The inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial launched this weekend. Visitors from diverse backgrounds explored downtown Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, experiencing the first Biennial under the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) Public Art initiative. Running until 30 April 2025, the exhibition reflects on the concept of ‘public’ within Abu Dhabi’s unique environment. Featuring over 70 artists from the UAE and beyond, the Biennial explores themes shaped by environmental conditions, architecture, and community living. Eight curated routes invite exploration on foot or by car, unveiling fresh perspectives on iconic locations.
Abu Dhabi Corniche Route: A one-hour walking trail featuring artworks by Wael Al Awar, Oscar Murillo, Farah Al Qasimi, Bik Van der Pol, and others. Visitors encounter diverse artistic expressions against the backdrop of the Corniche.
Abu Dhabi Public Parks Route: This route spans Urban Park, Formal Park, Lake Park, and Recreation Park, showcasing works by Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Abdullah Al Saadi, Kader Attia, Khalil Rabah, Seema Nusrat, and more.
Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal Route: A compact 30-minute walking experience featuring installations by Hussein Sharif, Zeinab Alhashemi, Henrique Oliveira, and Eko Nugroho, both inside and around the terminal.
Downtown Abu Dhabi Route: This one-hour route highlights works by Azza Al Qubaisi, SUPERFLEX, Nathan Coley, and others, offering artistic insights into the city’s vibrant downtown.
Carpet Souq Route: A 40-minute driving journey featuring innovative works by Christopher Joshua Benton, Eddie Clemens, Yeesookyung, and others, reimagining the cultural essence of this historic souq.
National Theatre Route: A 30-minute drive linking Umm Al Emarat Park and the National Theatre, showcasing pieces by Afra Al Dhaheri and Kabir Mohanty.
Cultural Foundation Route: A 30-minute walk through artistic installations by Mohamed Al Astad, Wael Shawky, Nnenna Okore, and others, located in this cultural landmark.
Al Ain Oasis Route: A 45-minute drive encompassing Hili Archaeological Park and Al Jahili Fort, with works by Rawdha Al Ketbi, Alex Ayed, and Nathan Coley that merge history with contemporary art.
Community Hubs scattered across routes add festive elements, featuring performances, pop-up dining, and workshops. Locations like the Carpet Souq and Lake Park become vibrant spaces for engagement and celebration.
Complementing the Biennial, a public program of talks, workshops, and performances invites interaction. Highlights include Emirati artist Afra Al Dhaheri’s performance at the National Theatre and Safeya Alblooshi’s sound experiments at Abu Dhabi Corniche. Looking ahead, visitors can anticipate new installations in January 2025, featuring artists like Alia Farid and Daniel Buren, marking the next phase of this pioneering cultural event.
Highlights from the Biennale
Afra Al Dhaheri, D-constructing Collective Exhaustion
Afra Al Dhaheri is an artist whose multidisciplinary work reflects themes of adaptation, time, and fragility, influenced by her upbringing in Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s rapid transformation. D-constructing Collective Exhaustion (2024) is an immersive installation combining wooden structures, tangled ropes, light, and sound to create a sensory refuge from everyday overstimulation. The work invites viewers to slow down, reconnect with their senses, and find the balance between mind and body. Through its evocative soundscape and lighting, the installation fosters deep resonance, encouraging the body to feel, process, and remember, offering a moment of presence and introspection amidst chaos.
Christopher Joshua Benton, Where Lies My Carpet Is Thy Home
Christopher Joshua Benton is a socially engaged artist whose installations, sculptures, and films explore power, labor, and diaspora, often through collaboration. Where Lies My Carpet Is Thy Home(2024) is a project created with merchants from Abu Dhabi’s Carpet Souq, a gift from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The work weaves stories from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, with each cascading carpet valley reflecting memories—like Wali’s dreams of his Afghan apple orchard or Abdul’s shepherding in northern Pakistan. Inspired by Afghan war carpets and an 8-bit aesthetic, the piece bridges the UAE’s migrant experience with its evolving cultural identity.
Farah Al Qasimi, Homesickness
Farah Al Qasimi works across photography, video, performance, and installation. Homesickness(2024) is a sculptural and auditory homage to the pearl diving heritage that shaped the UAE’s cultural and economic landscape. Positioned on the Abu Dhabi Corniche, the work features five large oysters concealing speakers that emit a synthetic chorus composed by Al Qasimi, inspired by the pearl divers’ wives’ chant Tob, Tob Ya Bahar. The installation’s iridescent paint and color-changing LED lights merge traditional themes with contemporary technology, reflecting the ocean’s historic significance. The piece carries cultural and personal resonance, engaging the community with its immersive presence.
Henrique Oliveira, Fitzcarraldo’s Dream
Henrique Oliveira transforms weathered wood, often sourced from urban construction fences (tapumes in Portuguese), into site-specific installations blending painting, architecture, and sculpture. Desnatureza 7 (2024), originally Fitzcarraldo’s Dream for Le Voyage à Nantes, repurposes discarded tapumes to create a form evoking a living organism. Inspired by Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo (1982), it explores the clash between human ambition and disrupted natural landscapes. Installed at the Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal, its twisting, organic forms weave an invasive yet harmonious presence. Commuters are invited to reflect on the delicate balance between urban development and nature, as the work reclaims its space with poetic resonance.
Location: Abu Dhabi
Dates: 18 November 2024 -30 April 2025