By Guendalina Dainelli
VENICE (Italy), 19th May 2023 (WAM) — Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Youth, inaugurated today the UAE’s 12th exhibition titled ‘Aridly Abundant’ at the UAE Pavilion in the La Biennale Di Venezia International Art and Architecture Exhibitions in Venice.
The exhibition is now open to the public at the UAE’s permanent space at La Biennale di Venezia’s Arsenale – Sale d’Armi. A virtual tour is also available on the National Pavilion UAE website.
UAE’s rich artistic heritage
"Our participation in this prestigious global platform is a reflection of our country's cultural and social status and its rich artistic heritage,” Al Qassimi told the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
“The works of UAE’s homegrown talent exhibited at the National Pavilion have contributed to the growth of the National Pavilion in the biennales over the past 12 years. The UAE’s talent has been adding much value to the Pavilion in recent years,” the minister stressed.
He added, “It gives us pride that the National Pavilion of the United Arab Emirates has evolved to be regarded as a significant creative platform, which has gained global recognition. We are delighted by the achievements of the National Pavilion, which reflect the creative scene in our country and demonstrate how art from the UAE is being noticed and appreciated by artists and culture bearers from around the world, acting as a bridge from the UAE to other cultures worldwide."
Arid landscape redefined
Along with minister Al Qassimi, the inauguration was attended by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, President of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities; Sheikha Bibi AlSabah, Chairperson of Kuwait Sadu Society; Shatha Al Mulla, Assistant Undersecretary for the Arts and Heritage Sector, Ministry of Culture and Youth; Saeed Kharbash, Chief Executive Officer of Arts & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture Authority; Dr. Mohammad Aljassar, Acting Secretary-General of Kuwait National Council for Culture, Arts, & Literature (NCCAL); Nasser Al Khaja, Head of Media and Public Diplomacy Section, at the UAE Embassy in Italy; and Dr. Varrki Pallathucheril, Dean, College of Architecture, Art and Design, American University of Sharjah.
Curated by Faysal Tabbarah, supported by a curatorial research team comprised of American University of Sharjah alumni, and photography by Reem Falaknaz, Aridly Abundant investigates about architectural possibilities when we reimagine arid landscapes as spaces of abundance. The curator’s team also includes three interns from National Pavilion UAE’s Venice Internship Programme.
Addressing misconception of arid spaces
For the 2023 exhibition, the National Pavilion UAE addresses the misconception that arid spaces are spaces of scarcity to highlight the thriving ecosystems that have always been present in the UAE and its surrounding areas, supported by land-based practices developed by inhabitants who understood and cherished the particularities of the land.
The exhibition aims to be a backdrop for architectural provocations in response to climate change, displaying spatial, material, and tactical qualities of aridly abundant environments harnessed from integrating land-based architectural practices in the UAE with contemporary technology. This is explored through the integration of land-based knowledge and contemporary technology within the arid landscapes of the UAE, with a specific focus on the desert plateau, wadis (valleys), and coastal plains in and around Al Hajar Mountains.
Aridly Abundant transforms the pavilion into an environment that exhibits the ongoing spatial, material, and tactile qualities of aridly abundant landscapes. A series of stone assemblies are inserted into the space, acting as devices that exhibit the multitude of tactics of assembly that have been identified in Al Hajar such as dry-stacking, tethering, and blurring. Audio/visual vignettes by commissioned artist Reem Falaknaz allow one to experience the environment of Al Hajar.
Changing perspective
Faysal Tabbarah, curator of the National Pavilion UAE’s 2023 exhibition, commented, “Through Aridly Abundant, our aim is to change perspectives of arid landscapes as devoid of value, and reimagine them as an abundant source of knowledge and resources, by investigating an alternative and contemporary building system rooted in the UAE’s cultural and material environment.
“Our research integrates land-based practices with contemporary technology such as 3D scanning and 3D printing to present the potential of stone construction as an adaptable and sustainable form of architecture for countries affected by climate change to explore and adapt to their own environments.”
Angela Migally, Executive Director, Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, said, “We are pleased to see the National Pavilion UAE sharing local knowledge and research to collectively co-create sustainable solutions for the future. The National Pavilion UAE has been a longstanding platform for the UAE to effectively showcase our knowledge and creativity to the world for the past 12 years, allowing us to impactfully participate in ongoing global discourse.”
Cultural evolution
Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavilion UAE, said, “This year marks our twelfth exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia as we continue to explore and highlight the cultural evolution of the UAE. Adapting to climate change has been a growing source of concern around the world and Faysal’s research not only allows us to provide a locally informed perspective but also possible solutions or provocations or a call to action to this problem as aridity becomes a new reality for many.”
For more information on the participation of the UAE at La Biennale di Venezia, visit nationalpavilionuae.org or follow the National Pavilion UAE on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.