Alserkal Arts Foundation, in collaboration with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, presents Deliberate Pauses, a new project by Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou. Opened on 21 April 2025, this showcase is the largest site-specific art installation in Dubai, curated by architect and academic Faysal Tabbarah.
Al Mazrou is known for her exploration of materiality and form. Her most recent work, located near Leem Lake in Hatta, made a significant impact on the development of public art in the region. Nestled within the Western Al Hajar Mountains on the UAE’s east coast, Hatta’s landscape has long served as a threshold, oscillating between the urban and the rural.
Deliberate Pauses consists of five metallic sculptures, strategically placed along the hiking trails of the Hajar Mountains. These glossy cylindrical forms, whether towering above or nestled into the ground, are seamlessly integrated into the natural landscape. The sculptures act as beacons and portals, inviting visitors to pause, reflect, and, most importantly, connect with nature.
The sculptures are the same red as her project Red Stack (2022) displayed in Regent`s Park as part of the London Contemporary Art Fair. The contrast between the cushions’ form and the rigidity of the cast metal gave the structure a dual nature: both hard and soft.
Speaking about Deliberate Pauses, Shaikha Al Mazrou said: “I had a lot of questions about why it is in red. Aside from it being a signature in my work, I was also drawing from the language of the mountain and using the colours around me. I could have polished the steel to give it a different look but I wanted it to camouflage with the landscape and allow the red to push through.”
The installation combines bold aesthetic impact with a deep respect for the ecosystem. It invites viewers, specifically hikers, to engage with the narratives of Hatta, a region rich in cultural, artificial, and historical significance. The project fosters a dialogue between the present and the past, encouraging reflection on the natural and historical landscapes.
The main theme of the project, as mentioned, revolves around the exploration of tension and the interplay between form and content. Al Mazrou’s work is primarily inspired by contemporary art, material elements, colour theory, and geometric abstraction. In her recent projects, the interaction between geometric shapes found in desert landscapes and symbols of human intervention becomes even more pronounced. The carefully calculated circular forms are placed in environments where they don’t naturally belong, serving as a meditation on the impact of human actions on the environment.
The project is the second in a series of three large-scale public art commissions by the Askeral Art Foundation, in partnership with Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. The project aspires to weave a vibrant tapestry of cultural unity across the UAE by taking place at the most iconic sites.
About Shaikha Al Mazrou
Shaikha Al Mazrou (b. 1988) lives and works in Dubai. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Sharjah before completing her Master’s at Chelsea College of Fine Art, University of the Arts (London, UK). The artist has participated in several residency programs, including those at the Delfina Foundation (London), in collaboration with Tashkeel, and in Bastakiya (Dubai), with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
Her solo exhibitions have been held in the UAE, including Expansion/Extension at Lawrie Shabibi (Dubai, 2019) and Rearranging the Riddle (Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah, 2022-2023). Besides, she has displayed her works in group shows and art events in other countries, such as Art Basel Hong Kong (2024). Her creations are also part of various private collections.
In 2014, Al Mazrou was one of five international artists commissioned by the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture to create public artwork at the Jalila Cultural Centre for Children in Dubai, as part of the Make Art Possible initiative. She is also one of the five artists who created Union of Artists (2024), a public art piece, as part of the Dubai Public Art project by Dubai Culture.
To learn more about Deliberate Pauses, please visit the project’s official web page.
Additionally, you might be interested in exploring Sharjah Biennial 16 and Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. We would also recommend that you visit the Hatta Heritage Village.
