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It was a balmy April night, with only the flash of a phone camera distinguishing the post-iftar stragglers from the Insta-friendly crowd that was strolling through the sculpture park nestled in the heart of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The open-air gallery has been welcoming art connoisseurs and the plain curious with its current exhibit, titled ‘Tales under the Gate’, which will run until September 30.
This DIFC Sculpture Park offers a curation of works by local, regional and some renowned international artists that have played across various mediums, including traditional sculptures and paintings, along with the occasional dabbling in video art.
While we hear the great Salvador Dali’s ‘Woman of Time’ is one of the pieces in the exhibit, perhaps the most visually striking is ‘Together’ by Lorenzo Quinn, which depicts two hands made out of stainless steel mesh reaching out to make contact. If the sculpture seems familiar it's probably because it was earlier installed under the shadow of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Today, it has a new home, albeit temporary, displayed in front of the DIFC Gate Building. Quinn also has another piece on display, the famous ‘Love Dubai’ sign that has probably dominated your social media feed over the past few months.
“Over the years, DIFC has established itself as a leading art hub, and bringing back the DIFC Sculpture Park for a second year reaffirms our commitment to supporting Dubai’s art and culture vision,” Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority said earlier in a statement.
“The park allows the public to experience both art and the landscape of DIFC in an immersive and unique way. DIFC Sculpture Park, under the theme of ‘Tales Under the Gate’ invites audiences to step outside of their day-to-day boundaries and open their minds to other realities and perceptions.”
A hint of this mind-bending reality is visible in Emre Yusufi’s playful take on Hercules, the all-powerful mythical Greek hero who now appears as a DJ, striking a pose on the lawns on DIFC, and much to the delight of several trigger-happy camera wielding enthusiasts on this night.
Other arresting pieces on display include local Emirati artist Azza Al Qubaisi’s ‘Between the Dunes’, which pays homage to the UAE landscape and uses sustainable materials, along with Adonai Sebhatu’s installation ‘Digital Self’ which raises the question whether the digital revolution is making us lose touch with our humanity?
It was with this profound, almost humbling thought that we strolled out of the sculpture park, richer with the experience and the moments of self-reflection.
The DIFC Sculpture Park spans the area from the Gate Building and through to Gate Avenue. Closest parking was the Gate 2 Building. Works are displayed both outside and inside the surrounding buildings of DIFC. The event is open to the public and entry is free of charge.
(Reporting by Bindu Rai; editing by Seban Scaria)
