![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3GDQKC46R5ELZL66WUBPDROTTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f53b614fb31c8ac8adec82ee263421fe4354752083c2ca93e99bec9fa0e6dc1&width=400&height=225)
Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim: Between Sunrise and Sunset is now open to the public at the Venice Biennale and runs until November 27, 2022
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUUGG2F4LNFCXHGESFU5W7TZ3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=eacf83c9e745dcb39ec53807350ddb8c82a686a8e42d75c30f8717552e7b6bda&width=400&height=225)
Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim’s installation of 128 sculptures, Between Sunrise and Sunset, has opened at the Venice Biennale's National Pavilion UAE. All photos: Ismail Noor / National Pavilion UAE
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FNQO4QRB3RCA7LQUXG5VMNA47Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=1791e32bbd4cfe4d58b96cbf3dd5be54ed6317922239847944cf8a5ea1c3510b&width=400&height=225)
Arranged in a thick column in the cavernous Arsenale room, the tree-like sculptures are inspired by Ibrahim's hometown of Khorfakkan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIEAL6BYRZDTHNAP2D64ZPDSIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ccd6f05fb11abb1b8ad6b8196a7cd499747d4bf8443e12f72ee636ee94174a29&width=400&height=225)
The forms remain the same but the colours change as one walks towards the back of the room, with beiges and taupes taking the place of formerly lurid shades
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTHLY6IBGBDJDEQSOCZY52LWHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5eb0727c4bdfe332ed237006d63b9c82cfc58a7cc056cd4dc36564e1279b1d77&width=400&height=225)
Made of papier-mache, the objects seem painted but actually gain their colour from the paper used to create them
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AML3B2SONGMBMRU7KAUKWGONU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b6de3a2550aa899d114533fd4b6d9989e331e94ec184464f89bba0276a363829&width=400&height=225)
Ibrahim mixed coloured sheaves of paper as a painter mixes paint, and also incorporated everyday, organic material from around him — leaves from trees in his garden in Khorfakkan, tobacco, tea, coffee, and even the cardboard packaging from toys which his grandchildren would save for him
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CT7YN4ST4VCQBOQD3HVTD2B73U.jpg?smart=true&auth=c3a323bd70104bfb167e7d6fbea162ff0ba870215af60d42953cdcac7909e149&width=400&height=225)
Curated by Maya Allison, executive director of NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, the exhibition presents a major new work by an Emirati artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PDSCPUW7RJEJVHUKXWYT7JV3HY.jpg?smart=true&auth=207490b8931215748694156d72e1270cd7049dce5d9369d28254ebe9f255734f&width=400&height=225)
Bright colours change into a more desolate landscape of blacks and whites as you walk through the installation
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4BXYYQJKL5GMBLLM4BTMCU2TLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8dc199009788e0f7215bfba250155b46466686977e759a4710298c35956e9af0&width=400&height=225)
The work, and the performative walk around it, affect the transition from day to night, as seen by the eye
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IGMMDSO5YZERLC46PAIMHPW77Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=978f56d844088c075a3a0a6fd5ed043f1e4531c486c460d36dbf12dae0c3a383&width=400&height=225)
In some ways, the sculptures resemble trees and animals, but Ibrahim says they represent neither
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3GDQKC46R5ELZL66WUBPDROTTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f53b614fb31c8ac8adec82ee263421fe4354752083c2ca93e99bec9fa0e6dc1&width=400&height=225)
Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim: Between Sunrise and Sunset is now open to the public at the Venice Biennale and runs until November 27, 2022
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUUGG2F4LNFCXHGESFU5W7TZ3E.jpg?smart=true&auth=eacf83c9e745dcb39ec53807350ddb8c82a686a8e42d75c30f8717552e7b6bda&width=400&height=225)
Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim’s installation of 128 sculptures, Between Sunrise and Sunset, has opened at the Venice Biennale's National Pavilion UAE. All photos: Ismail Noor / National Pavilion UAE
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FNQO4QRB3RCA7LQUXG5VMNA47Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=1791e32bbd4cfe4d58b96cbf3dd5be54ed6317922239847944cf8a5ea1c3510b&width=400&height=225)
Arranged in a thick column in the cavernous Arsenale room, the tree-like sculptures are inspired by Ibrahim's hometown of Khorfakkan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MIEAL6BYRZDTHNAP2D64ZPDSIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ccd6f05fb11abb1b8ad6b8196a7cd499747d4bf8443e12f72ee636ee94174a29&width=400&height=225)
The forms remain the same but the colours change as one walks towards the back of the room, with beiges and taupes taking the place of formerly lurid shades
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PTHLY6IBGBDJDEQSOCZY52LWHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=5eb0727c4bdfe332ed237006d63b9c82cfc58a7cc056cd4dc36564e1279b1d77&width=400&height=225)
Made of papier-mache, the objects seem painted but actually gain their colour from the paper used to create them
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AML3B2SONGMBMRU7KAUKWGONU.jpg?smart=true&auth=b6de3a2550aa899d114533fd4b6d9989e331e94ec184464f89bba0276a363829&width=400&height=225)
Ibrahim mixed coloured sheaves of paper as a painter mixes paint, and also incorporated everyday, organic material from around him — leaves from trees in his garden in Khorfakkan, tobacco, tea, coffee, and even the cardboard packaging from toys which his grandchildren would save for him
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CT7YN4ST4VCQBOQD3HVTD2B73U.jpg?smart=true&auth=c3a323bd70104bfb167e7d6fbea162ff0ba870215af60d42953cdcac7909e149&width=400&height=225)
Curated by Maya Allison, executive director of NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, the exhibition presents a major new work by an Emirati artist
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PDSCPUW7RJEJVHUKXWYT7JV3HY.jpg?smart=true&auth=207490b8931215748694156d72e1270cd7049dce5d9369d28254ebe9f255734f&width=400&height=225)
Bright colours change into a more desolate landscape of blacks and whites as you walk through the installation
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4BXYYQJKL5GMBLLM4BTMCU2TLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8dc199009788e0f7215bfba250155b46466686977e759a4710298c35956e9af0&width=400&height=225)
The work, and the performative walk around it, affect the transition from day to night, as seen by the eye
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IGMMDSO5YZERLC46PAIMHPW77Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=978f56d844088c075a3a0a6fd5ed043f1e4531c486c460d36dbf12dae0c3a383&width=400&height=225)
In some ways, the sculptures resemble trees and animals, but Ibrahim says they represent neither
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3GDQKC46R5ELZL66WUBPDROTTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f53b614fb31c8ac8adec82ee263421fe4354752083c2ca93e99bec9fa0e6dc1&width=400&height=225)
Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim: Between Sunrise and Sunset is now open to the public at the Venice Biennale and runs until November 27, 2022
Inside Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim's exhibition at Venice Biennale's UAE National Pavilion
'Between Sunrise and Sunset' is an homage to the renowned Emirati artist's hometown of Khor Fakkan
![Melissa Gronlund](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fc451ae4e-15a2-4553-acaf-7a29665268c0.png?smart=true&auth=7b94f464cacaa1ea45c4eece566b2d02e0a33157f7ea4d7427295d4b2c7fed54&width=70&height=70)
Melissa Gronlund
21 April, 2022
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