Over 70 artists to participate in first Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial

Get ready, Abu Dhabi! The city is about to transform into a living, breathing art canvas this November. Over 70 talented artists from the UAE and around the world are gathering to unveil installations that will turn everyday public spaces into captivating works of art.

Kicking off on Nov. 15, the inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial is organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and features renowned artists including Allora & Calzadilla, Arquitectura Expandida, Christopher Joshua Benton, Farah Al Qasimi, guBuyoBand, Hashel Al Lamki, Kabir Mohanty, Khalil Rabah, Oscar Murillo, Radhika Khimji, Sammy Baloji, Tarik Kiswanson, Wael Al Awar, and Zeinab Alhashemi.

Abu Dhabi-based artist Christopher Joshua Benton, the artist who will transform the Carpet Souq into a communal space.Image courtesy of Christopher Joshua Benton via www.christopherbenton.com

Arquitectura Expandida’s “Urban Negotiation” will create new urban landscapes with self-built mobile furnishings, while Farah Al Qasimi’s auditory sculpture invites reflection on the ocean’s significance. Other works will engage with the region's historical, architectural, and social textures, including Oscar Murillo’s 80-meter canvas on the Corniche, Christopher Joshua Benton’s transformation of the Carpet Souq into a communal space, and Zeinab Alhashemi’s tribute to Abu Dhabi’s Central Bus Terminal, exploring urban development and nature’s resilience.

The site-specific installations and performances will engage with communities in downtown Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in response to the Biennial’s theme, ‘Public Matter.’

Emirati artist Zeinab Alhashemi’s art installation will pay tribute to Abu Dhabi’s Central Bus Terminal, exploring urban development and nature’s resilience.Image courtesy of Zeinab Alhashemi via zeinabalhashemi.com

The Biennial will explore the concept of "public" in Abu Dhabi, examining how factors such as environment, architecture, indigeneity, and urban planning shape public life. As the city has grown over the past five decades with a diverse population, values like hospitality and generosity have gained significance. The first Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial will delve into how transient communities experience and influence public space.

The Biennial is part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, launched by DCT Abu Dhabi in March 2023, which also includes annual commissions and the biannual Manar Abu Dhabi light art exhibition. The inaugural edition of Manar Abu Dhabi, held from Nov. 15, 2023 to Jan. 30, 2024, attracted over 650,000 visitors with 37 installations by 22 artists, half of whom were UAE-based.