RCA Secret Dubai closes spectacular inaugural edition

For the first time outside of London, the Royal College of Art’s renowned anonymous postcard exhibition debuted at Art Dubai March 18-21. The event was introduced by Paul Smith and coincided with the 22nd edition of its London counterpart.

Over 1000 of the postcard sized artworks – some created by some of the world’s leading artists and designers along with rising RCA students and alumni – went on sale for 500 AED each on a first come first served basis at noon on March 21. Excitement was running high and a queue began to form at 6am on the sale day as the public looked to discover new artists and works to love, while trying to ferret out the big-ticket names participating in the initiative. The identity of the artists was only revealed to lucky buyers once the purchase had been made.

Joining the stellar roster of past contributors to the RCA Secret in London, which includes David Hockney, Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Giorgio Armani, Stella McCartney and Yoko Ono, were highly acclaimed regional artists including Zaha Hadid, Hajra Waheed, Adel Abidin, Najat Makki and El Seed. RCA Secret Dubai also received contributions from further afield from international artists and fashion designers including David Bailey, Chris Bailey, Richard Long, Sir James Dyson, Sir Paul Smith, John Baldessari, Christo and Susan Hefuna.

Having contributed pocket-sized pieces to the London exhibition for several years, designer Paul Smith was delighted to support the project traveling to Dubai: “The RCA Secret project has been in existence in Lodnon for several years and has grown massively in popularity because there’s a real sense of mystery and excitement. You never know whether you are going to get a postcard by an unknown artist – but one that you love 0 or one that you love by a famous artist. I am delighted to have been involved in the mystery travelling to Dubai for the first time,” the renowned fashion designer explains.

650 unique postcard-sized artworks were sold at the public sale with proceeds from the sale going to support talented students at the RCA at formative stages in their careers as well as supporting the RCA in running courses in Dubai, which will in turn nurture emerging local art and design talent.

RCA Secret Dubai played an important role in enabling Art Dubai to reach out to the wider community and introduce arts enthusiasts to the collecting process. All of the work from the exhibition along with the correspononding artists’ names can now be viewed online at dubai.secret.rca.ac.uk/2015

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