The Abu Dhabi Festival’s Art @ Embassies initiative, held under the honorary founding patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, took centre stage at Expo 2025 Osaka on 15 July. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) in collaboration with the UAE Pavilion, the event brought together Emirati and Japanese artists for a dialogue focused on cultural identity, memory, and shared human experiences.
Her Excellency Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, ADMAF’s Founder, noted the significance of the Art @ Embassies series. “In collaboration with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Japan and as part of the UAE National Pavilion programmes at Expo Osaka 2025, we present this dialogue featuring young Emirati artists Shaikha Al Ketbi and Sarah Al Mehair, in conversation with Chiaki Soma, art producer and associate professor at Tokyo University of the Arts,” she said. “This talk highlights the artists’ experiences, exploring themes of cultural identity, materiality, memory and place; as well as the contrast between slowness and acceleration in life as contemporary human issues and questions.”
She explained that this event followed earlier editions of the initiative in London, Paris, and Seoul. Each edition has focused on fostering cross-cultural exchange and creating new platforms for Emirati creatives abroad. Japan, as this year’s Guest Country of Honour at the Abu Dhabi Festival, has made this dialogue especially relevant. “By promoting cultural exchange and creating opportunities for Emirati creatives, the initiative supports our efforts to enrich Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision and foster the achievements of culture, arts, education and the creative industries,” she concluded.
Pavilion’s mission of creative diplomacy
Several key figures involved in the initiative underscored its broader impact. His Excellency Shihab Alfaheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025, said: “Art has always been a profound reflection of who we are and what we aspire to become. At the UAE Pavilion, we believe in the transformative power of cultural exchange to foster empathy, dialogue, and innovation.”
Adding to this sentiment, Shaikha Al Ketbi, Deputy Commissioner General and Creative Director of the UAE Pavilion, stated: “The UAE Pavilion is proud to serve as a space where artistic voices from the Emirates can resonate globally. Through the Art@Embassies initiative by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, we celebrate the depth of Emirati creativity and its ability to inspire meaningful cultural dialogue. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to fostering mutual understanding through arts and cultural diplomacy.”
The conversation featured Al Ketbi and fellow Emirati visual artist Sarah Al Mehairi alongside Japan’s Chiaki Soma. Together, they examined themes of materiality, memory, and cultural placement. Their reflections also touched on the tensions between slowness and acceleration in modern life, a concept that resonates strongly with the UAE Pavilion’s “Earth to Ether” theme. The Pavilion, part of the Expo’s Empowering Lives Zone, was created by the Earth to Ether Collective — a multidisciplinary group of architects, curators, designers, and storytellers from the UAE, Japan, and beyond. Their collaborative design reflects the cross-cultural spirit central to the Pavilion’s message.
Broader cultural programme at Expo Osaka 2025
Throughout Expo 2025 Osaka, ADMAF and the UAE Pavilion are jointly presenting a series of cultural activations that continue to promote artistic dialogue. In April, a landmark calligraphy performance brought together Mohamed Mandi from the UAE and Juichi Yoshikawa from Japan. Their collaborative artwork, which fused Arabic and Japanese calligraphy, symbolised the harmony between two rich traditions.
In another dynamic engagement, the Guest Artists Takeover residency sees four Emirati artists — Asma Al Remeithi, Aisha (Yoshi) Al Ali, Sarah Al Mehairi, and Moza Almatrooshi — transforming the Pavilion’s creative space into a living studio. Each artist engages visitors through workshops and live demonstrations, offering both personal insights and broader cultural reflections.
Looking ahead to August, ADMAF and NYU Abu Dhabi will host winners of The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award 2025, Sara Farha and Khaled Shalkha. They will lead a series of innovation-driven workshops at the Pavilion, encouraging creativity and experimentation among global visitors.
The UAE Pavilion’s cultural programming — through dialogues, residencies, and performances — continues to position Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a vibrant hub for international cultural exchange. It also reinforces ADMAF’s mission to support arts, education, and creative industries, while contributing to a sustainable and inclusive cultural future.