Although art and galleries go hand in hand, some of the UAE’s most spectacular examples of artistic expression may be found outside, away from the confines of a gallery. The public is welcome to view a number of magnificent sculptures and works of art that are located around the Emirates for free.
Regular audiences gather to see works like The Scroll in Sharjah by Tim Bravington, Together by Lutfi Romhein, and Win, Victory, Love by Lutfi Romhein.
The painting Dandelions by Mirek Struzik, shown below, is now a popular tourist destination. When viewed from a specific angle, the trip of tall metal buildings created by the Polish artist frames the Burj Khalifa. The sturdy metal frames contrast sharply with the delicate floral design.
“The dandelions that can be found in nature served as the project’s inspiration. The purpose of Dandelions is to use ‘heavy material,’ metal, to depict the delicate nature of flowers. Dandelions’ delicate nature contrasts with the city’s imposing grandeur, “reads the piece’s description on Struzik’s website.
“High quality, acid-resistant stainless steel that has been electropolished is used to make the dandelions. No special maintenance is required. It is impenetrable to water, storms, and the winter.”
Front Liners, made by the Kart Group for Dubai Science Park, is at the other extremity of the creative spectrum. The life-size sculpture is a tribute to the heroes of Dubai.
An eye-catching tableau of a police officer, first responder, nurse, doctor, volunteer, and cleaning is created on the 17-panel piece of art by using perspective.
Of course, there are a number of sculptures and monuments in the UAE that have active social media followings, including Love Me by British artist Richard Hudson and the Wings of Mexico by Jorge Marin, both of which are shown here.
It’s not unusual to see a line of individuals waiting to take a picture in Burj Plaza with Marin’s wings behind them. Members of the K-pop ensemble SuperM posed in front of the sculpture in 2019 and the photo became instantly renowned throughout the world.
