February 25–June 18, 2017
Warehouse421
Mina Zayed
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
U.A.E. Unlimited’s third exhibition explores the transformation of the UAE through the artworks of eight conceptual artists
U.A.E. Unlimited’s third exhibition, Bayn: the In-Between opened at Warehouse421 on February 25, 2017. Organised by the satellite platform founded and supported by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the exhibition explores the transformations that the current generation of artists have witnessed in the UAE and the region. Munira Al Sayegh, an emerging curator from the UAE, has worked with eight commissioned artists and a ninth internationally acclaimed guest artist from Saudi Arabia, Manal AlDowayan, to create conceptual artworks in a wide variety of mediums.
H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Patron of U.A.E. Unlimited: “Our platform’s third iteration comes at a time when we are all examining our identities in light of the rapid shifts we are witnessing around us. I am proud to be part of the Bayn generation, the generation that took on the responsibility of moving the narrative forward towards a more nuanced understanding of the contexts of home and belonging, bringing together the best practices in art, culture, and development to the localities we belong to. U.A.E. Unlimited is proud to support and work alongside such great emerging talent in understanding what it truly means to actively be a part of this change.”
Bayn: the In-Between is a collaboration between U.A.E. Unlimited and a number of UAE-based artists, curators, and institutions, highlighting the collective nature of the creative community in the UAE today. Hosted at Warehouse421 in Abu Dhabi, the exhibition was developed with the support of Maraya Productions in Sharjah. Maya Allison, Founding Director of NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, is the Senior Curatorial Adviser to the project and mentoring the exhibition’s curator Munira Al Sayegh.
Shobha Pia Shamdsani, Executive Director of U.A.E. Unlimited commented: “The Middle East has witnessed ‘transformation’ in multiple ways and on multiple levels. From shifting borders to political upheaval. From the removal of the old and the arrival of the new. From youth to maturity. From fragility to durability. These transformations have affected all aspects of life, from growth in agriculture, to education, health, housing and industry. We’ve witnessed spectacular growth unparalleled in the region.”
Throughout this exhibition, the state of in-between is highlighted as equally important to both the definitive beginning (the history of the United Arab Emirates) and its end goal (the future). The artists work in a wide variety of mediums, drawing on their surroundings, experiences and recollections.
About UAE Unlimited
U.A.E. Unlimited is a satellite platform founded and supported by His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, one of the youngest prominent patrons of the arts in the United Arab Emirates. The platform is headed by the Executive Director, Shobha Pia Shamdsani, the Art Adviser & Director of the Modern & Contemporary Middle Eastern Art Collection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. The platform supports emerging Emirati and UAE-based artists and by producing and promoting their works through strategic collaborations with art and culture organisations in the country. U.A.E. Unlimited thrives on promoting young talent and contributing to the overall cultural production in the UAE. The platform produces and showcases new works annually, while orbiting the cities across the country and hosting a major exhibition in addition to a series of events and discussions on the selected themes.
About Warehouse421
Warehouse421 is a thriving hub for art and culture, design and creativity, performance and music in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s historic Mina Zayed district. Converted from two former industrial warehouses, Warehouse421 showcases the works of local, regional and international artists, designers and performers throughout the year, while providing a rare glimpse into the processes and techniques behind their creations. Warehouse421 also encourages members of the public to explore their own creativity through interactive initiatives such as the popular Wednesdays at the Warehouse program of talks, workshops, film screenings and performances. Designed by the respected Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Warehouse421 is supported by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation as part of its mission to facilitate wider engagement with the arts and culture in the UAE.
