The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation (BFAF) presents Hour Eternal: 20 Years of Emirati Abstraction, a collective exhibition curated by educator, curator, and author Dr Michaela Watrelot. On view until 15 February 2025, the show celebrates two decades of Emirati abstract art, featuring the work of 14 trailblazing creatives.
Hour Eternal focuses on the intersection of tradition and modernity, highlighting how abstract art has served as a lens for exploring identity, memory, and cultural evolution in the Emirates. The displayed art pieces, lent from the Ministry of Culture, Barjeel Art Foundation, artists’ studios, galleries, and private collectors, examine the concept of time, reflecting its duality and connection to tradition and contemporary identity.
The late 20th-century Emirati abstract art movement was notably shaped by The Five, a group of influential artists: Hassan Sharif, Hussain Sharif, Abdullah Al Saadi, Mohammed Kazem, and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim. The Hour Eternal exhibition includes works by the Sharif brothers, Ibrahim, and Kazem.
Exhibited are also pieces by Abdul Qader Al Rais, renowned for blending geometric forms and Arabic script in his work, with floating squares that create a sense of depth. Mona Al Khaja employs architectural elements and calligraphy in her creations to reflect the values of Emirati heritage. Meanwhile, Salma Al Marri takes cues from childhood memories, utilising textures and materials that evoke Emirati landscapes.
Mohammed Al Qassab‘s paintings reinterpret traditional Bedouin textiles and crafts through abstract forms, while his multimedia pieces feature everyday objects that echo the UAE’s development. In his practice, Abdulrahim Salim explores the female form and perfectly blends figuration and abstraction, inspired by magic, mysticism, geometry, and Michelangelo and Da Vinci’s work.
Noor Al Suwaidi’s bold brushstrokes and vivid colours capture the fluidity of identity, while Dr Najat Makki is famous for her masterful use of colour and the emotions it evokes. Her work is influenced by childhood memories, myths, lunar cycles, and natural elements, with women as recurring symbols of strength and connection to nature.
Shaikha Al Mazrou’s geometric sculptures and installations employ mass-produced materials, such as electronic waste and construction components, to challenge perceptions of space and form. Khalid Al Banna, recognised for his black-and-white collages and vibrant textile compositions, connects to his Emirati roots through explorations of the nation’s history and rapid transformation. Finally, Ebtisam Abdulaziz draws from her background in mathematics and science to produce geometry-inspired works that investigate identity and culture.
To learn more about Hour Eternal: 20 Years of Emirati Abstraction, please go to the official web page of the exhibition.
In addition, you might be interested in viewing The Year of Wilfred Thesiger on display at Total Arts. Besides, we recommend that you have a look at the Union of Artists sculpture in the Al Hudaiba park (Dubai).
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