Sultan Bin Tahnoun opens Saadiyat Art Cars Expo

Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and Tourism Development '&' Investment Company (TDIC), inaugurated yesterday the Art Cars exhibition held in the grounds of Manarat Al Saadiyat, the new 15,400 square metre dedicated artistic venue on Saadiyat Island - the cultural and tourism destination lying 500 metres offshore the UAE capital.

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 Tahnoun 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, Ford T 1920, Chevrolet Independence 1931, BMW Z8 2000 , Mercedes 250SL 1968, Ford F-Series 1950, Chevrolet Bel Air 1956, MINI Cooper 1996, Aston Martin DBS 2009, Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1976 and Chevrolet Impala 1959.

The exhibition artists include Abdul Qader Al Rais - UAE, Jalal Luqman - UAE, Li Jikai - China, Maisoon Al Saleh - UAE, Mohammed Al Mubarak - UAE, Noora Al Suwaidi - UAE, Vincent Leow- Singapore and Wasel Safwan - UAE.