Hala Badri, Director General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), visited the vibrant Alserkal Art Week, which this year unfolds under the theme ‘A Wild Stitch.’ The creative event offers an eclectic mix of exhibitions, public art commissions, curated tours, panel discussions, workshops, film screenings, and more — reflecting Dubai Culture’s commitment to strengthening the city’s reputation as a global cultural hub, a creative incubator, and a flourishing talent destination.
During her tour, Badri engaged with a diverse array of artworks that showcased an impressive spectrum of styles, themes, and ideas. Running until April 20, Alserkal Art Week offers visitors a multi-sensory journey through contemporary art narratives that span local and international perspectives.
Exploring Artistic Narratives and Global Talent
Among the standout exhibits that captured Badri’s attention was ‘Vanishing Points’, a solo exhibition by the celebrated artist Imran Qureshi. Curated by Nada Raza and supported by Nature Morte at Concrete, this showcase spans multiple mediums, including photography, video, canvas works, and site-specific installations. Qureshi, a distinguished leader in the Indo-Persian miniature painting tradition — particularly the Lahore School — reimagines classical artistic forms through a modern and often thought-provoking lens.
Badri also explored ‘I Am Soil. My Tears Are Water’, an immersive exhibition by Cuban artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons. Curated by Faridah Folawiyo and hosted at Efie Gallery, this display delves deeply into human connections with flora and fauna, weaving powerful stories of migration, memory, land, history, and identity.
Additionally, Badri visited the public art commission series titled ‘Between a Beach and Slope’, curated by Fatoş Üstek. The series draws inspiration from a poem of the same name by Emirati artist and poet Nujoom Alghanem. One particularly striking installation within the series, by artist Shilpa Gupta, interprets the poem’s evocative line, “In the face of the wind, everything seems to be the colour of the storm.” Gupta’s work explores the intricate relationship between Dubai’s evolving natural landscape and its rapid urban transformation. This installation is paired with an accompanying talk, ‘Between a Beach and Slope: A Conversation in Verse and Art,’ featuring Alghanem, Gupta, and Üstek.
Celebrating Dubai’s Artistic Diversity and Innovation
Hala Badri commended the depth, quality, and originality of the event’s programming. She described Alserkal Art Week as an inspiring and transformative platform that fuels artistic innovation while fostering the exchange of perspectives across cultures and disciplines. Badri also highlighted the week’s vital role in propelling Dubai’s cultural and creative industries forward and enriching the city’s dynamic arts ecosystem.
This year’s edition of Alserkal Art Week features 15 new exhibitions, spotlighting an impressive lineup of artists from across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Latin America — affirming the event’s growing reputation as a bridge between global creative communities.
