How Abu Dhabi's old airport terminal became a destination for world-leading designers

Résumé détaillé

There are art fairs and design fairs, and then there is Nomad. Part exhibition, part cultural encounter and part architectural discovery, the travelling collectable design fair…

There are art fairs and design fairs, and then there is Nomad. Part exhibition, part cultural encounter and part architectural discovery, the travelling collectable design fair has made a virtue of defying simple categorisation.

Known for presenting exceptional objects in unexpected settings, Nomad returns to Abu Dhabi from November 18 to 22 for what promises to be its most ambitious edition yet, with international and regional exhibitors taking over the old Terminal 1 at Abu Dhabi’s former airport.

“I think it’s the most diverse, the richest edition we ever had,” says Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte, Nomad's founder and co-director. “We have over 50 exhibitors, which is a record because we’re a boutique format.”

The aim is to encourage dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design. In a playful nod to the venue and the fair’s itinerant identity, a Nomad passport office will invite visitors to collect a passport and have it stamped.

In the main terminal, established international galleries will appear alongside regional exhibitors, contemporary art and an expanded jewellery offering. The latter proved particularly popular last year, attracting growing interest from jewellers. Yet Bellavance-Lecompte is determined to preserve the fair’s eclectic character.

“It’s a sort of cabinet of curiosities that you browse around,” he says. “You can see jewellery, beautiful design, and art projects.”

Lebanese designer Nada Debs will present new works from her collaboration with Studio Lel, while a collector’s lounge and a pop-up by Michelin-starred Erth restaurant will broaden the experience. Exhibitors will come from across Europe, the US, Africa, India and Korea, reflecting Bellavance-Lecompte’s commitment to giving less-represented markets an international platform.

His relationship with the Middle East predates Nomad's arrival in Abu Dhabi. In 2011, he opened what he describes as Beirut’s first collectable design gallery, connecting international designers with…

“I'm…

Début de l'article, extrait de The National. Pour lire la suite, ouvrez l'article chez le média.