ARTIST COMMISSIONS IN CULTURAL SITES

Artists & Locations:
Nujoom Alghanem in Al Jahili Fort

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim in Al Ain Oasis

Launched in 2017. Each year, Abu Dhabi Art invites established and well-known artists to create site-specific works in cultural sites in Al Ain and the wider Abu Dhabi emirate, to activate these sites and draw new audiences to them. The works created by the commissioned artists are revealed during Abu Dhabi Art Fair and remain on show to the public for several months afterwards.

 

 

Nujoom Alghanem

 

Nujoom Alghanem presented "Artifacts of the Current Moments," an immersive, multi-layered art installation, commissioned by Abu Dhabi Art for the Cultural Sites Programme 2023. The installation occupied seven rooms of Al Jahili Fort, showcasing works in various media, with ceramic as a central material, to reflect the installation's theme, the "current moment."

The installation highlighted Alghanem’s multidisciplinary practice, encompassing poetry, painting, sound, film, and sculpture. Known for her storytelling approach, Alghanem created a subliminal narrative for the fort's visitors. This narrative drew upon the diverse materials and tools she employed, paralleling the subjects she had explored over the preceding six months, notably during her numerous visits to Al Ain Oasis. Her goal was to provide the audience with a profound experience at the fort, inviting them to engage in open dialogue with the thoughts presented in each section of the installation. This approach mirrored her personal journey, delving into the essential meanings of the known and unknown, the recognized and the concealed, and the prevailing psyche of existing elements versus those resonating from ancient history.

She intentionally crafted items resembling those unearthed in archaeological sites, aiming to situate them within a new historical context specific to the region and the present moment. However, she introduced a contemporary touch, employing aesthetic choices such as interweaving ceramic pieces with industrial wires and utilizing diverse clay types, glazes, oxides, and waxes to reflect the present time. While the theme's inception dated back several years, Alghanem intensified her efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, viewing the lockdown as a pivotal historical moment. For her, it represented an opportunity for humanity to reconnect with nature and the inner psyche.

Alghanem argued that artists could construct alternative realities, making the world more bearable. She stated, "There were hundreds of hours that passed throughout our lives either in waiting for things to happen or in waiting for the right time to start something more profound. In 2021, I started creating ceramic art pieces to address those moments spent in waiting, forming the foundation of this installation."

Alghanem also produced a seven-minute art film with a detached soundtrack, which played in a separate room to allow the audience to engage with each form independently.

The installation received support from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Additionally, Dubai Culture provided her with space and facilities at Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children in Dubai, enabling her to create her artworks.

Nujoom Alghanem, represented by Aisha Alabbar Gallery, was a commissioned artist for Artist Commissions in Cultural Sites, Abu Dhabi Art 2023

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim's installation, "Al Ain Oasis," commissioned by Abu Dhabi Art for the Cultural Sites of Al Ain, featured dynamic, colorful tree-like sculptures made of natural and found materials that celebrate the vibrant greenery of Al Ain’s oasis terrains. The artist, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, combined his signature medium of paper-mâché, recycled cardboard, and found objects to create a unique landscape of organic forms.

 

Ibrahim's practice is deeply rooted in a process-based approach, which he views as both experiential and meditative. Through this site-specific installation, he created a profound sense of presence, inviting viewers to experience an encounter with his artistic expression and the UNESCO heritage site of Al Ain oasis. In a departure from his previous works, Ibrahim introduced new elements, adding his symbolic motifs directly onto his biomorphic sculptures, a harmonious integration between his two-dimensional paintings and his three-dimensional sculptures.  

 

The commissioned installation reflected his deep connection to the local environment, and, consistent with his practice, addressed concerns regarding urbanization's impact on nature. Conceptualized as a gift to Al Ain, the installation is reminiscent of Ibrahim’s distinct land art works, which are inspired by a lifelong relationship with the region's nature. As visitors engaged with the installation, they were encouraged to contemplate local developments in sustainable art, their own connection to their natural surroundings, and ways they could contribute to its preservation.  

 

Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, represented by Lawrie Shabibi, was a commissioned artist for "Artist Commissions in Cultural Sites" at Abu Dhabi Art 2023.