DCT Abu Dhabi launches Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial 2nd phase

ABU DHABI/AD MEDIA OFFICE

The inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial commences its second phase with seven new unveilings and installations at iconic locations across the emirate.
Taking place until April 30 2025, the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial aims to celebrate art, culture and community. The exhibition features site-specific installations by more than 70 artists from the UAE and around the world, including 40 new commissions, thoughtfully exhibited throughout the downtown areas of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Following the launch in November, new unveilings by Anga Art Collective, Arquitectura Expandida, Ayesha Hadhir, Lúcia Koch, Rand Abdul Jabbar and Tarik Kiswanson will be featured in the second phase along with an ongoing piece by Atelier Aziz Al Qatami, which will continue to take shape at the Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal.
New installations by Hussein Sharif, Emily Jacir, Nnenna Okore, Rami Kashou x Emirati Artisans, Alia Farid and Latifa Saeed will further activate the exhibition’s eight routes throughout the remaining months of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial. A participatory performance by Mobile Akademie Berlin will round out the Biennial celebrations in April.
The installations are distributed across the Abu Dhabi Corniche Route, Abu Dhabi Public Parks Route, Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal Route, Downtown Abu Dhabi Route, Carpet Souq Route, National Theatre Route, Cultural Foundation Route and Al Ain Oasis Route. The easy-to-follow routes can be explored on foot or by car.
As part of the second phase, a public programme for visitors of all ages and backgrounds will activate the various Biennial sites, such as the Abu Dhabi Bus Terminal, a modern heritage building in the city centre, which will hold several events. The programme features a wide range of activities, including talks, tours, workshops, performances, wellness activations and more. Examples include film screenings at the Cultural Foundation, such as Wael Shawky’s, Drama 1882, (2024), which premiered at the Venice Biennale, and collaborative public performances with artist Christopher Joshua Benton and the community at the Carpet Souq.
Reem Fadda, Director of Culture Programming at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The launch of the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial marks a milestone in Abu Dhabi’s artistic scene. The artworks we are unveiling as part of the second phase of the inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial present a wide range of perspectives on the concept of ‘public’, within our distinct cultural context. Together, these installations explore the complex relationships between environment, community, urbanity and indigeneity and how these elements define public spaces within Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.”
Clémence Bergal, Public Art Abu Dhabi Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial is one of the three pillars of the wider Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative. The breadth of artists and artworks on display is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s long-term efforts to integrate art into the fabric of society, and ultimately to make it accessible and available to all. The event also highlights the programme’s contribution to the preservation of significant architectural and urban spaces, for the wider community. With every installation, we are harnessing the power of public art to advance the creative legacy, cultural infrastructure and quality of life within Abu Dhabi through placemaking and collective memory.”