In order to promote art in the Emirate, Experience Abu Dhabi, the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has launched the inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, as part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative. 

In a press statement, Experience Abu Dhabi says that this landmark event transforms Abu Dhabi and Al Ain into vibrant open-air galleries, celebrating creativity and culture.

Running until April 30, 2025, the Biennial explores the concept of ‘public’ in the context of Abu Dhabi, showcasing how art cultivates connections across communities. Designed with accessibility in mind, the exhibition is strategically located in the downtown areas of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to welcome visitors and residents alike to engage and explore with its installations, the statement adds.

According to Experience Abu Dhabi, visitors and residents can explore works by over 70 artists from around the world

According to Experience Abu Dhabi, visitors and residents can explore works by over 70 artists from around the world. The Biennial brings together site-specific installations and performances that directly engage with communities and reflect on the intersection of community, environment and identity.

It says that some of the highlights of the Biennial include Farah Al Qasimi’s Homesickeness which is an auditory sculpture immersing listeners in ocean sounds, symbolising the sea’s cultural and environmental significance in the region.

Another creation highlighted by the destination promotion organisation is Seema Nusrat’s Floating Fragments that depicts a terracotta-roofed house submerged by an imagined flood and which explores urban life and the increasing risks of flooding due to climate change.

Also mentioned are Christopher Benton’s Where Lies My Carpet Is Thy Home, which is a transformation of the traditional Carpet Souk to a vibrant community space, encouraging attendees to engage and connect with the community, Afra Al Dhaheri’s D-constructing Collective Exhaustion, a  thought-provoking piece which draws on time, presence, and attention in an immersive installation made of wooden structures, tangled ropes, light, and sound.

Experience Abu Dhabi says that Wael Al Awar’s Barzakh, an installation that refers to a boundary or liminal space, and rethinks how these materials and processes could shape future architecture. 

According to the statement, designed to be explored on foot or by car, the Biennial’s especially curated routes invite visitors to discover prominent landmarks and hidden gems, all through an artistic lens. Even as Abu Dhabi continues to grow, its warm welcome and generous spirit remain at its heart. The Biennial celebrates these cherished traditions, sharing them with the world.

It adds that the Biennial will unveil another wave of art installations and activities beginning in January 2025, kicking off the second phase of the exhibition.

The Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial provides a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the city’s culture and connect with its vibrant community, making it a must-visit attraction for tourists in the city from November to April 2025.