Sheikh Mohammed's Art Goes Public

The artwork at the heart of the event is "Untitled (2000)" by the late Syrian artist Moustafa Fathi, a pioneer of contemporary art in the region. Fathi was known for his unique technique of using carved woodblock stamps, inspired by his research into traditional Syrian folk arts, to create complex, abstract compositions that evoke both ancient hieroglyphs and modern abstract expressionism. This public viewing is part of the fourth edition of Dubai Collection Nights, which has been expanded to a 14-day program, making it the most ambitious iteration to date. The event series includes not only the central exhibition but also artist studio tours, guided tours of private and corporate collections, workshops, and panel discussions across the city. The event's central exhibition, titled "In Attunement," is being held at the Al Safa Art & Design Library and is curated by Jumanah Abbas. The exhibition's theme, "Mapping Memories: Landscapes in Flux and Geometries of the Imagination," explores how artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia use abstraction to record and reflect on landscapes and urban environments. The masterpiece from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's private collection is displayed alongside works by other prominent artists from the region, including Emirati conceptual artist Hassan Sharif and Palestinian-American abstractionist Samia Halaby. Sheikh Mohammed's broader collection is known to include significant works by modern Arab artists such as Algerian artist Baya Mahieddine, Syrian painter Fateh Moudarres, and Iraqi artist Dia Azzawi. This initiative is a key part of the Dubai Collection, a city-wide art collection operating under a unique long-term loan model from the private collections of patrons. Sheikh Mohammed is a founding patron of the collection, which was launched by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority in 2021. The Dubai Collection currently comprises 875 artworks on loan from 76 patrons. The entire collection is accessible to the public through a digital museum, with physical exhibitions like "In Attunement" and the previous "When Images Speak" at the Etihad Museum, providing curated in-person experiences.