In a recent text, the cultural commentator Mishaal Al Gergawi pinpointed a few events that helped change the course of the arts scene in the UAE.
One of these was the UAE's first participation, in 2009, in the international art exhibition of the Venice Biennale, where the countries of the world compete for best national pavilion. Representation at the biennial is a mark of stature and pride – it's no surprise that representation at the Venice Biennale for architecture is among Saudi Arabia's initiatives towards promoting a new cultural image internationally. The UAE has now been going to Venice for nearly 10 years and has secured its pavilion on semi-permanent lease, where it holds an art exhibition (in odd-numbered years) and an architectural exhibition (in even-numbered years).
“The National Pavilion is the only exhibition that represents all the emirates,” says Laila Binbrek, director of the National Pavilion, which coordinates the project. “This time, especially since we’re bringing not just one, but two exhibitions – art and architecture – we felt we should take a step aside and explain exactly what we’re doing. We’re going in to our third architecture, we just did our fifth art, and we realised that there is still a lack of clarity around what it is we do and why it is important.”
The two most recent exhibitions from the Venice Biennale are now on show at Warehouse421 in the exhibition Untold Stories Retold, allowing the public here to see the intensively researched projects that represented the nation abroad. The exhibition also includes a short introduction to the Venice Biennale and videos with the curators of the shows include Hammad Nasar, who curated in 2017, Michele Bambling, who curated 2014, and Dr Khaled Alawadi, who is curating 2018.
The juxtaposition of the disciplines brings the differences in their display norms to the fore. Nasar's show,
Rock, Paper, Scissors: Positions in Play, is sparse on ancillary material, instead focusing its attention upon the artworks themselves.
The architecture exhibition, Transformations: The Emirati National House, curated by Yasser Elsheshtawy, is more didactic, putting its research on display, and is likely to be more at ease with communicating to broad audiences.
“The end product seems very different,” Binbrek says, “But the methodology that goes towards each show is very similar, in terms of how we work with the curator. An art curator has to do a copious amount of research and interviews: meeting with the artist, reading background historical information, really understanding their practice.”
Binbrek explains how art pavilion curator Nasar came across, through his research into her work, the radical poetry pamphlet Silsilat Al Ramad that Nujoom Alghanem distributed in 1985 with Khalid Albudoor, Hassan Sharif and Yusuf Khalil. Copies of it are offered to the viewers with a stick of chewing gum, just as they were when it was distributed in Sharjah – so you can enjoy your reading of it.
Nasar's show was organised around the idea of "play" as a means to engage with others and with art material, rather like the stick of gum that entices readers to pick up a radical poetry pamphlet. Vikram Divecha's Degenerative Disarrangement, for example, is made up of bricks that had been left after workers repaired a Dubai bus stop. He asks the install technicians to lay the bricks in the exhibition space within a certain time, opening up the pattern they produce to a game of chance at every occasion it is installed.
The architecture exhibition looks at the development of the sha'bi (folk) houses, the first modernised public housing that was built in the UAE in the 1970s. With the discovery of oil, residents moved from the typical arish, palm-frond-built houses to concrete ones with – as estate agents used to say – "all the mod cons": bathrooms, kitchens etc. The houses were arranged in neighbourhoods, reflecting how extended families lived near each other in tribal days, and the plans had enough flexibility so that occupants could add on bedrooms or living spaces as needed. The exhibition contains floor plans of the houses as well as photographs of still existing sha'bi domiciles, most of which are centred in Al Ain, where the pace of development has been slower. One family, the Meqbalis, has lived in their sha'bi house since the 1970s, and kept records of the plans, the changes they'd made, and photographs through the years, and donated this archive to the exhibition.
The National Pavilion’s mandate is to bring to light “untold stories” from the UAE, broadening international understanding of the country beyond its sometime reputation as a capital of the new, and helping to preserve narratives for the country itself.
The side-by-side presentation of the two most recent Venice Biennale exhibitions exemplifies the twin roles that the organisation – whose commissioner is the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, which also runs Warehouse421 – plays. If Transformations: The Emirati National House, the architecture exhibition, looks back towards the past, Rock, Paper, Scissors: Positions in Play is widely recognised as looking forward. It is the first National Pavilion in which UAE residents who are not Emirati nationals were selected to represent the country (Lantian Xie and Divecha), reflecting the diversity of nationalities who are integral parts of the country's creative scene. The exhibition was well received, appearing on a number of top-10 lists, with many participating in the playful break the show offered, where visitors were asked to fold up paper airplanes (the contribution of the writer Deepak Unnikrishnan, who was part of the exhibition's wider programming) and send them from a first-floor balcony – an experience wisely recreated here, with a platform for the purpose of making paper planes zoom over others' heads. And who says art doesn't engage with broad audiences?
The National Pavilion exhibitions will be on show at Warehouse421 until June 24
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Read more:
Londoners get a taste of Saudi cultural life during Crown Prince’s visit
On how we communicate in the polyglot Gulf
Entries open for the Gulf Capital – Abu Dhabi Festival Visual Arts Award
Art Dubai to partner with Saudi Arabia’s Misk Art Institute
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Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Abu Dhabi GP starting grid
1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
3 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
5 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
6 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7 Romain Grosjean (Haas)
8 Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
9 Esteban Ocon (Force India)
10 Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)
11 Carlos Sainz (Renault)
12 Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
13 Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
14 Sergio Perez (Force India)
15 Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
16 Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
17 Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
18 Stoffe Vandoorne (McLaren)
19 Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
20 Lance Stroll (Williams)
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Kill%20Bill%20Volume%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Quentin%20Tarantino%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Uma%20Thurman%2C%20David%20Carradine%20and%20Michael%20Madsen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Racecard
6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m
8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m
10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Dubai World Cup Carnival card:
6.30pm: Handicap (Turf) | US$175,000 | 2,410 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (Dirt) | $100,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: Handicap (T) | $145,000 | 1,000m
8.15pm: Dubawi Stakes Group 3 (D) | $200,000 | 1,200m
8.50pm: Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (T) | $200,000 | 1,800m
9.25pm: Handicap (T) | $175,000 | 1,400m
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20TV%204K%20(THIRD%20GENERATION)
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: India, chose to bat
India (1st innings): 215-2 (89 ov)
Agarwal 76, Pujara 68 not out; Cummins 2-40
Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
'Jurassic%20World%20Dominion'
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)