Dubai Culture unveils ‘Deliberate Pauses' in Hatta
- Dubai Culture unveils 'Deliberate Pauses' in Hatta, the largest site-specific public art installation in the emirate - The installation, commissioned by Alserkal Arts Foundation, is launched in collaboration with the Supreme Committee to Oversee the Development of Hatta - Created by Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou, the installation forms part of the 'Dubai Public Art' initiative
- Artwork highlights the cultural, historical, and environmental richness of Hatta's natural landscape
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), in collaboration with the Supreme Committee to Oversee the Development of Hatta, has announced the launch of 'Deliberate Pauses', the largest site-specific public art installation in Dubai. Created by Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou, the artwork is commissioned by Alserkal Arts Foundation.
Set against the striking backdrop of Hatta's Leem Lake, the installation forms part of the 'Dubai Public Art' initiative launched by Dubai Culture to transform the city into a global open-air art gallery. The initiative offers immersive artistic experiences that strengthen Dubai's global cultural presence, enrich its visual identity, and celebrate its heritage.
Curated by Faysal Tabbarah, Associate Professor at the College of Architecture, Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah, the installation highlights the cultural, historical, and environmental richness of Hatta's natural landscape. The art piece features five reflective red metallic discs placed along Hatta's scenic hiking trails. Positioned both upright and flat, the discs are seamlessly embedded within the rugged Hajar Mountains, serving as visual beacons and contemplative portals that invite visitors to pause, reflect, and connect with the surrounding beauty.
The installation blends bold visual impact with a deep respect for the natural environment. 'Deliberate Pauses' fosters a dialogue between past and present, encouraging hikers to engage with the often-overlooked narratives of Hatta, reflected in its rugged landscapes, cultural artefacts and oral histories.
Highlighting the role of public art in fostering a sustainable creative environment, Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, said: ''Deliberate Pauses' is a valuable addition to Dubai's Public Art Strategy, showcasing Hatta's natural, cultural, and historical diversity alongside its distinctive tourism experiences. It aligns with the comprehensive development plan for Hatta and reflects the Authority's commitment to empowering local talent, encouraging innovation, and inspiring artists to contribute to Dubai's cultural identity through their unique perspectives.'
Shaikha Almazrou highlighted the importance of reflection, saying: 'In the mountains of Hatta, I pause deliberately—not to find answers, but to question the need for them. Like the spiral, it's not about moving forward or backwards but about recognising the quiet moments in between. Here, in stillness, you're invited to reflect, or simply to observe, as the landscape itself offers its own kind of pause.'
Faysal Tabbarah commented on the role of public art in connecting people with their surroundings, saying: 'Public art amplifies a sense of place and can enable people to understand their environments in ways that are often too subtle to notice without reflection. In trying to amplify the stories of Hatta and Leem Lake, Shaikha Almazrou, Alserkal Arts Foundation, and I worked collaboratively to ensure the artwork amplifies reflections about place, connection, and wonder.'
An accomplished sculptor, Shaikha Al Mazrou holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London (2014). She is known for her innovative sculptural practices that explore diverse ideas and demonstrate a deep understanding of materials and their physical properties. Her works have been showcased in prestigious venues such as the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and as part of London's Frieze Sculpture exhibition, cementing her role as a leading figure in the contemporary local art scene.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Zawya
CMA partners with 'FilmGate' to grow creative industries, promote production sector in Abu Dhabi
ABU DHABI - Abu Dhabi's Creative Media Authority (CMA) has announced a new partnership with one of the UAE's leading independent, Emirati-owned and operated production houses, FilmGate to secure a suite of benefits for the wider production industry in Abu Dhabi. FilmGate will produce a minimum of 15 productions in Abu Dhabi over the next five years. The productions will employ 50 percent of production talent from within the CMA's ecosystem. The partnership will also provide extensive learning and development benefits for the ecosystem including annual workshops hosted by FilmGate for the industry on a specialist production topic and four, six-month paid internships per annum for young Emirati talent with a view to providing permanent employment opportunities to grow and nurture talent from within the UAE. Mohamed Dobay, Acting Director-General of Creative Media Authority, said, 'Establishing partnerships with local and regional production leaders is a key element of our industry development strategy to make Abu Dhabi a global content hub. Alongside attracting the major Hollywood and Bollywood productions, it is critical that we support and increase the Arab content produced in Abu Dhabi to ensure we are building an ecosystem where Emirati and wider Arab narratives can thrive.' 'The partnerships we are curating are designed to deliver unrivalled opportunities throughout the ecosystem, from employment for our 1000 plus registered freelancers to intern opportunities for our young creatives; these partnerships support on all levels.' Founded by leading Emirati filmmaker Mansoor Al yahbouni al Dhaheri, FilmGate will also benefit from the recent update on the rebate offered by Abu Dhabi Film Commission where qualifying productions now can apply for cashback on production and postproduction spend starting at 35 percent up to 50 percent based on meeting a clear set of criteria. Mansoor Al yahbouni al Dhaheri, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of FilmGate, added, 'It is a significant year for Abu Dhabi with the new rebate for production starting January 1 and a partnership of this nature with Creative Media Authority will allow us to maximise all that Abu Dhabi offers in terms of filming locations, creative infrastructure, talent and financial support to produce more content than ever before.' As a visionary producer, director, writer, and, most notably, philanthropist Mr Mansoor Al Dhaheri has created content which has been screened at festivals across the world including at Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival and Gulf Film Festival. Some of his award-winning and nominated projects include Al Biet Metwahid (Unified Home) (2013), ( (2012), Little Sparta (2016), Swim 62 (2023). Other more recent work includes the documentary ABU DHABI success story (2024), TV series Dreams Drawn by Dust (2022), House of Life (2022), Scattered Barriers (2021), three seasons of The Platform and feature film The Misfits (2021). As CEO of FilmGate, he leads a team of directors, scriptwriters, cameramen, video editors, animators, audio auditors and producers to create engaging and inspiring content from Abu Dhabi. The FilmGate partnership is one of several partnerships CMA is establishing in order to provide further stimulus across the creative industries of Abu Dhabi, of which the production industry is key.
Al Etihad
10 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Creative Media Authority (CMA) partners with UAE production house FilmGate to grow creative industries and promote production sector in Abu Dhabi
4 June 2025 12:11 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Abu Dhabi's Creative Media Authority (CMA) has announced a new partnership with one of the UAE's leading independent, Emirati-owned and operated production houses, FilmGate, to secure a suite of benefits for the wider production industry in Abu will produce a minimum of 15 productions in Abu Dhabi over the next five years. The productions will employ 50 percent of production talent from within the CMA's partnership will also provide extensive learning and development benefits for the ecosystem, including annual workshops hosted by FilmGate for the industry on a specialist production topic and four six-month paid internships per annum for young Emirati talent with a view to providing permanent employment opportunities to grow and nurture talent from within the Director General of Creative Media Authority, Mohamed Dobay, said, 'Establishing partnerships with local and regional production leaders is a key element of our industry development strategy to make Abu Dhabi a global content hub. Alongside attracting the major Hollywood and Bollywood productions, it is critical that we support and increase the Arab content produced in Abu Dhabi to ensure we are building an ecosystem where Emirati and wider Arab narratives can thrive.''The partnerships we are curating are designed to deliver unrivalled opportunities throughout the ecosystem, from employment for our 1000-plus registered freelancers to intern opportunities for our young creatives; these partnerships support on all levels.'Founded by leading Emirati filmmaker, Mansoor Al yahbouni al Dhaheri, FilmGate will also benefit from the recent update on the rebate offered by Abu Dhabi Film Commission where qualifying productions now can apply for cashback on production and postproduction spend starting at 35 percent up to 50 per cent based on meeting a clear set of Executive Officer and Founder of FilmGate, Mansoor Al yahbouni al Dhaheri, added, 'It is a significant year for Abu Dhabi with the new rebate for production starting January 1 and a partnership of this nature with Creative Media Authority will allow us to maximise all that Abu Dhabi offers in terms of filming locations, creative infrastructure, talent and financial support to produce more content than ever before.'As a visionary producer, director, writer, and, most notably, philanthropist, Mr. Mansoor Al Dhaheri, has created content, which has been screened at festivals across the world, including at Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival and the Gulf Film Festival. Some of his award-winning and nominated projects include Al Biet Metwahid (Unified Home) (2013), ( (2012), Little Sparta (2016), Swim 62 (2023).Other more recent work includes the documentary ABU DHABI success story (2024), TV series Dreams Drawn by Dust (2022), House of Life (2022), Scattered Barriers (2021), three seasons of The Platform and feature film The Misfits (2021).As CEO of FilmGate, he leads a team of directors, scriptwriters, cameramen, video editors, animators, audio auditors, and producers to create engaging and inspiring content from Abu Dhabi. The FilmGate partnership is one of several partnerships CMA is establishing in order to provide further stimulus across the creative industries of Abu Dhabi, of which the production industry is key.
Web Release
17 hours ago
- Web Release
Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development signs agreement with Inovartic Investment to support startups in UAE gaming sector
Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) has entered into a strategic agreement with the Inovartic Investment to enhance bilateral cooperation and support startups in the gaming sector in the UAE. At the centre of this agreement is a comprehensive framework designed to support early-stage gaming enterprises by offering incubation services, specialised training programs, and financial support. These initiatives will help developers design, build, and successfully bring to market original gaming content. Additionally, the agreement will deliver capacity-building programs to enhance expertise in areas such as game design and storytelling, in line with international best practices. A significant emphasis will also be placed on developing culturally inspired intellectual property that highlights Emirati heritage through authentic narratives, further supplementing the gaming sector with local content. To further accelerate innovation, the collaboration will focus on streamlining the commercialisation of gaming prototypes, enhancing investor pitch strategies, and improving pathways for successful launch of products in the market. Additionally, the agreement will pave the way for joint events and exhibitions that will showcase local talent and groundbreaking projects, increasing their visibility and impact on a larger scale. Mouza Al Nasri, Acting CEO of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: 'This partnership represents a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting and empowering Emirati entrepreneurs within the gaming industry. By cultivating an environment that advocates creativity and innovation, we seek to unlock the capabilities of local talent in this dynamic field. Our collaboration with Inovartic Investment reflects our steadfast dedication to strengthening the knowledge economy and promoting sustainable development across diverse sectors, in alignment with the UAE's long-term national vision.' Saif Al Darmaki, Chairman and Co-Founder of Inovartic Investment, stated: 'This agreement marks a transformative chapter in shaping the UAE's future creative economy. By uniting strategic incubators with the rich legacy of Emirati storytelling, we are empowering a new generation of game developers to craft globally resonant intellectual properties — rooted in Abu Dhabi's vision. Our collaboration with Khalifa Fund underscores a shared ambition: to drive innovation, celebrate local heritage, and position Abu Dhabi as the region's premier hub for gaming industry.' Anwar Hussain, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Inovartic Investment, said: 'We are honoured to partner with Khalifa Fund in driving transformative growth within the gaming industry. This collaboration goes beyond nurturing startups — it is about building a dynamic ecosystem where creative talent, cultural heritage, and global vision converge. Together, we are empowering Emirati innovators to redefine the gaming landscape, ensuring their influence extends from the UAE to the world stage.' This partnership underscores the shared dedication of both organisations toward nurturing a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in the gaming sector. It marks a strategic move toward driving innovation and sustainable growth in the sector, while cementing the UAE's role as a centre for digital creativity. By providing financial support, skill development, and startup acceleration, Khalifa Fund and Inovartic Investment jointly aim to build an integrated ecosystem that supports the UAE's broader economic aspirations. Together, they strive to elevate Abu Dhabi's position as a leading regional hub for gaming, aligned with global standards, offering transformative opportunities and innovative solutions to entrepreneurs and creatives alike.
