The Story Continues: Abu Dhabi Festival Launches Portrait Of A Nation II: Beyond Narratives Exhibition Online
The exhibition, part of the 19th edition of Abu Dhabi Festival, chronicles 50 years of the UAE’s incredible art scene
Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives has come to a close but the story of the nation’s artistic development as it transpired over five decades lives on through the recent publication of Portrait of a Nation II, the companion book which captures the exhibition’s artworks in vivid photography, and now the innovative launch of a virtual exhibition — the first event of its kind for Abu Dhabi Festival.
In celebration of the innovation and collaborative spirit that has marked the growth of the UAE’s visual arts landscape, the exhibition, curated by Maya El Khalil with co-curator Roxane Zand, ran physically for three months from 21 January to 16 April at Manarat Al Saadiyat as part of ADMAF’s Abu Dhabi Festival 2022. Held under the theme Crafting the Emirates State of Mind: Creation, Innovation and Joy, the show weaves together people, histories and tales of a thriving creative art scene.
With the launch of the virtual exhibition, art enthusiasts the world over can traverse the country’s rich art history, through AI-based immersive 3D walk-through technology, taking part in an interactive journey through a collection of more than 100 artworks, including 15 special commissions by 62 pivotal artists ranging from founders of the Emirati art scene such as Mohammed Kazem, Hassan and Hussein Sharif and Abdul Qader Al Rais, to today’s budding generation from Zeinab Al Hashemi to Sara Al Haddad.
Through in-depth descriptions and audio guides, virtual visitors can explore the exhibition’s five central themes: Reclaiming/Reimagining Home looks at earlier time periods and the places artists called home, depicting their wider sense of belonging; Shifting Landscapes sheds light on stability and transformation, authenticity and modernism; Configurations of Togetherness examines the spaces that draw people together and the relationships that transcend cultural differences to celebrate diversity; Reclaiming/Reimagining Language is a nod to the mediums of communication that make unity possible; and Shifting Sociality addresses changing social modes, such as consumerism, customs and the organising structures of time and travel.
The exhibition is also a homage to the late artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, whose legacy with the Emirates began over 40 years ago and flourished over the years through collaborations with ADMAF until after Christo’s passing on 31 May in 2020.
“Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives, the Virtual Exhibition, redefines the way art exhibitions are experienced in the digital age, opening the door to innovative ways to connect with the world,” says Her Excellency Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF, Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival. “At ADMAF we believe in bringing people together in unique experiences which is why we welcome the fusion of technology and art to tell our story of 50 years of creativity and innovation, further advancing our commitment to making art accessible to all.”
The inspiring story of creation narrated in the Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives exhibition will be told for generations to come through its documentation in the Portrait of a Nation II book and its digital launch – both of which capture the pioneering and storytelling spirit of the UAE’s past, present and future through the lens and voices of curators, cultural workers, gallerists and artists that have led to the country’s cultural evolution.
To view the exhibition, click here, and for more information about the Portrait of a Nation II book, click here.
Lead image: Hazem Harb, TAG (2015 – 2021). Inkjet photocopy print and collage on fine art paper. Series of 8, dimensions variable. Commissioned by ADMAF, courtesy the artist and TABARI ARTSPACE