Sand Portrait – In the tranquil early hours of Dubai, as the first light kisses the sands, Nathaniel Alapide embarks on his distinctive artistic routine. Armed with nothing more than a garden rake, the Filipino artist transforms the city’s sandy beaches into intricate works of art, merging his vision with the natural landscape.
Alapide, who moved from the Philippines to Dubai in 2003 with the aim of creating a better future, has become a prominent figure in the UAE’s art scene over the past two decades. His artistic journey, which began as a tribute to his late grandmother, has evolved into a celebrated career in sand art. Reflecting on his early influences, Alapide shares, “I think I was around seven to eight years old. I used to stare at the cracks on the wall and [the] faded paints on it, and I would see or make up images or figures. This is when I started drawing.”
A Defining Moment in Sand Art
Alapide’s breakthrough came in 2014 at Jumeirah Beach, where he created a sand drawing of a tree in honor of his grandmother. This work attracted the attention of a local journalist, leading to widespread recognition. “Jumeirah Beach Hotel offered me a position as a full-time sand artist, which was a dream come true,” he recalls. Following this, he worked on Sand Portrait at RIXOS JBR and eventually pursued a freelance career, which allowed him to showcase his sand art on numerous prestigious platforms.
His portfolio includes collaborations with renowned brands such as Burberry and Adidas, a tribute to Emirati astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori, and his Guinness World Record-setting sand image from 2022, which covered over 250,000 square feet and demonstrated his exceptional skill and creativity.
Mastering the Elements
Alapide’s choice of tools is surprisingly modest—a garden rake, which he likens to a pencil for his sand creations. He elaborates, “This is my tool, similar to a pencil, that I use to draw images in the sand.
For the lines or drawing to be more visible, it has to be done on damp or wet sand. I usually work early in the morning when the tide is low, providing me with a large area of wet sand to draw on.”
Creating sand art involves a race against time as the tides threaten to erase his work. “When I’m creating sand art on the beach, I’m always racing against time,” he explains. Alapide meticulously monitors tide forecasts to maximize his working window, making each creation a fleeting yet precious endeavor.
A Tribute to Sheikh Hamdan
Among Alapide’s most notable works is his sand portrait of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, accompanied by camels. “I drew Sand Portrait of Sheikh Hamdan with his camels because, like him, I share a deep appreciation for these beautiful animals. I also enjoy riding and racing camels,” says Alapide, who won first place in a camel race in Abu Dhabi in 2023. The portrait took two hours to complete, from 6 am to 8 am.
Alapide’s connection with Sheikh Hamdan dates back to his early years in Dubai, including his time as a lifeguard at Wild Wadi Waterpark and a scuba diver at Atlantis The Palm Aquarium. “The first time was between 2004 and 2005 when I was a lifeguard at Wild Wadi. He used to surf the wave machine there, and on a few occasions, I was the lifeguard on duty,” he recalls. “The second time was when Atlantis The Palm Aquarium first opened and I was a scuba diver at that time. He’d frequently freedive in the aquarium and on several occasions, I was there to assist him,” adds Alapide.
A Grounded Perspective
Despite his success and accolades, including recognition from the UAE for his unique sand art, Alapide remains anchored in the philosophy of his craft.
“Creating something fleeting or ephemeral such as sand art reminds you that everything is in constant change. It teaches you to let go and connect to something that is larger than yourself,” he reflects. This transient beauty in his art mirrors a deeper life lesson, emphasizing the impermanence and beauty of the moment.
