6 UAE-Based Artists On How They’re Encouraging Sustainability Within Their Art

Alliance Française Dubai has invited Anna Seaman to curate a group exhibition at La Galerie as part of its Together&Now Festival

Having derived its name from the late poet William Wordsworth’s ‘The World Is Too Much With Us’, Alliance Francaise Dubai is set to host an insightful exhibition at La Galerie which will feature works by six UAE-based artists, inspired by protecting the ecosystem.

The artists, by exhibiting their works, hope to encourage immediate action on issues such as climate change, plastic pollution and endangered species. 

Emma Skinner. Whale Song. Courtesy of the artist

“If the past 12 months has taught us anything, it is that nature is ultimately more powerful than any man-made force,” says curator Anna Seaman. “The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to slow down and reconsider our habits. I chose the title of this Wordsworth sonnet for this exhibition because its powerful and heartfelt words are still so poignant.”

Soraya Sikander. Thunder. Courtesy of the artist

On view will be works by artists such as Soraya Sikander, who is keen on raising awareness on issues such as deforestation, climate change and sea temperature changes; Stephanie Neville, who through textile art, has designed hanging sculptures from embroidery which capture the suffering of the ocean due to excessive plastic waste; Valentina Alexeevna, who focuses on energy and consciousness, with the silhouette and patterns in her artworks presented in diverse formations, just as how life and energy are; and many more.

Stepanie Neville. Memories of the beach. Courtesy of the artist.

“Best-selling author Naomi Klein called climate change ‘a battle between capitalism and the planet’ and this battle is coming to a head with the need for radical action being more urgent than ever,” says Anna. “All the artists, in their various ways, are using their art to call for change.” 

‘The World is Too Much with Us’ exhibition will take place at La Galerie from 22 February until 7 March 2021.

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Lead image: Stephanie Neville. Memories of the beach installation. Courtesy of the artist