Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial is in the second stretch of its inaugural event, having rolled out several new works across the capital.
Running until April 30, the biennial has effectively transformed sections of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain into open-air galleries. However, the initiative is not merely an attempt at “beautifying” these public spaces, says Alia Lootah, a curator of the biennial. Rather, the works reflect upon specific aspects of the sites they are located in. They celebrate existing features across Abu Dhabi’s public spaces by introducing new, often surprising elements.
“Public art creates an opportunity for residents to stop and truly take stock of the places they call home,” Lootah says. “Through these installations, artworks and interventions, we can challenge people to develop deeper connections and understanding of their relationship to public spaces they may otherwise take for granted."
It was also important to have a roster of artists that reflected the cosmopolitan nature of Abu Dhabi, Lootah says. “Abu Dhabi is home to such a diverse population, and as a public art biennial, it was important to reflect that diversity through our programming,” she says. "Our artists hail from all parts of the world, and bring with them a broad range of perspectives on our theme and locations.”
More than 70 artists are participating in the biennial, and each of them brings a unique perspective to the event, often touching upon socio-economic and environmental topics. Seema Nusrat’s Floating Fragments, for instance, presents a cautionary tale in the centre of the waters of Lake Park on the corniche. Terracotta roofs peek out the body of water, reimagining the lake as the scene of a flood that has submerged entire homes. The installation highlights the risks of extreme weather changes incurred by climate change.
In Kombwelo 504, Sammy Baloji recreates a Peugeot 504 car, once regarded as a status symbol in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The car, however, has been made using copper wires, reflecting a practice by Congolese children to fashion toys from discarded materials. Plants from the Congo and the UAE grow within Baloji’s copper car, nourished by the municipal irrigation system. Tentarium by Paweł Althamer, on the other hand, is a whimsical homage to the city's cats, with a tent structure shaped like a feline – complete with ears, eyes and tail.
Khalil Rabah’s Among Trees is another striking example. The installation comprises 15 olive trees presented in metal containers. Some of the trees remain stationary, others rotate on platforms. While the piece is inspired by the cyclical dances of Sufi rituals, it also brings to mind the human relationship to land, highlighting experiences of movement and displacement.
While developing a robust international presence was important, it was also vital to showcase homegrown works and include representation from the Emirati community. “We are proud to have a strong selection of emerging and established Emiratis artists, including many who have exhibited all over the world,” Lootah says.
Afra Al Dhaheri’s installation offers refuge from the bustle and pace of city life. D-Constructing Collective Exhaustion is made of wooden structures, tangled ropes, light and sound. The installation aims to instil a meditative feeling among visitors, helping them establish a balance between their physical and mental space.
Homesickness by Farah Al Qasimi, meanwhile, depicts five large oysters on a platform on the Corniche. The oysters are fitted with concealed speakers that play a piece of music inspired by Tob, Tob Ya Bahar, a traditional chant once sung by the wives of pearl divers.
Rawdha Al Ketbi’s Al Gaidh, located in a farm in Al Ain Oasis, reflects upon the ancestral relationships with the oasis and date palms.
“Using chemicals and acids to accelerate the aging process, she explores the effects of time and decay on these objects, breathing new life into them and weaving fascinating narratives about transformation and preservation through them,” Lootah says.
Shaikha Al Ketbi is another multidisciplinary artist, whose work treads along the seams of reality and fiction. Her work, Imagine it’s Foggy, is made up of a series of whimsical street lamps that take their cue from the city’s idiosyncratic light posts.
“Among her references is a giraffe reminiscent of the carousel at Al Hili Archaeological Park – one of many nostalgic symbols she weaves into her work,” Lootah says. “These installations present a fascinating juxtaposition between collective memory, imagination, and possibilities; all deeply inspired by a strong sense of place and cultural context.”
In fact, all the works within the biennale, Lootah says, aim towards “contributing towards our collective memory and identity". The installations, she adds, will inspire new audiences and generations to delve deeper into this emirate’s rich cultural landscape.
“We believe this biennial is long overdue for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, two unique cities with fascinatingly unique urban fabrics, and important stories to tell.”
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qais Aboud
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Almahroosa, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Sumoud, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Adventurous, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
MATCH INFO
Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
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How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 1 (Martinez 18' pen)
Juventus 2 (Dybala 4', Higuain 80')
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
I Feel Pretty
Dir: Abby Kohn/Mark Silverstein
Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
