The best art on show in the UAE this weekend: Six things to see and do

Several noteworthy exhibitions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are concluding this month

Mona Ayyash's first solo exhibition, The Clock Doesn’t Care, is running at the 421 Arts Campus until August 25. Photo: Razmig Bedirian / The National

August marks the tail-end of an art season in the UAE.

As many exhibitions draw to a close, and art spaces prepare to host new events and initiatives, we highlight several key art shows that are concluding this month. We also take a look at some fun art-related things to do, including an immersive mobile game by Louvre Abu Dhabi and a discussion of dystopian literature at the Sharjah Art Foundation.

Here are six things to check out on the UAE's art scene this weekend.

Lens & Light: Moments in Focus at Ayyam Gallery

People praying next to the Great Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by French-Syrian journalist and photographer Ammar Abd Rabbo. Photo: Ayyam Gallery

The current group photography exhibition at Ayyam gallery in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, is a show of photographs by important regional artists.

From Syrian filmmaker Ammar al-Beik to Iraqi conceptual artist Sama Alshaibi and Syrian artist Tammam Azzam, Lens & Light: Moments in Focus is a diverse exhibition on photography’s role within the history of art and the nuances of the Middle Eastern experience.

Runs until August 31; www.ayyamgallery.com

Echoes of the Orient at Bassam Freiha Art Foundation

Women Resting on the Terrace (undated) by Fabio Fabbi. Photo: Bassam Freiha Collection

Echoes of the Orient, the inaugural exhibition at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation in Abu Dhabi, explores the fantastical constructs of orientalism as seen in 19th century European paintings.

The exhibition juxtaposes the paintings with photographs taken during the same time period, as well as artworks by modern Arab artists, including Abdul Qader Al Rais, Habib Srour and Cesar Gemayel. The show offers a multi-dimensional view of the relationship between orientalists and the Middle East, with gradients of fantasy contrasted with works grounded in realism.

Seen with contemporary eyes and in the context of an exhibition set in the Arab world, the orientalist paintings seem naive in their depictions. They don’t incite scorn as much as they instil amusement. It is fascinating to see which elements of our region captured the imaginations of European painters in the 19th century. And to give credit where it’s due, technical proficiencies are evident in many of the artworks.

Runs until September 1; www.bfaf.ae

The Clock Doesn’t Care at 421 Arts Campus

Mona Ayyash’s first solo exhibition, The Clock Doesn’t Care, presents six video artworks that were developed in collaboration with actors, dancers and performing artists.

The end result is a hypnotic series that invites viewers to consider the corporeal relationship with time, while challenging concepts of productivity and procrastination.

The works highlight some of the involuntary movements that take over the body when we feel we are wasting time. The torso sways side to side, legs swing with pendulous motion, feet shuffle and hands twirl.

The exhibition has also been developed with children in mind. Labels are pinned on the walls of the exhibition, inviting little ones to consider questions, such as: “As you walk around the space, think about the passing of time. Have you ever noticed how people intuitively move when they think they are doing nothing?”

Runs until August 25; www.421.online

Tasmeem poster exhibition at ICD Brookfield Place

Regional designers were tasked with creating posters under the theme of Memory Box. Photo: ICD Brookfield Place

In collaboration with The Third Line gallery, ICD Brookfield Place’s Tasmeem graphic poster exhibition is a showcase of design talent across the region.

Under the theme of Memory Box the poster competition and exhibition invited regional graphic designers to create a design that reflects and translates cultural memories into a visual language to evoke nostalgia and belonging.

Twelve posters by 13 regional designers were selected ranging in various visual languages, styles and aesthetic.

Runs until August 30; www.icdbrookfieldplace.com

The Secret of the Dome Stars at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Louvre Abu Dhabi's new app makes learning about art immersive and fun. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Louvre Abu Dhabi’s newly launched app is a must try for the whole family. The Secret of the Dome Stars is an immersive mobile game that encourages youngsters to develop critical observational skills while learning about art through storytelling, quizzes and puzzles.

Designed like an educational treasure hunt, users are tasked to uncover and collect 12 stars, each connected to one artwork hidden in one of the museum's 12 galleries.

The Secret of the Dome Stars is free to download at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and is suitable for visitors aged six to 12

Dystopian Literature Set in the Present at Sharjah Art Foundation

The Sharjah Art Foundation Book Club will be hosting a discussion about dystopian literature that is set in modern times. Participants will discuss books including Bothayna Al-Essa’s The Book Censor’s Library, The Immortal King Rao by Vauhini Vara, as well as George Orwell’s 1984.

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s Chain-Gang All-Stars and Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police have also been recommended in the club’s reading list.

However, that’s not to say you can’t bring your own suggestions to the conversation. The discussion is free to attend, but requires registration through the Saf website.

Saturday at 5pm; at The Flying Saucer, Sharjah; www.sharjahart.org