UAE's inaugural 'Gulf Quinquennial' champions minimalism in collective exhibitions.
Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial at NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery
The "Between the Tides" exhibition, now on display at the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, offers a rich and layered narrative that delves into the cultural and social landscape of the United Arab Emirates and the Arabian Peninsula.
The title of the show, "Between the Tides", reflects the concern that without intervention, cultural histories are fated to be lost. This sentiment is echoed in the exhibition, which seeks to preserve and showcase the region's diverse narratives, particularly those shaped by migrant communities.
One of the installations, Sophia Al Maria's "Breakers", explores the UAE's maritime history. The piece consists of fiberglass and steel structures based on the form of a tetrapod, a concrete block placed in waters to break waves. This symbolic representation of the UAE's coastal defenses serves as a metaphor for the role migrants play in shaping the country's identity and cultural landscape.
Another notable piece is Vikram Divecha's El Dorado (2022), an exhibition that tells the story of a now-defunct movie theater in Abu Dhabi that screened South Asian films, using a found diary of the theater's projectionist. This work provides a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry woven by the migrant community in the UAE.
Christopher Joshua Benton's project, Chirag's Things, is a lucite box made to the dimensions of the UN's formula for overcrowding, filled with clothing, toiletries, medicine, bedding, dish soap, and cutlery. Benton's work is a commentary on the living conditions of the 30 million migrants, mainly from South Asian countries, who make up around 80 percent of the UAE's population.
The NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery's inaugural Gulf Quinquennial features approximately 30 artists, providing a five-year snapshot of artistic practices in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The quinquennial offers an overview of creative practices in the GCC, challenging simplistic or monolithic views of the region.
Noor Al-Fayez's project, Circle No.1: Seasons (2022), is a monumental version of a regional calendar used by fishermen, divers, and farmers in the Gulf. The calendar, painted by Al-Fayez, starts with the appearance of the star Suhail and divides the year into four unequal seasons, then splits it even further into 36 "micro-seasons." This calendar, resolutely divorced from Western means of timekeeping, like clocks and almanacs, serves as a reminder of the region's unique cultural heritage.
The show's graphic design is the work of Mohammad Sharaf, while Hazem Harb's work, Gauze (2023), is a paper-making technique sculpture that finds its etymology in Harb's Gaza and suggests time passing.
The exhibition, assembled by Maya Allison (executive director and chief curator) and Duygu Demir (an art historian who joined the institution in 2023), places a significant emphasis on creating publicly accessible, institutional-quality archives. This focus on "Past-making" is a major concern for the gallery, reflecting the exhibition's commitment to preserving and showcasing the region's cultural history.
By engaging diverse audiences, including youth, through educational initiatives such as youth guides, the show seeks to expand understanding of the Gulf beyond its modern skyline and popular narratives. In doing so, it situates the UAE and the broader Arabian Peninsula within broader global cultural flows and histories shaped by migration and labor.
In summary, "Between the Tides" offers a critical, layered narrative that foregrounds migrant agency and the fluidity of identity, language, and labor as key to the UAE's ongoing evolution. This approach enriches the understanding of the Emirates as a complex, interconnected, and culturally hybrid space.
- The curator Maya Allison, along with Duygu Demir, has assembled "Between the Tides," an exhibition at the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery that delves into the cultural and social landscape of the United Arab Emirates and the Arabian Peninsula.
- The exhibition's title, "Between the Tides," reflects a concern about the preservation of cultural histories and the role of migrant communities in shaping the region's narratives.
- Sophia Al Maria's installation, "Breakers," explores the UAE's maritime history, symbolizing the role of migrants in the country's identity and cultural landscape.
- Vikram Divecha's El Dorado (2022) provides a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry woven by the migrant community in the UAE, using a found diary of a theater's projectionist.
- Christopher Joshua Benton's Chirag's Things comments on the living conditions of migrants, using a lucite box filled with essential items to represent the UN's formula for overcrowding.
- The NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery's Gulf Quinquennial features approximately 30 artists, offering a snapshot of artistic practices in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
- Noor Al-Fayez's Circle No.1: Seasons (2022) is a monumental, regionally-used calendar painted by the artist, serving as a reminder of the Gulf's unique cultural heritage.
- Mohammad Sharaf is responsible for the show's graphic design, while Hazem Harb's Gauze (2023) is a paper-making technique sculpture that suggests time passing.
- The exhibition aims to engage diverse audiences, expand understanding of the Gulf beyond its modern skyline, and contextualize the UAE and the broader Arabian Peninsula within broader global cultural flows and histories shaped by migration and labor.
