Our main cities have often been called works of art in their own right, whether it is individual examples of architectural flair – exemplified by structures such as the Aldar HQ, Burj Khalifa or Burj Al Arab – or the cumulative effect that creates the striking Dubai and Abu Dhabi skylines.
While there are plenty of striking examples of modern architecture, there are many more utilitarian examples of the urban landscape in the form of run-of-the-mill apartment blocks and motorway embankments. But now urban artists are treating these more mundane structures as giant canvases.
As we reported recently, eight street artists have painted 24 huge murals on the side of 12 apartment buildings and shops around the Karama shopping complex. In Abu Dhabi, mammoth murals featuring traditional Emirati themes have been appearing at Raha Beach and Khaleej Al Arabi. Is this the ultimate art, to see a blank canvas where others see a drab building?
