10 Years of Artistic Presence: Al Qattara Arts Centre Launches Two Special Exhibitions to Mark Milestone

21 Apr, 2021

Al Qattara Arts Centre is celebrating its 10th anniversary with two exhibitions, both featuring UAE-based artists and both taking inspiration from a wide variety of rich, culturally-driven themes influenced by the region.

Common Ground, reflects on the commonalities between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, exploring contemporary life here in the Emirates and revealing its social, cultural, and economic nuances through seven Emirati artists' perspectives. Murals, reflects the remarkable history and journey of the nation and its Founding Father through specially commissioned large-scale works located throughout the Centre’s facilities.

Ahmed Mohammed Barzaiq, Al Qattara Arts Centre Head, commented: "We are pleased to celebrate a decade of Al Qattara Arts Centre contributing to and enhancing Al Ain's art scene. For years, we have offered a family-friendly venue where arts and culture can be discovered and practiced by the Abu Dhabi community and visitors to Al Ain. With these extraordinary works by a variety of talented local artists, we honour the thriving cultural scene of the emirate, and the past, present, and future of our great country. The artworks are a must-see, and I invite the public to visit us and enjoy this visual celebration."

Sumayya Alsuweidi, Community Programmes Head, Cultural Foundation, said: "It is our honour to celebrate ten years of Al Qattara Arts Centre's cultural and artistic excellence with two special exhibitions crafted by talented Emirati and UAE-based artists. By displaying these artworks, we are bringing the community together to enjoy the UAE's story and legacy, as well as underscoring the Centre's continual success and commitment in establishing and contributing to the development of emerging UAE talent."

Common Ground is a community exhibition which presents a series of investigations into Arab history. The works by featured artists Ahmad Saeed Al Areef Al Dhaheri, Ghanem Younes, Khalid Al Tamimi, Maryam Al Suwaidi, Roudha Al Shamsi, Saoud Al Dhaheri, and Sarah Aladayleh embody a wide range of artistic expression, with Common Ground showcasing installations of textiles, clay, video and mixed media materials. With the exhibition having previously been shown at Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation, Al Qattara Arts Centre has chosen to host Common Ground to celebrate the important milestone in the Centre’s journey and reflect the thriving cultural scene of Al Ain and the wider emirate.
The Murals exhibition commissioned 12 UAE-based artists to each create a unique mural inspired by Abu Dhabi's history, culture, and social fabric, with subjects addressed including the country's unprecedented Mission to Mars, the importance of preserving heritage while embracing modernity, and the powerful influence of Emirati women in society. The artists were chosen with the assistance of Cultural Foundation curators, and the murals created for the special occasion reflect the important role Al Qattara Arts Centre plays in Al Ain’s arts and culture scene, as a place for the community to discover, learn about and create art.

Established in 2011 and managed by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Al Ain's Al Qattara Arts Centre plays a unique role in Al Ain's creative scene, offering a venue where art and culture can be studied, practised and developed. Over the past ten years, Al Qattara Arts Centre has showcased a wide range of UAE-based artistic talent through its ongoing, year-round public programme offering exhibitions, activities and art workshops. As an integral addition to the Al Ain arts scene, the Centre's art gallery displays works and exhibitions by artists from the UAE and houses an area dedicated to archaeological and heritage-focused exhibits studios for art classes.

During Ramadan, Al Qattara Arts Centre is open Sunday-Thursday from 9am to 4pm, and closed on Friday and Saturday. After the holy month, normal timings resume, with the Centre open Saturday-Thursday from 8am to 8pm and closed on Fridays. Entrance is free of charge.

For more information, please visit www.abudhabiculture.ae.