Lawrie Shabibi is delighted to present Everyman’s Mountain, a solo exhibition by Emirati artist and designer Omar Al Gurg. This striking show features a series of photographs capturing the diverse ecosystems of Mount Kilimanjaro, seen through the intimate and contemplative lens of the artist during his six-day journey in 2021. The exhibition will run from 31 May to 21 September 2025.
Al Gurg’s work consistently reflects a deep sensitivity to his surroundings and offers interpretations of natural environments shaped by natural forces and human impact. His latest series continues this exploration, focusing on mountain ecosystems: spaces often overlooked in contemporary photography.
The mission behind this body of work is to fill visual emptiness, to give voice and form to a landscape that has a lack of representation in art. His images weave through themes of geological relief and transformation, from fire-scarred moorlands in the process of regeneration to the fragile ice caps that slumber near the summit.
Accompanying the artist on this journey was a team of hikers and porters — a team of people who play a vital role in human engagement with these terrains. Their presence and labour underscore the communal aspects of the expedition, adding another layer of meaning to Al Gurg’s contemplative visual narrative.
His deliberate pauses to capture subtle details, such as the shadows and lights through the foliage, reflect a profound attentiveness that transcends the physical challenges. This mindful approach transforms his journey into a meditative experience where every element, every pause is a vibrant dialogue between humans and nature.
In the meaning of Everyman’s Mountain, there is a deep thought about meditation on scale and importance. The experience of the artist suggests that the mountain is the place where the human presence feels both essential and negligible, making a resemblance of the briefness of our lives and the impressions in the endless loop of nature’s cycles.
The exhibition marks the start of Al Gurga’s ongoing project to document the changing landscape of Kilimanjaro, with publication underway. Everyman`s Mountain is mostly about not the result but the process, the act of exploration, appreciation, and precise measurement of the observer. It is a visual study of fragility and the hidden silence of inaccessible mountain summits.
About Lawrie Shabibi
Lawrie Shabibi is a contemporary art space situated on Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. The gallery is dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging and mid-career artists from around the world, with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa. Over the past five years, the gallery has been committed to introducing artists from diverse regions and generations, with a special emphasis on underrepresented voices. It also organizes historical exhibitions and collaborates with museums.
Through a consistent programme of exhibitions, screenings, talks, publishing catalogues, and participation in international art fairs, Lawrie Shabibi is actively contributing to the development of contemporary art in Dubai.
To get more information about Everyman’s Mountain, please visit the official web page of the exhibition.
In addition, you might be interested in viewing Samur by Zheng Bo.
