Abu Dhabi community arts hub Manarat Al Saadiyat, run by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi),will host the photography exhibition CONTACT HIGH: A Visual History of Hip-Hop from 15 December 2020 to 31 May 2021,in partnership with the region’s leading cultural and lifestyle platform, Sole.
Showing outside of the United States for the first time, CONTACT HIGH will take visitors through four decades of photographs, albums, magazine covers and memorabilia that document Hip-Hop culture. The exhibition will feature over 150 images by 60+ photographers including Janette Beckman, Barron Claiborne, Jorge Peniche, Joe Conzo, Martha Cooper, Jamel Shabazz, Danny Clinch, Brian “B+” Cross, Eric Coleman, Estevan Oriol, Jack McKain and Ravie B. Photographs will be displayed alongside the original contact sheets, providing an intimate look into the photographer’s journey during the shoot, as well as unrivalled insight into the personality of the subject in front of the camera, often capturing a nuanced or more humorous side of the Hip-Hop artist that is rarely seen by the public. The images portray some of Hip-Hop’s biggest names, such as Kanye West, Cardi B, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, MeganThee Stallion,MF Doom, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Aaliyah, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, and the legendary Notorious B.I.G.
The selection of Abu Dhabi as the exhibition’s first international stop reflects the importance of Hip-Hop culture to those living in the UAE and wider region, as well as the Arab world’s growing fan-base of the music and fashion associated with the movement.
CONTACT HIGH is curated by journalist Vikki Tobak, writer of the bestselling book of the same name. The exhibition’s Creative Director is Hip-Hop visual artist and filmmaker Fab 5 Freddy, and its Producer is Joseph Patel.
“Manarat Al Saadiyat’s mission as a cultural centre is to showcase a wide spectrum of creative expression, and in alignment with DCT Abu Dhabi’s wider cultural strategy for the emirate, we continually strive to offer unique artistic content to our audiences. This winter season we are incredibly excited to offer blockbuster exhibition CONTACT HIGH, showing outside of the US for the very first time, to the Abu Dhabi community,” said Fatima Yousef Al Yousef, Public Engagement & Programming Head at Manarat Al Saadiyat.“One of the most culturally significant musical movements, Hip-Hop pioneered not only a new sound but a unique visual identity that, for decades now, has influenced sonic experimentation and fashion around the world. The emirate is home to many fans of the genre and as such, we hope that in the photos and objects on display, visitors will find much that resonates and inspires.”
Vikki Tobak, Curator of CONTACT HIGH, commented,”Hip-Hop is a uniquely American cultural force that grew out of Black and Brown communities to have a long and lasting impact on people all over the world. This first opportunity to bring these photographs chronicling Hip-Hop history to the global stage is an important one. I am especially pleased to bring the exhibition to the United Arab Emirates, where the music and culture are thriving. Given Abu Dhabi’s generous support for the arts and our incredible experiences with the Sole team, we are thrilled to bring CONTACT HIGH to Manarat Al Saadiyat.”
“Having had a hand in Hip-Hop culture’s development from a local, New York City-wide craze, to a national movement, to a dominant global force has been astonishing to witness and partake in,” commented Fab 5 Freddy, Creative Director of the CONTACT HIGH exhibition. “TheCONTACT HIGH photo exhibit, the first of its kind coming to Abu Dhabi, is the latest and greatest chapter in this ongoing epic saga.”
Joshua Cox, Partner at Sole, commented,“For those of us who grew up with Hip-Hop, seeing a museum level retrospective come to life is a dream come true. The artists we listened to had a profound impact on our lives, and it’s through the foresight of our featured photographers that we get a view into that world. The images in this show not only invoke nostalgia, but also inspire optimism for the future of the genre. We are truly grateful to Vikki Tobak for trusting us to bring her vision to Abu Dhabi, and to the Manarat Al Saadiyat team for their collaboration, confidence, and continued support for the arts.”
CONTACT HIGH made its exhibition debut at Photoville New York by United Photo Industries (UPI) in 2018. In 2019 it was shown at the renowned Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles, where it holds the record for best-attended show in the history of the foundation. In January 2020 CONTACT HIGH was one of the inaugural exhibitions at the new International Center of Photography (ICP) integrated space in New York.
Tickets for CONTACT HIGH are priced at AED 30 and will be available through Virgin Megastore Ticketing.
Further programming announcements will be made soon. For further information about CONTACT HIGH, and for visitor information, please visit https://www.sole.digital/contacthighad.
