Today's Edition
MUDHI ALOBTHANI (ABU DHABI)
The second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi has lit up Jubail Island with 22 immersive light artworks presented by 15 artists and collectives from the UAE and abroad.
Curator Alia Zaal Lootah and two Amsterdam-based artist couples, Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta of DRIFT, shared their vision for the exhibition, highlighting how Abu Dhabi is emerging as a global hub for creativity.
DRIFT showcases the installation “Whispers”, an evocative piece designed to immerse audiences in memory, nature, and light. Using movement, sound and subtle environmental interactions, the work replicates the feeling of walking through high grass as a child and becoming part of the surrounding environment. The installation reacts to wind, adjusting its structure and dimming lights as it moves.
“The installation moves with the wind, and the more it shifts, the more the light dims,” explained Gordijn and Nauta. “Even when the wind isn’t there, it reminds us to respect nature and let the environment guide the experience.”
The duo expressed their appreciation for Abu Dhabi’s support for creative experimentation. “Abu Dhabi feels like a home of art. It’s one of the few places in the world where creative thinking is truly respected,” they said.
“We’re thrilled to be part of this exhibition. It’s exciting to see how technology, art, and nature come together here to create experiences people can feel and share.”
Drift highlighted the importance of combining technology and artistry, with their studio developing software, AI systems, and interactive devices to realise their immersive concepts. “Our goal is to connect people with natural rhythms and collective moments of reflection, moving away from screens and into real experiences,” they added.
Curator Alia Zaal Lootah underscored the vision guiding the selection of works: “We looked for artists who could make light more than a visual element. Each installation on Jubail Island responds to its surroundings and invites visitors to pause, sense and connect.”
She added: “Abu Dhabi is a hub for creativity. Manar Abu Dhabi is about fostering reflection, creativity and community, placing contemporary art in dialogue with our landscapes and heritage.”
Jubail Island also features large-scale installations and performances by both Emirati and international artists, including Shaikha Al Mazrou, Iregular, DRIFT, Pamela Tan, Lachlan Turkzan, Christian Brinkman, and Kirsten Berg. Visitors are invited to explore the luminous artworks while participating in workshops, talks, and interactive experiences designed to engage audiences of all ages.
Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the public light art exhibition is currently being held in Jubail Island, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, as well as Al Ain, until January 4, 2026, under the theme “The Light Compass”.
Lootah concluded: “Through Manar Abu Dhabi, we want to show how light art can inspire connection - between people, culture and the environment. Abu Dhabi truly feels like a home for artists, and exhibitions like this reinforce its role as a global creative capital.”
