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Khaleej Times

Watch: Dubai's 'largest site-specific art installation' comes up on Hatta hiking trails

Dubai now has the emirate's largest site-specific public art installation in Hatta mountains. Created by Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou, 'Deliberate Pauses' is commissioned by Alserkal Arts Foundation and is launched by Dubai Culture in collaboration with the Supreme Committee to Oversee the Development of Hatta, Set against the striking backdrop of Hatta's Leem Lake, the installation highlights the cultural, historical, and environmental richness of Hatta's natural landscape. Curated by Faysal Tabbarah, Associate Professor at the College of Architecture, Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah, the art piece features five reflective red metallic discs placed along Hatta's scenic hiking trails. Watch video here: Positioned both upright and flat, the discs are seamlessly embedded within the rugged Hajar Mountains, serving as visual beacons that invite visitors to pause, reflect, and connect with the surrounding beauty. 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.'