Sharjah’s Mega Mall venue for AI and Art exhibition on breast cancer

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

The future of art is alive and well in Sharjah – that too in the heart of the emirate! As Artificial Intelligence (AI) strengthens itself with artistic flair, a new aesthetic experience emerges, one that could be imaginative but also deal with real life issues. Curated by the team at Magzoid Magazine, Harmony the installation has been unveiled at Sharjah’s Mega Mall, focusing on breast cancer awareness. Presented by Golden Loaf and Golden Ribbons, Harmony, say the organisers, is not merely an exhibit but is “a sanctuary where cutting-edge technology meets sentimental storytelling.” The heart of the sanctuary is a carefully designed art installation filled with AI-generated artworks. The masterpieces unfold a tale of despair, hope, unity, challenges, and triumph, mirroring the breast cancer journey from diagnosis to recovery.

As visitors navigate through this winding journey, they will not only witness art and contemplate artificial intelligence, but also immerse themselves into the depth and emotions that each artwork evokes. It is an intimate portrayal overall, one that takes a viewer through stories not commonly known, but also one that ensures breast cancer narratives are not only heard but profoundly felt. As they have every right to be.

Through the installation, one does not just hear the stories — they are meant to be lived, embraced and felt. As guests navigate the installation, they confront the inescapable truth that, unlike the fortunate ones among them, there is no easy exit for those battling breast cancer. The installation yields not just the journey of a breast cancer patient, but also the internal turmoil she undergoes as she confronts the illness. The tears that perhaps fall and the moist eyes of guests will serve as reminders that while they may only experience the empathy for a couple of minutes, for patients, it is an ongoing, lifelong fight. Their unwavering courage is what keeps the flame of their hope lighted.

The purpose of the installation, however, extends far beyond the benefits of a momentary engagement. It is a loud shout to each of us to undertake a profound transformation rooted in understanding, to use our voices to uplift and empower those who do battle silently and hence, often go unheard. The initiative hopes that each one of us becomes a beacon and a voice for the fighters, survivors and for those we have lost to breast cancer.

The spokesperson of Magzoid Magazine said that “Art has forever been a canvas for humanity’s most profound stories. With ‘Harmony’, we’ve embarked on uncharted but necessary territories. Here, AI doesn’t replace the artist: it portrays the artist besides understanding and echoing the deeply emotional journey of breast cancer survivors.” A visitor who was deeply moved by the installation, said that “it is amazing to see how art can be fused with AI to deliver such thought-provoking messages to society. A family member of mine has been suffering from the same ailment. I was literally in tears as I walked through the installation, witnessing the painful and vivid stages of the journey, from the challenges to eventual healing.”

A view of ‘Harmony’ installation.

From the emotional journey depicted by the installation to the vividness of the art exhibition on the first floor of the mall by UAE-based artists who stand in solidarity for the cause showcasing their impressive pieces of work for visitors to gaze through and learn from, a creatively disruptive experience is assured. The principal presenter Golden Loaf, as a group, has long championed initiatives concerning social causes. “In ‘Harmony’, we see more than an installation; it’s a beacon, a statement, a call to awareness,” said the CEO of Golden Ribbon Chocolates. Complementing the vision of the exhibition are supporting pillars Debros Exhibitions and Events, ARTOZE Gallery and Exhibitions, DRNK, Al Mufeed Printing Press, Evolution Events and Rajasthan Restaurant.

You may say Harmony is a movement, a journey, a dialogue, or a statement. It could also be collective art therapy. Art therapy – for patients or for members of society - can be a powerful healing or awakening tool to help cope with the challenges of a diagnosis of breast cancer and treatments or for seeking the truth of this ‘Empress of Maladies’. Research has shown that therapy can improve the quality of life, increase the ability to cope with cancer, and reduce anxiety.  AI, besides its role in taking art to new dimensions, is also playing a remarkable role in medical situations. It is continuing to expand into many areas of our lives and one of those is cancer detection. Researchers are using machine-learning to build tools in the realm of cancer detection and diagnoses, potentially catching tumors or lesions that doctors and their human hands could have missed. Tools like AI also have an economic benefit because if cancers are caught early, patients do not have to risk struggling to pay for late-stage cancer treatment. While its grand unveiling was on October 15, the Harmony experience will linger till October 31, waiting to captivate, educate and inspire. How can ‘Harmony’ be the title of an exhibition on a dreaded disease, you may wonder. Well, the answer is not blowing in the wind. Harmony is indeed the cure for all kinds of problems. For the residents of the UAE and elsewhere, the call is clear: venture into Mega Mall for a cathartic experience.