Warehouse421 show examines construction of place and self

H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan describes the rapid shifts we are witnessing around us on a regional and global level as a journey of re-examination, "We are often concerned with place and origin when thinking of the 'self'. These journeys outside of our fixed notions of 'home' have allowed us to better understand the gap that exists between our ancestral belonging and culture, and the sense of the contemporary and globalised self."

This evolving construction of place and self is illustrated in a dynamic exhibition of various artworks under the title, "Bayn: The In-Between", currently open at Warehouse421 in Abu Dhabi's Mina area.

The third exhibition held under 'UAE Unlimited', a satellite platform founded by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan which supports emerging Emirati and UAE-based artists in order to promote young talent and contribute to the overall cultural production in the UAE, 'Bayn: The In-Between' is curated by Munira Al Sayegh, programmes officer at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and showcases the works of eight emerging artists examining the divide between the recent past and the assumed present.

Al Sayegh explains, "Bayn: The In-Between seeks to describe, question, and expand on the threshold found between a starting point and its end. Throughout this exhibition, the state of in-between is highlighted as being equally important to both the definitive beginning, the history of the UAE, and its end goal, the future."

By exploring the relationship between place and identity, a deepened understanding of identity formation and the role of place in social and cultural development is attained. These bonds between identity and place are important in influencing social formation and cultural practices.

The works in the exhibition are categorised under two sub-themes, the first includes works that study physical and external shifts in geography and landscape, while the second includes works that look at transformation from the perspective of personal shifts. On entering the exhibition, visitors are immediately immersed in these themes which then transport them to each artist’s perceptions of their identity and place.

Guest artist Manal Al Dowayan’s work, 'TREE OF GUARDIANS' falls into both subcategories. TREE OF GUARDIANS is a work of suspended golden leaves created with a group of Saudi Arabian women who were asked to trace their lineage through their mother’s side.

In this personal piece, Al Dowayan explores gender, feminist geographies, and the status of Arab women in Arab society by exploring lineage and the 'disappearance' of generations of women through the omission of their names, effectively erasing them from society.

Asma Al Ahmed, a Ras al-Khaimah based installation and multi-media artist, explores geographical transformations, emerging landscapes, and climate change in a striking piece entitled 'Geo Displacement'.

Using sheets of gridded mesh wire for a site-specific sculptural installation and projected images of boulders and rocks, Al Ahmed studies the disappearance of the mountainous landscape in the northern and eastern part of the Emirates that then reappear in construction materials used for urban development throughout cities in the UAE. 'Geo Displacement' re-enacts concepts of memory and geography of place by looking at population identity and disappearance in current social transformations.

Bayn: The In Between is a collaborative exhibition that fosters understanding of the past and future hopes. The quality of works in the exhibition shows great promise for the UAE art scene which nurtures and supports emerging artists in the region. Bayn: The In-Between runs until 18th June at Warehouse421, Mina, Abu Dhabi.