Henri-Edmond Cross, The Evening Air displayed in the Post Impressionism: Beyond Appearances exhibition at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Henri-Edmond Cross, The Evening Air displayed in the Post Impressionism: Beyond Appearances exhibition at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Henri-Edmond Cross, The Evening Air displayed in the Post Impressionism: Beyond Appearances exhibition at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Henri-Edmond Cross, The Evening Air displayed in the Post Impressionism: Beyond Appearances exhibition at the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Weekly UAE museum and gallery guide, from Post-Impressionist masters to a retelling of a classic Egyptian play


Razmig Bedirian
  • English
  • Arabic

As we enter a new year, galleries across the UAE are preparing a new season of exhibitions and events. As such, many important shows will soon be ending.

From the masterpieces of the Post-Impressionists to a retelling of Ali Salem’s renowned play Madrasat Al-Moshaghbeen (The School of Mischief) here are exhibitions and events to catch this weekend before it is too late.

All Their Singularities at 1x1 Art Gallery

All Their Singularities applies cartographic means to conjure narratives of memory, identity and movement. Photo: 1X1 Art Gallery
All Their Singularities applies cartographic means to conjure narratives of memory, identity and movement. Photo: 1X1 Art Gallery

The group show takes cues from Gilles Deleuze’s analysis of how children map out their environments. The French philosopher defied traditional psychoanalytical tropes to instead insist that children were much more dynamic in how they navigate and reflect upon their everyday experiences, transposing these in artworks of trajectories, lines and loops.

All Their Singularities examines these modes of mapping and tracing. The exhibiting artists apply these cartographic reflections to conjure narratives of memory, identity and movement. “Each piece in the show becomes a node in a larger, evolving map, revealing connections and disjunctions, pathways and detours, and ultimately, singular journeys that defy simple categorisation,” 1x1 Art Gallery says of the exhibition.

Monday to Saturday, 10am-7pm; until January 9; 1x1 Art Gallery, Dubai

A Writer on Honeymoon at Sharjah Art Foundation

Ali Salem’s renowned play Madrasat Al-Moshaghbeen is reimagined by Egyptian theatre director Ahmed El Attar in A Writer on Honeymoon and stars Sayed Ragab. It is the concluding show of Perform Sharjah.

It tells the story of a star writer who, while on a honeymoon with his wife, descends into paranoia, fearing that he is being surveilled by an intelligence agency. This weekend is the only chance to catch the show.

Saturday and Sunday, 8.30pm-9.15pm; Africa Hall, Al Manakh, Sharjah

Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances at Louvre Abu Dhabi

Post-Impressionism: Beyond Appearances is now in its final month. The exhibition, which includes 99 pieces, brings together a collection of masterpieces that offers an insight into one of history's most affecting artistic eras. The pieces include three paintings by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh, as well as works by Paul Gaugin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Cezanne.

The exhibition at Louvre Abu Dhabi also aims to show how the legacy of the Post-Impressionists extended to the Middle East. It includes two works by the French-Egyptian artist Georges Hanna Sabbagh, who studied figures from the post-Impressionist group Les Nabis, including Paul Serusier and Felix Vallotton.

Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-6.30pm; until February 9; Louvre Abu Dhabi

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.

A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.

Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.

A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.

On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.

The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.

Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.

The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later. 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Favourite things

Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery

Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount

University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China

Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai

Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China

Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs

In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
Profile

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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
  • Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
  • Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Bayern Munich 1
Kimmich (27')

Real Madrid 2
Marcelo (43'), Asensio (56')

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

The Bio

Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959

Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.

He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses

Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas

His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s

Buxani grew the UAE business over several sectors from retail to financial services but is attached to the original textile business

He talks in detail about natural fibres, the texture of cloth, mirrorwork and embroidery 

Buxani lives by a simple philosophy – do good to all

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Updated: January 03, 2025, 2:58 AM