The inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, Public Matter, spans across downtown Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, transforming their urban areas into public art spaces. Delving into the ever-evolving concept of public space in the city, it examines the subject through the perspectives of environment, community, urbanity, and indigeneity.
This curation featuring over 70 artists, including Emirati, UAE-based, and international creatives, considers how the environment shapes the spaces where people gather, interact, and connect, and how these spaces come to be seen as "public." It further explores the balance between modern urban growth and traditional indigenous practices, tackling the challenge of preserving cultural values in the face of rapid development and economic change.
A celebration of culture and creativity, Public Matter includes sculptures, large-scale installations, performances, and community engagement projects and bridges the city’s past and present with pedestrian-friendly designs, and features art that encourages community engagement by turning ordinary spaces into vibrant, immersive art experiences.
Showcasing 70 artworks, 40 of which are new commissions, these pieces are designed to bridge the city’s past and present, featuring public art that fosters community engagement while enhancing the walkability of these spaces. Iconic locations such as the Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal, known for its striking architecture and vital role as a social hub, and Al Ain’s traditional mud-brick homes and lush oases, are central to the event. These sites highlight the deep roots of the region's cultural heritage alongside its contemporary urban landscape.
Spotlighting an array of well-known and emerging local and international artists from diverse backgrounds, including postmodern Emirati artist Hussein Sharif from Dubai and contemporary artist Nnenna Okore from Chicago, Public Matter offers a rich and inclusive artistic experience not only for creatives, collectors, and art enthusiasts but also the public, young and old.
Rawdha Al Ketbi from Abu Dhabi repurposes abandoned objects to examine themes of time, decay, and transformation. Her installation Al Gaidh (2024), in Al Ain Oasis, explores the cyclical relationship between nature and growth, inspired by ancestral traditions and the life-sustaining water that nurtures palm trees. Rising copper ladders intertwine with the trees, symbolising growth and the passage of time, while coloured patina from oxidation symbolises transformation, reflecting the resilience inherent in nature.
Karachi-based Seema Nusrat’s Floating Fragments (2024) installation in Abu Dhabi’s Corniche Lake explores urban life and the increasing risks of flooding due to climate change. Depicting a terracotta-roofed house submerged by an imagined flood, it symbolises the threat that urbanisation poses to heritage, inviting viewers to reflect on the balance between development and preservation.
You Were There Abu Dhabi (2024), by Yeesookyung, a Korean artist is a 3D-printed model based on an AI prompt to generate an image of ‘a rock on top of the highest mountain of the world’. After casting, the two sculptural rocks were coated in 24-carat gold leaf revealing their every detail and emphasising time’s crystallisation—the gilding intones spiritual transformation. The accompanying video features traditional performances of vocalisations without lyrics, the first led by a Korean singer (Kim Tae Young) to bless the rocks before their long journey from Korea. Once installed, an Emirati singer (Saif Al Ali) welcomes them with a similarly melodic chant.
Through their works, each of these handpicked artists pushes boundaries and offers fresh perspectives on public spaces, encouraging a deeper understanding of their cultural significance and how they balance modernity and tradition. Public Matter embraces inclusivity and pushes for dialogue about future of the public space in Abu Dhabi and their role in connected, vibrant community.
Along with the art, there is also a stellar Public Programming roster featuring talks, performances, workshops, tours, and film screenings for both children and adults. From guided walking tours to explore the art pieces, to concerts with local artists and panel discussions on topics that connect us within cities, it offers a rich and inclusive artistic experience.
Biennial Routes
The Abu Dhabi Corniche Route is a one-hour walking route featuring works by Wael Al Awar, Oscar Murillo, Farah Al Qasimi, Bik Van der Pol, Tania Candiani, Sammy Baloji, UT-R Studio and Nicholas Galanin.
The Abu Dhabi Public Parks Route is a one-hour walking route that spans Urban Park, Formal Park, Lake Park, Recreation Park. It features works by Abdullah Al Saadi, Hashel Al Lamki, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Kader Attia, Khalil Rabah, Seema Nusrat, Rami Kashou x Artisans of the UAE, Paweł Althamer, Nathan Coley, Athar Jaber and Allora & Calzadilla.
The inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial will take place from 15 November 2024 until 30 April 2025 across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
