The UAE art scene presents diverse and innovative exhibitions this week, showcasing regional and international talent. Here are four shows to explore, each offering a unique perspective on nature, identity, and culture through various mediums and themes.
I Wish to Be Happy, I Want to Be Yellow
Gallery Isabelle | September 10 – October 26, 2024
Curated by Jad Karam, this group exhibition brings together eight artists—Mohammad Alfaraj, Aminah Al huqail, Dalia Baassiri, Richi Bhatia, Jumairy, Tamara Kalo, Adrian Pepe, and Alia Zaal—who explore our connection with nature through ephemeral materials and organic forms. The show emphasises nature’s fluidity, using materials like food, twigs, flowers, leaves, and candle wax across diverse art forms such as installations, photography, sculpture, and painting.
Highlights include Tamara Kalo’s abstract silk tapestry “Current Sea“ and Adrian Pepe’s “Nervous Bodies,” a tulle scroll showcasing the intricacies of human and animal anatomy. Jumairy’s “Uncertain Past, Uncertain Future” captures the fragility of memory with dead ants symbolising the passage of time. The show is a reflection on life’s cyclical and transient nature, underlined by personal and collective transformations.
(AP/FA 001). Courtesy the artist, Nika Project Space and Gallery Isabelle, Dubai. Photo credit: Cedric Ribeiro
Ka Awatea, A New Dawn
Sharjah Art Foundation | September 7 – December 1, 2024
Māori artist Emily Karaka makes her Middle Eastern debut with “Ka Awatea, A New Dawn“ at the Sharjah Art Foundation, an exhibition curated by Hoor Al Qasimi and Megan Tamati-Quennell. Karaka’s politically charged abstract expressionist works address issues of colonisation, environmental justice, and Māori sovereignty, with a deep connection to her iwi (tribal) heritage.
Her large-scale paintings are “political landscapes” reflecting ongoing struggles for Māori rights, combining vibrant colour with bold brushstrokes to communicate personal and collective histories. The exhibition marks the first major retrospective of Karaka’s five-decade career, offering an intense and immersive experience that connects global audiences with Māori culture and politics.
Photo: Sam Hartnett.
Hanging Gardens
Tabari Artspace | 12 September – 1 November, 2024
Syrian artist Randa Maddah presents her solo exhibition “Hanging Gardens,” a poignant exploration of resilience, renewal, and rebirth. Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of the Golan Heights, Maddah’s oil paintings depict circular cycles of life and death, where nature becomes a metaphor for transcendence.
Her dreamlike works blend trees, flowers, and hybrid creatures to evoke complex emotions of ecstasy and liberation, while also reflecting on the absurdity and pain of life in conflict zones. Smaller hand-printed works and accordion-style art books accompany the paintings, offering a personal glimpse into her artistic process and the powerful symbols of renewal that shape her practice.
Homepage
Tashkeel | September 10 – October 15, 2024
Emirati multimedia artist Mouza Al Hamrani debuts her first solo exhibition “Homepage“ at Tashkeel, following her year-long participation in their Critical Practice Programme. Known for her innovative blending of traditional illustration with cutting-edge digital artistry, Al Hamrani’s work examines the duality of the digital age and its impact on culture and identity.
In this exhibition, Mouza reflects on the internet’s transformative effects, from her formative years to the present day, capturing both the excitement and the challenges of living in a hyper-connected world. Through her unique visual dialogue, she invites viewers to reflect on their relationship with the digital landscape, exploring themes of cultural preservation, nostalgia, and the exhaustion of online existence.
