![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBMA4GQZDJH5HNMZSLQ6TKRFOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e279ed87b25dd91fed36803eb3283986e40609311639bc6693aa5d896cfc3611&width=400&height=225)
When the Ground Was is on show at Carbon 12 in Alserkal Avenue until November 1
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OWRDRHR5AVDWVN357C3JYPJBFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2ea41ec085fdc81b5c30da3bf04afedd18ae175f093a669f0c738efbbbd1615&width=400&height=225)
When the Ground Was is a tangible diary of all the inconsistencies that Sarah Al Mehairi takes note of during her walks and the patterns that she draws from them. All Photos: Carbon 12
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TCEKJDGJBBOPG26AYTRD645SY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c92a1d2e82abc45e157a5a79a1eeb3f8f73c7fdfd4b29235f728dd3c2efbea3&width=400&height=225)
Al Mehairi’s aesthetic unearths the narrative of a city by bringing its overlooked characteristics to the foreground. Playing with geometry, lines and grids, she invites the viewer to take a non-linear walk in the spaces she has visited.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RR6VKP7LLBAWZLHT44N6GSEBVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2bc9391d916aee82706f56a79d230847dca6e1dffa5eb16ae5a18a852201d860&width=400&height=225)
Al Mehairi, 24, is one of the youngest Emirati artists to be represented by a gallery in Dubai.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CQQ2F3DUY5EHFGJEOFTH2ZZINI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c429b967495e42301e549187ff2c2b9ebeff1ae1d66ebe4e826af4cc249307ae&width=400&height=225)
'Shapes Are Like Thoughts' starts with a some post-walk reflections, which develop into a series of shapes embossed on paper.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6RYQ63LM3BAPHEBXGOH5FAUNLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d29444d87d1f99de2664fc21e0fc834a5aebcf169526a916ac74c8958ca16f94&width=400&height=225)
'Adjustments of the Daily' includes collages, acrylic gouache and embossing of lines and shapes — all a constant reminder of strolling through urban areas.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J4NO74WLTFCKZEFBD7SMKPXHL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=81dbced5e6e9b68fb4a950b914664efd19f20f8496af612f63ca44e7b3189e73&width=400&height=225)
'Momentary Palettes', the final series of works on paper in the exhibition, documents the colours found in everything from flowers to discarded items and the emotions they evoke.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BO6S2KBJSNF33AM7MSGQOQPDRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2fb6c3d0375d28b76ab907caaa62514fb45da91962fad680659c7191760a7b78&width=400&height=225)
Al Mehairi says: 'I invite people to be "unlearners" because I want them to challenge common knowledge, like what time it is or what an object is.'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RUIC5WELLZDTRN3BPBSUOL4NYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=61ed01c1e1613b6cbb64b3ac2cd5c4ce8456055da29fa86b24ab2aeb087e7eb5&width=400&height=225)
'It was just the idea of wanting to go for walks, and they generated all these ideas. After a while, this became my practice and now I say that walking is my practice. I can’t have a practice without walking,' says Al Mehairi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBMA4GQZDJH5HNMZSLQ6TKRFOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e279ed87b25dd91fed36803eb3283986e40609311639bc6693aa5d896cfc3611&width=400&height=225)
When the Ground Was is on show at Carbon 12 in Alserkal Avenue until November 1
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OWRDRHR5AVDWVN357C3JYPJBFM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b2ea41ec085fdc81b5c30da3bf04afedd18ae175f093a669f0c738efbbbd1615&width=400&height=225)
When the Ground Was is a tangible diary of all the inconsistencies that Sarah Al Mehairi takes note of during her walks and the patterns that she draws from them. All Photos: Carbon 12
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7TCEKJDGJBBOPG26AYTRD645SY.jpg?smart=true&auth=2c92a1d2e82abc45e157a5a79a1eeb3f8f73c7fdfd4b29235f728dd3c2efbea3&width=400&height=225)
Al Mehairi’s aesthetic unearths the narrative of a city by bringing its overlooked characteristics to the foreground. Playing with geometry, lines and grids, she invites the viewer to take a non-linear walk in the spaces she has visited.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RR6VKP7LLBAWZLHT44N6GSEBVA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2bc9391d916aee82706f56a79d230847dca6e1dffa5eb16ae5a18a852201d860&width=400&height=225)
Al Mehairi, 24, is one of the youngest Emirati artists to be represented by a gallery in Dubai.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CQQ2F3DUY5EHFGJEOFTH2ZZINI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c429b967495e42301e549187ff2c2b9ebeff1ae1d66ebe4e826af4cc249307ae&width=400&height=225)
'Shapes Are Like Thoughts' starts with a some post-walk reflections, which develop into a series of shapes embossed on paper.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6RYQ63LM3BAPHEBXGOH5FAUNLM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d29444d87d1f99de2664fc21e0fc834a5aebcf169526a916ac74c8958ca16f94&width=400&height=225)
'Adjustments of the Daily' includes collages, acrylic gouache and embossing of lines and shapes — all a constant reminder of strolling through urban areas.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J4NO74WLTFCKZEFBD7SMKPXHL4.jpg?smart=true&auth=81dbced5e6e9b68fb4a950b914664efd19f20f8496af612f63ca44e7b3189e73&width=400&height=225)
'Momentary Palettes', the final series of works on paper in the exhibition, documents the colours found in everything from flowers to discarded items and the emotions they evoke.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BO6S2KBJSNF33AM7MSGQOQPDRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=2fb6c3d0375d28b76ab907caaa62514fb45da91962fad680659c7191760a7b78&width=400&height=225)
Al Mehairi says: 'I invite people to be "unlearners" because I want them to challenge common knowledge, like what time it is or what an object is.'
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RUIC5WELLZDTRN3BPBSUOL4NYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=61ed01c1e1613b6cbb64b3ac2cd5c4ce8456055da29fa86b24ab2aeb087e7eb5&width=400&height=225)
'It was just the idea of wanting to go for walks, and they generated all these ideas. After a while, this became my practice and now I say that walking is my practice. I can’t have a practice without walking,' says Al Mehairi.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DBMA4GQZDJH5HNMZSLQ6TKRFOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e279ed87b25dd91fed36803eb3283986e40609311639bc6693aa5d896cfc3611&width=400&height=225)
When the Ground Was is on show at Carbon 12 in Alserkal Avenue until November 1
Sarah Al Mehairi celebrates the art of walking in latest exhibition at Dubai's Carbon 12
The Emirati artist steps forward with When the Ground Was, having hit the pavement around the world for inspiration
Afshan Ahmed
27 September, 2022
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