Dubai boasts as much diverse public art as Abi Dhabi does, so if you are looking for a couple of remarkable public murals to check out and take some cool pictures to post on your social media, you may find our today’s article quite useful.
Hope (Al-Amal) in the Al Fahidi district
Next time you are in the Al Fahidi historical district, do not miss the opportunity to admire the Hope (Al-Amal) mural created by designer Amna Basheer and Emirati artist Reem Al Mazrouei. This large (more than 5m. in length) artwork was commissioned by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority in 2020 to celebrate the successful launch of the UAE’s Hope Probe Mars Mission. The Al Fahidi district was chosen as the location for the mural to highlight the connection between the past and future. This theme is the main one in the artwork itself. Although the depicted scene features Mars and a telescope and has some futuristic vibes, there is also an Emirati woman who symbolises the past. She is wearing some traditional jewels typically worn during celebrations. Besides, she is floating in space yet still tied to her roots.
Prohibited in the Al Satwa district
In 2016, the Al Satwa district was turned into a home for sixteen public murals, which are dedicated to rich Emirati history and heritage, as the result of the initiative titled Dubai Street Museum. Such famous street artists from around the globe as Case Maclaim (Germany), Ernest Zacharevic (Lithuania), Julien Malland aka Seth Globepainter (France), and others took part in the event.
The list of Satwa’s public works of art features, for example, Resting Emirati Falcon by Chinese artist Hu Tunan and Founding Fathers by Emirati female artist Ashwaq Abdullah. One of the murals is especially attention-grabbing: it is Prohibited by Julien Malland who perfectly captures the playfulness, determination, and innocence of childhood in his artworks. Prohibited portrays a boy wearing traditional clothes and a girl in a dress. The curious children are standing on the roof of an entrance to peep through the windows to the inside of the building. Corresponding to the initiative’s theme, The Past, the kids are looking behind the UAE’s modern facades.
Up in Karama
Another place which got coloured with diverse public artworks (24 in total) in 2016 is the Karama Shopping Complex. The Karama series of murals including 3D paintings, graffiti text, and abstract art was commissioned by Wasl Properties and produced by six prominent Malaysian graffiti artists collaborating with two Emirati artists.
One of the most colourful murals in Karama is Up created by Malaysian illustrator and graffiti artist Khatun in collaboration with artist Pakey One. It depicts a green Toyota pickup being lifted into the air by a bundle of balloons. Evoking nostalgia specific to Dubai, which is symbolised by a model of the car, the Up painting refers to a famous scene from the eponymous Pixar cartoon.
Sea of Horses on JBR, The Walk
Having taken place in 2016, the Dubai Canvas 3D art festival has left behind several bright murals on The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR). Here, everyone is invited to take a close look at twelve fascinating public art pieces. You can find, for instance, a jungle full of giraffes painted in the Sadaf block by the Planet Streetpainting art collective. At the corner of Bahar, there is the King Crab mural that depicts two foil balloons in the shape of a crab and a dolphin hovering above two aquariums.
Among the most impressive public artworks at JBR is the Sea of Horses. It portrays these majestic creatures galloping across the sea, while an explosion of geometric shapes of different colours serves as a background. The mural pays tribute to Dubai’s famous horse race held annually by the Dubai World Cup. Located in Rimal block, the artwork is painted on a stairway, so it makes a viewer feel as if they are walking up the steps and straight into a rainbow.
You might also be interested in looking at WAVE by d’strict and the outdoor art pieces featured in The Follower, Alserkal Avenue’s public art project.
