
Summons to summer with Ishara Art Foundation's ‘No Trespassing' show
Signposts, building materials, pavements, lights, street art, scrapheaps and human traces become inscriptions of a city's movement. 'No Trespassing' looks at the streets as a site of deconstruction and reinvention, continually shaping and being shaped by those who live in and pass through them. The exhibition explores what it means to speak of art in, on and from the street.
The participating artists have created their works through on-site interventions, a kind of mark-making that mirrors the interaction of a city with its inhabitants. Upon entering the exhibition, the viewer encounters a large-scale mixed-media work by H11235 (Kiran Maharjan). As the artist was unable to be present on-site to create the piece, he explores the possibilities of mark-making from a distance. The work signals the void left by his absence.
An abstraction of a digital rendering, which is presented opposite, the creation presents the architectural elements shown in the original, while incorporating locally sourced building materials such as corrugated metal and engineered wood. Questioning the life of humans and the built environment, it explores the impact of material surroundings on the psyche. At the far end of the gallery, Rami Farook carves out four square metres of the wall, revealing its hidden structure.
Sara Alahbabi's installation.
The act exposes the vulnerability of the white cube and prompts reflection on the ownership of art and space. The removed sections are offered as a gift to Ishara's founder and team – symbolising trust, transparency and connection. 'The work honours the Foundation's history, while inviting shared custodianship and care for its future,' says Farook.
In the second gallery, Fatspatrol (Fathima Mohiuddin) presents 'The World Out There', consisting of what she calls 'scavenged' objects – discarded street signs, scraps of wood and posters – marked with drawings that extend beyond the mounted pieces and onto the surrounding wall. Adopting the persona of the flâneur – a lone figure who wanders through a city, observing and contemplating the urban landscape – she collects objects to rewrite their narratives using her own voice and language. For Fatspatrol, it is an act of reclaiming the street, which is systemically regulated, surveilled and commodified, according to her. It is a space where one is instructed to 'follow the signs', yet where new stories are continually being narrated, she notes.
In an alcove is Sara Alahbabi's 'For a Better Modern Something', an installation that explores Abu Dhabi's evolving urban fabric. Cement blocks printed with maps are joined together with LED tube lights, creating a grid-like structure against the surface of the wall and floor. The work is the result of Alahbabi's use of walking as a methodology in her practice, to experience the streets as a pedestrian in a city dominated by a culture of driving. Travelling on foot reveals new aspects of Abu Dhabi's identity, in which connections flow between communities, revealing a potential for mutual understanding across cultural and economic boundaries emerges. Khaled Esguerra's installation, displayed in the third gallery, challenges ongoing efforts to conceal the disorderliness of urban centres.
Detail from Sara Alahbabi's compositon.
Titled 'Heritage Legacy Authentic', the work responds to the redevelopment of historic neighbourhoods, carried out with the promise of preserving heritage and authenticity. Tiled across the floor are sheets of copier paper, a medium often used for informal advertisements, printed with words drawn from the promotional messaging of these projects and masked with blank carbon paper. The work invites viewers to stomp on, kick, thrash, tear and skid over it; it gradually reveals the printed words. Serving as a canvas for Salma Dib, the surrounding walls are covered with layers of traces, lettering, fragments and textured elements. Inspired by the walls of Palestine, Jordan and Syria, the artwork transforms the gallery into a palimpsest of thoughts and ideas, inscribed by multiple authors over time.
'No Trespassing' invites audiences to step into a dialogue between the street and themselves, and reimagine how one moves through, and leaves his mark on, the spaces he inhabits. The exhibition is accompanied by physical and virtual tours, as well as educational and public programmes. It is supported by reframe. Priyanka Mehra has a background in design and has navigated diverse roles in the arts that include public art commissions in the UAE, urban regeneration programmes in India and conceptualising Public Art Masterplans in the KSA.
She has worked on large-scale urban art festivals such as St+art Delhi and Public Art Commissions at Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi. Smita Prabhakar, Founder and Chairperson of Ishara Art Foundation, is an entrepreneur, collector and art patron who has been based in the UAE for over four decades. She is a member of the International Acquisitions Committee at Tate Modern (London), the Middle Eastern Circle of the Guggenheim Museum (New York), and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Venice). Sasha Altaf is the Director of Ishara Art Foundation.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Watch: Sheikh Mohammed visits Mall of the Emirates, spotted in Dubai supermarket
Hitting the mall this weekend? You might just spot the Ruler of Dubai, just like these residents. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been visiting different parts of the emirate all week, surprising residents who catch a glimpse of him. Earlier, he was seen taking photographs with children and having warm conversations with residents while stepping out of a cafe in Dubai Mall. Not just that, the Ruler was also seen walking down the streets of the souk in Deira, despite the sweltering heat. This time, however, residents saw the leader walking past them in the aisles of Mall of the Emirates. On seeing him, one woman even shouted, "We love you!", a clear sign of how cherished he is by those who live here. Dressed sharply as always, the Ruler of Dubai walked with staff, a cane in hand. As with his other appearances this week, he was without armed guards, moving casually which is a striking contrast to many global leaders. Watch the video of him in the mall, below: Later, during the same mall visit, he was seen walking inside a supermarket, which appears to be a Carrefour. People could be seen stepping aside and taking photographs as they saw him pass by. Watch the video of him in the supermarket below: Earlier this week, he also travelled by the Dubai Tram, taking commuters by surprise. Many even pulled out their phones to capture the memorable moment. From malls and souks to trams and supermarkets, Sheikh Mohammed's presence this week has been a reminder of his deep connection with the people of Dubai. His spontaneous outings continue to inspire admiration, not just for his leadership, but for the humility and humanity he brings to it.


Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Final countdown: Last chance to make July unforgettable with Big Ticket
There's a first time for everything. First job. First trip. First car. But what if this July marked your first million? Big Ticket is closing out July with its biggest prizes yet, and this is your final chance to take part in a promotion that's already brought smiles to so many faces all month long. Whether you're in it for the dream lifestyle, the cash rewards, or the cars, there's still time to step into something unforgettable. At the heart of it all is the Dh20 million grand prize, set to be announced during the live draw on August 3 in Abu Dhabi. But that night won't just crown one winner, six more participants will walk away with Dh50,000 each, making it a celebration of multiple firsts. And while the grand reveal is just around the corner, the winning hasn't stopped yet. Big Ticket's weekly e-draws have already named twelve winners, each walking away with Dh50,000, but there's one final weekly draw to go. This week, another four names will be drawn, and they could include yours. To those feeling extra lucky, participants who purchased two or more cash tickets in a single transaction between 1–24 July are already entered into the Big Win Contest, an exclusive experience where four finalists will be invited to attend the grand draw in person. Each of them is guaranteed to win between Dh20,000 and Dh150,000, and the finalists will be announced on August 1. Luxury car fans haven't been forgotten either. This month's Dream Car draw features a Range Rover Velar, with the winner to be revealed on 3rd August. And coming right after: a BMW M440i draw on September 3. To make the final days of July even more rewarding, Big Ticket is running bundle promotions at all ticket counters and online: Buy 2, get 1 free (online only) Buy 2, get 2 free (Big Ticket) and Buy 2, get 3 free (Dream Car) at Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport counters. With only days to go, July is still packed with possibility. It could be the summer you'll always remember as the one where you took a leap and saw your name on the winner's list. Tickets are available online at or at counters located in Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport. For all the latest news and updates on upcoming draws, everyone is encouraged to follow Big Ticket's social media platforms. The weekly E-draw dates:


Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Watch: Kids arriving at DXB get souvenir 'passports' to help them explore city
As the summer heat intensifies in Dubai, crafting an engaging itinerary can be challenging for visitors, with most outdoor attractions becoming virtually inaccessible. To help those coming to the emirate make the best of their stay, Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, has announced that children arriving at Dubai International Airport (DXB) will receive souvenir 'passports' to help them navigate the vibrant city that thrives all year round. In a video shared by Dubai Media Office on X, kids arriving at Children's Passport Control are shown as they receive their passport from officers, shake hands with airport officials before getting their real travel documents stamped. Take a look here: Dialling up the excitement surrounding the #DubaiDestinations summer campaign, Brand Dubai and the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs partner to highlight the very best of Dubaiâ��s summertime experiences for visitors. @BrandDubai | @GDRFADUBAI — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 25, 2025 The colourful passports serve as a guide for young visitors to explore the city, providing them with curated itineraries and interactive guides. By using a QR code in the passport, kids will be directed to Dubai Destinations website for guidance on where to go and what to do in Dubai this summer. The initiative is the fruit of collaboration between Brand Dubai and the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). Special immigration counters dedicated for children were set up at DXB Terminals 1, 2 and 3 in 2023 to make the arrival process 'more enjoyable and interactive' for children aged between 4 and 12. More than 550,000 children have passed through these counters since they were first opened, GDRFA announced last year.