Dubai Sculpture Symposium 2024 underlined the stature of sculpture

The inaugural edition of the Dubai Sculpture Symposium 2024, organised by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture, till December 22), brought together a diverse array of sculptures and artistic works at the Al Shindagha Historic District. The initiative aimed to highlight the significance of sculpture as an art form, enhance Dubai’s visual identity, and cultivate an environment that empowered and supported local and international talent in the field of sculpture. The meet acted as a platform for local artists to connect with international peers, exchange knowledge on various sculpting techniques, and benefit from global expertise. By doing so, it raised awareness of public art, showcasing the pivotal role sculpture plays in supporting cultural and creative industries.

The ground-breaking event, the first of its kind in Dubai, featured over 15 sculptors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, China and Ukraine, among others. Their contributions are key additions to Dubai’s Public Art Strategy, enriching the emirate’s cultural fabric. Among the participants was Emirati artist Dr. Mohammed Yousif, President of the Emirates Fine Arts Society, whose piece ‘Shells’ tells the story of two mysterious shells that reflect Dubai’s essence and beauty.

Left: A sculpture leaps into the sky and a sculpture aims for the sky.

Emirati artist Azza Al Qubaisi presented her dynamic sculpture ‘Dubai Heart’, a piece that is part of a series that blends local cultural elements and traditions with modern interpretations, symbolising the UAE’s rapid evolution. Syrian artist Aktham Abdul Hamid contributed with his ‘Cultural Accumulation’ piece, which explores humanity’s experiences from ancient history to the age of artificial intelligence. Chinese artist Liu Yang’s ‘Starry Sky in Dubai’ captured the mesmerising beauty of Dubai’s night skies using innovative light effects, while Saudi sculptor Mohammed Al Thagafi’s ‘Conversation’ symbolised societal harmony through a delicate balance of soft and strong elements.

Artists from across the globe also created works inspired by Dubai’s heritage and aspirations. Romanian sculptor Ana Maria Negara’s ‘Fractal’ reflects the geometric harmony found in Dubai’s architecture, while Georgian artist Jhon Gogaberishvili’s ‘Fountain’ portrays the movement of water droplets as a metaphor for balance between chaos and beauty. Bulgarian artist Georgi Minchev’s ‘Fragment of Something Bigger’ conveys life’s contrasts, from joy to sorrow, through sculptural forms. Spanish artist José Millán’s sculpture, ‘Harmonic Connections’, consists of two elements resembling arms rising and intertwining at a central point, symbolising unity, connection, and the gracefulness of human relationships.

A sculpture with calligraphy (left) and Dubai Heart by Azza Al Qubaisi.

Ukrainian artist Lyudmyla Mysko, an award-winning sculptor with works displayed in over 30 countries, showcased her series of monumental sculptures titled ‘Magnetic Designer’. Her pieces combine physical form with spatial voids, maintaining harmony and balance within the outer stone mass. Tunisian artist Mohamed Bouaziz presented his artwork ‘Our Land’, encapsulating the essence of life, continuous movement, and interconnectedness. It serves as a reminder of the urgent need to preserve the planet for future generations.

Fellow Tunisian artist Mohamed Sahnoun, recipient of the first prize at the International Calligraphy Forum in Algeria, showcased ‘Moon’, a sculpture of a large circle crafted from Omani white marble, symbolising a full moon that transitions into a crescent with movement, accompanied by Arabic calligraphy, reflecting the Arab-Islamic identity. Egyptian artist Said Badr offered ‘City Gate’, a sculpture composed of two vertical blocks separated by a transparent space, symbolising a gateway to the city and bearing messages that connect the past, present, and future. Italian artist Stefano Sabetta’s work, ‘Gushing Coral’, reflected the dynamics of movement and interactions within Dubai, inspired by the complexity of coral reefs, neural networks, and genetic codes, generating new ideas and forms of life.

Participants at Dubai Sculpture Symposium.

Polish artist Wiktor Kopacz presented his piece ‘Thirst for Life’, which expressed the idea that the best lies within people. Through striving and seeking, new ideas emerge, leading to positive changes in lives. The symposium hosted specialised workshops and panels, including sessions on environmental sustainability in public art, interactive sculpture and preserving historical sculptures. The discussions, scheduled for December 14 and 21, aimed to engage participants and the public in dialogues about art’s role in shaping sustainable and innovative societies. The event concluded by recognising participating artists, celebrating their contributions to advancing creativity and innovation.

The committee members tasked with selecting the participating artistic designs for the symposium included Emirati artist Najat Makki, recipient of the ‘Emirates Appreciation Award for Science, Arts and Literature’ and the ‘l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ from France’s Ministry of Culture. The committee also included Dr. Nina Heydemann, Director of Maraya Art Centre and 1971 - Design Space in Sharjah. Among other members was artist and filmmaker Nujoom Alghanem, an award-winning professional mentor and advisor in the fields of visual art, filmmaking and creative writing across the region. Alghanem’s career features 11 published poetry collections and more than 20 produced films.

The symposium’s curation was supervised by Jordanian artist Kamal Al Zoubi, founder of the sculpture department at Dubai Culture’s Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children, and Omani artist Dr. Ali Al Jabri, who is known for his innovative approach of blending wood and marble in sculptural works. Al Jabri has also contributed to establishing prominent artistic initiatives such as the International Sculptors Camp through Sohart Camp. Dr. Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of the Arts, Design, and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture said that “the committee relied on a set of artistic, aesthetic and intellectual criteria, to underscore the importance of sculpture as one of the oldest and most profound artistic tools, reflecting cultural authenticity and preserving creative heritage across generations.”