Abu Dhabi, February 5, 2020:   Marking their first-ever collaboration with The NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Art Gallery, U.A.E. Unlimited will open Intimaa: Belonging to the public on Saturday, February 15, with a welcome reception at 5pm at the Gallery’s auxiliary venue, the Project Space.  

 

This exhibition will feature a series of works and four new commissions by UAE-based emerging artists who question their place in an era of globalization and how, through the rise of technological advancements, society has formed a unified existence that can be referred to as a ‘universal identity’. 

 

Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and curated by Emirati arts researcher Nasser Abdullah, this exhibition will run until March 28, presenting photography and sculpture by a number of UAE-based emerging artists. These include Emirati artist Saeed AlMadani, Emirati multimedia artist Sarah AlMehairi, Algerian cultural cartographer Sofiane Si Merabet, and Syrian multimedia artist Majd Alloush. As with past editions, this year will feature the established artist-mentor, Saudi-Palestinian guest artist Dana Awartani. These artists have also received mentorship from Dubai-based Iranian artists Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh, and Hesam Rahmanian throughout the process.

 

In a new, unique development, Intimaa: Belonging will also introduce commissioned poems by rising Emirati poets Ahmed Al Mannai, Ali Al Mazmy, Hassan Al Najjar, and Shamma Al Bastaki, all of whom have been supported and guided by the award-winning poet, writer, and presenter Khalid Albudoor.

 

In conjunction with this exhibition, the artists have taken part in the inaugural launch of U.A.E. Unlimited’s Stellar Programme, an innovative and thorough curriculum, giving artists access to thought-provoking conversations, mentorship sessions, and workshops. It acts as a portal of creative and professional development, as each of the artists receives real art-world experiences with exceptional guidance. 

 

Some of the program’s workshops have included Professional Photography, led by Ayaad Damouni, owner of the famed Capital D Studio in Al Quoz, Dubai, and The Business of Art, facilitated by Meagan Kelly Horsman, business development director at Meem Gallery in Dubai, among others.

 

The Project Space is operated by the staff of The NYUAD Art Gallery and housed within the campus’ Arts Center. It is the Art Gallery’s auxiliary venue dedicated to NYUAD’s community projects such as the annual Capstone Festival, semester-end exhibitions of student works, and faculty-curated exhibitions, providing a platform for experimentation and exploration. 

U.A.E. Unlimited, a satellite platform supported by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, supports emerging Emirati and UAE-based artists by producing and promoting their work through strategic collaborations with art and culture organizations across the country. The initiative thrives on creating opportunities for young and emerging UAE-based talent, thereby contributing to the overall cultural production in the UAE.