The Unveiling of WAVE Media Art Installation

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the launch of Public Art Abu Dhabi, a wide-reaching initiative that will further the emirate’s long legacy of investing in culture and embedding it in the fabric of society.

The initiative has launched on 20 March with the unveiling of WAVE, a public digital media artwork by the artistic collective d’strict, in Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation. Using an anamorphic illusion technique, the 2D installation recreates perpetually surging three-dimensional waves and was first showcased at COEX K-Pop Square, Seoul, South Korea.

Public Art Abu Dhabi’s programmes will reflect the emirate’s intrinsic cultural identity, anchoring a sense of belonging and fostering creativity. Integral to this initiative is its community engagement efforts. Acting as a catalyst for creativity and artistic expression in the public domain, Public Art Abu Dhabi will offer opportunities for everyone to engage with new cultural programming.

An investment of over 35 million US dollars will be dedicated to the initiative annually, to support the emirate’s wider creative industries through public art.

Public Art Abu Dhabi will contribute toward the conservation of significant architectural and urban spaces, enhancing their historical, aesthetic, social, scientific, and technological value to the community. It will extend the ambitions of DCT Abu Dhabi’s Modern Heritage Conservation Initiative (MHCI), which identifies, safeguards, and maintains sites that narrate the country’s more recent past.

Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, opening in November 2024, will be led by Reem Fadda, Director of the Cultural Foundation and Abu Dhabi Cultural Programmes, and the independent curator Galit Eilat. The curators previously worked together between 2006 and 2009 co-curating the multifaceted and award- winning project ‘Liminal Spaces’ in Palestine, Israel and Germany. Fadda and Eilat will bring their experience of working on projects involving a deep engagement with communities and art in the public domain to the first Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial.

Reem Fadda, Director of Cultural Foundation and Abu Dhabi Cultural Programmes and Co-curator of Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, said: “Community is the cornerstone of Public Art Abu Dhabi. Through both the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial and Manar Abu Dhabi we will insist that works commissioned for these major programmes will transform places and resonate with the people in a meaningful way. These artistic projects will become the gateways for our creative community and a way for Abu Dhabi to project forward to the world.”

Galit Eilat, Co-curator of Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, said: “Having worked together with Reem in the past, I am excited and proud to embark on the new ambitious curatorial project together. The Biennial will commission and exhibit a vibrant, inclusive and varied selection of artists rooted in the UAE and the region, while also keeping with its mandate on including artists from all over the world.”

Other projects will include Manar Abu Dhabi, a public art platform which features light art sculptures and installations in the archipelagos and mangroves of Abu Dhabi. Viewers will embark on an immersive water journey and discover the artworks from a fresh perspective. The exhibition is set to connect the shores of different islands and celebrate Abu Dhabi’s natural beauty. The artworks will vary from light projections, sculptures and installations to performances, creating a surreal and magical outlook on the surrounding landscapes.

Public Art Abu Dhabi will further make its mark with a series of yearly direct commissions across the emirate’s landmarks, including tunnels, roundabouts, bridges, parks etc. Engaging artists to create significant permanent or temporary contributions, the commissions will draw inspiration from the UAE capital’s distinctive traits and highlight its modern heritage and natural landscapes. They will enhance the public’s everyday life and cement Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading cultural destination with a distinct identity.

Interview with Reem Fadda

We had the pleasure of speaking with Reem Fadda, co-curator of the upcoming Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. Fadda shed some light on the curatorial process, the role of the artists, and the future of the biennial.

In response to our first question, Fadda revealed that the project has been in the works for nearly a year, indicating that the team has been dedicated to carefully crafting each aspect of the event. When asked about the curatorial process, Fadda explained that the team will develop a broad concept before selecting artists and engaging in conversations based on research with a larger artistic team. They will also talk to stakeholders and community members, making the process an inclusive one.

Fadda emphasized the importance of location in the selection process, with artists being encouraged to explore the entire emirate and dream up ideas that make sense to them. The team will guide them, but ultimately, the artist will have the final say. Fadda added that the team has a wealth of historic and cultural sites at their disposal, which will be utilized to enhance the artworks and push them further.

On the subject of production location, Fadda mentioned that while the artworks don’t have to be produced in the UAE, the team hopes that the industry will find its place there. With several museums on the horizon, Fadda believes that the artistic and cultural landscape in Abu Dhabi will only continue to grow.

When asked about the possibility of involving local artists in the creation of desert installations, Fadda shared that she had spoken to some local artists who had already worked on land art in the desert. This indicates that the biennial isn’t only for international artists, but that there are aspirations for local artists to contribute as well.

Regarding the application process, Fadda explained that it would not involve an open call for artists. Instead, it will be a direct process involving conversations, meetings, explorations, and research. Fadda assured us that this won’t be a one-woman show, but rather a collaborative effort from a team of experts.

Finally, when asked about the future of the biennial, Fadda expressed her aspirations for the event to continue for at least 50 years, with 25 editions and countless installations and architectural feats to its name. Fadda’s vision of the biennial as a cultural and artistic Renaissance for the region is an exciting one, and we can’t wait to see how it unfolds.