of the vehicles have been kindly loaned to the exhibition by His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi's Rulers Representative in the Eastern Region and several of them were personally used by the late UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan during his many tours of the emirate's Eastern region.

"This remarkable fleet includes some iconic models which, combined, present a snapshot of motoring history and evolution."

Visitors to the free-to-attend exhibition will see cars transformed into works of art by a gallery of local and visiting artists from France, China and Singapore. All designs have been inspired by the visual, mass pop art movement of the 50s and 60s, made famous by US artist Andy Warhol.

Manarat Al Saadiyat can be reached via the new Saadiyat Bridge accessible from Abu Dhabi's Mina Zayed area, where visitors will follow a beautifully landscaped route to the centre. From Dubai, visitors can reach Manarat Al Saadiyat by taking the new Yas Island highway and following the road through to Saadiyat.

The fabulous fleet line-up of motoring masterpieces includes:

Cadillac LaSalle 1939
First designed in 1927 by General Motors Corporation's Harley Earl, the LaSalle was extremely modern for its time with its signature grille being one of its most striking features. It was named after the French adventurer who explored the Mississippi River Valley, Sieur De LaSalle, and its bold, sweeping design is the reason it held the title of being the most fashionable American automobile of its day.

Ford T 1920
The Ford T series is widely recognised as the catalyst for the mass production world we live in today and is generally regarded as the first affordable car. The Ford Model T, affectionately known as the Tin Lizzie or Flivver, first went into production in 1908 and ran for nearly 20 years. The Ford Model T was named the world's most influential car of the 20th century in an international poll. By 1918, nearly half the cars in the USA were Ford Ts, prompting its creator, Henry Ford, to coin the famous quote "Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black".

Chevrolet Independence 1931
This sensational sedan is remembered as the car which helped the US company reclaim its lead ranking from Ford as North America's top car manufacturer. The 1931 Chevrolet Independence was a larger, heavier car than its predecessors, with an extended wheelbase, a stronger frame and a roomier and more stylish body than ever before.

BMW Z8 2000
This sporty roadster began its life as a concept variation on the 1997 Z07, which caused a sensation at the '97 Tokyo Auto Show. Such was the overwhelming popularity of the concept, BMW decided to produce a limited production model called the Z8, which had a run of only 5,703. The car made its world-wide debut in the James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough, and has been a firm favourite of motoring buffs the globe over ever since.

Mercedes 250SL 1968
One of the rarest W 113 cars, the Mercedes 250SL was only in production for a year. Boasting an inline, six-cylinder engine with multi-port fuel injection, it operated a rear-wheel drive with independent rear suspension - a feature that greatly improved road handling. Most of the early SLs were sold with both the removable hard top and a soft top in the so-called 'Coupe/Roadster' configuration, with a 'California Coupe' version made available later that came with the removable hardtop but no soft top.

Ford F-Series 1950
Having been in production from 1948 until today, the Ford F-Series was the best-selling vehicle in the United States for 23 years and has been the best-selling truck for 31 years. The 1950 model was one from the first generation of this much-loved line and was a modern-looking truck at the time with a flat, one-piece windshield and integrated headlights.

Chevrolet Bel Air 1956
In 1950, Chevrolet came up with a revolutionary style that would set a pattern for decades. The style was the Bel Air Hardtop, which was a convertible with a non-detachable solid roof. The 1956 was part of a second generation model that boasted a V8 engine, with a design so good it remained in production, in various forms, for many decades. The 1955-1957 Bel Air is among the most recognisable American cars of all time; well-maintained examples are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.

MINI Cooper 1996
This icon of Great Britain's swinging 60s epitomises style and coolness. In 2001, BMW launched a new-look MINI Cooper which featured in the remake 'Italian Job' film - nearly 40 years after the original MINI made headlines in the 1969 version, which starred two-time Oscar winner Sir Michael Caine. The MINI Cooper remains one trendiest cars of the 21st century.

Aston Martin DBS 2009
One of the most stunning cars of modern times, the Aston Martin DBS burst onto the motor scene in 2007 and is the second Art Car to feature in a James Bond movie - this time in Casino Royale. The fastest of all the cars on display, the DBS accelerates from 0-68 mph in 4.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of over 194 mph. The Aston Martin DBS is a 6.0-litre V12 power, race-bred, two-seater shaped by the aerodynamic demands of high performance, with an exquisite interior that marries beautifully, hand-finished materials with the very latest in performance technology.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1976
The renowned Silver Shadow had the largest production volume of any Rolls Royce and the model was the manufacturer's response to claims that it was falling behind the times, and had lost contact with modern developments. Its design was a major departure from its predecessor, the Silver Cloud, as it was the first single bow Rolls-Royce. Aside from a more modern appearance, the Silver Shadow introduced many new features such as disc rather than drum brakes, monocoque construction, and independent rear suspension, which made it one of the most enjoyable rides of the 70s.

Chevrolet Impala 1959
Chevrolet's chief engineer in the late 1950s defined the Impala as a "prestige car within the reach of the average American citizen." This particular model became the best-selling automobile in the United States and held that position for the next decade. With its 'teardrop' taillight shape, which was unique to this year, the Impala won the hearts of many motor fans.

The exhibition artists include:
Abdul Qader Al Rais - United Arab Emirates
One of the Arabian Gulf's most respected artists, and the best known in his UAE homeland, Abdul Qader's paintings have been exhibited in 21 countries from America in the West to China in the East from the Czech Republic in the North to Australian in the South.

Simultaneously he paints in two very different styles. For his landscape and architectural scenes, his style is photorealistic with a delicate beige palette set off by flashes of blue. He also paints abstract works, often involving the Arabic letterform. Both styles are united by his signature use of small floating squares, which appear even in the most realistic of his paintings.

In his photorealist work, Abdul Qader captures the heritage of his homeland by chronicling old neighbourhoods, houses, and forts.
Fabien Verschaere - France

Fabien is an emerging contemporary French artist whose work conveys a deeply personal mythology by way of drawing and watercolour. His paper works and wall drawings depict urban life where human figures, animals, and objects blend together into an imaginary world.

His graffiti walls have been direct and radical with Fabien dubbing graffiti as the automatic writing of art available to anyone. "Its influence was social and not graphic, always in the spirit of the nomadic," said the 34-year-old Parisian. "The wall, for me, is not an obstacle, but an opening onto the world."
Faiza Mubarak - United Arab Emirates

Faiza pioneers new ideas in her work. A participant in many workshops and a special contemporary art project in Dijon, France, Faiza has also delivered workshops to university students in the UAE. A member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society and Architectural Heritage Revival Society, Faiza has also had exhibitions of her work in Australia.

Jalal Luqman - United Arab Emirates
One of the UAE's most provocative artists, Jalal is the first artist of his kind to combine metal with digital art. He uses digital paints from nine different computer programs, before embedding them in twisted industrial metal, that result in mind jolting three dimensional imagery.

For over 18 years Jalal has conducted many seminars and workshops in schools, colleges and universities in the UAE and has represented his country at international art events in New York, Tokyo, Egypt and the Czech Republic. Jalal is a co-founder of Abu Dhabi's Ghaf Art Gallery - a contemporary art gallery which helps promote upcoming artists. He also stages an annual 'art trip' in which sponsors 10-15 amateur artists, and develops them through workshops and an exhibition.

Li Jikai - China
One of the Peoples Republic's most exciting contemporary artists mostly engaged in easel work, Li is a masters graduate of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. Li currently teaches at the Hubei Institute of Fine Arts in the animation department. His dramatically-appealing work has been shown exhibitions throughout his native China, Europe, the USA and the Far East.

Maisoon Al Saleh - United Arab Emirates
A founder of punkarabia, Maisoon's controversial work has an unusual preoccupation with the human skeleton. A multi-talented artist Maisoon has worked as an interior design, in graphic design and as an art teacher and has even founded her own fashion brand.

Mohammed Al Mubarak - United Arab Emirates
Mohamed is a young Abu Dhabi artist who is known for his intense and diverse work. His work reflects his roots, his upbringing and his education. There is an ever-present influence of Japanese Manga art in Mohamed's productions and he is a noted cartoonist.

Noora Al Suwaidi - United Arab Emirates
A highly talented 21-year-old Emirati artist, Noora is a graduate from the UAE's Zayed University from where she gained a Bachelor of Art & Design degree, majoring in interior design. She has since participated in Sheikha Manal's young artist's award, and a number of Zayed University exhibitions.

Vincent Leow- Singapore
The Lion City's leading contemporary artist, Vincent is celebrated as an 'enfant terrible' of the city state's art community. Vincent is a pivotal figure in Singapore's alternative art scene. His practice parallels the development of Singapore's contemporary art and as a painter, he is regarded as a remarkable imagist who has dipped into an astonishing range of images from popular culture, literature, cinema, politics and the mass media.

Some of Vincent's works in the 1990s were marked by an 'urban street style,' others carry a pop-art sensibility, a taste for kitsch and always a highly individual visual vocabulary.

Wasel Safwan - United Arab Emirates

Wasel grew up in Al Ain - Abu Dhabi's 'Oasis City' - and graduated with a Bachelor in Architecture from Ajman University in Al Ain. His artwork is proof that the study of architecture influenced his emerging style making it clearer and sharper by introducing broken lines and geometries. He enjoy composing sharp contrasting volumes, shapes and colours on a large canvas & three dimensional objects.

Wasel has now participated in a number of solo and group exhibitions in the Czech Republic and the UAE. Wasel's UAEism style of non-figurative, abstract art evolved from the cultural influences of his upbringing, surroundings and architectural studies. Also consider reading: