Re-Framing Reality : Exhibit by Hussein Sharif | Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation

Third Exhibit at the Cultural Foundation

Last week, we finally had the chance to check out the third of the 3 exhibits at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation which started in the last week of February. Earlier, I shared about the Native Plants in the UAE and Through the Seasons by Eric Carle which we checked out separately before we proceeded to our normal "library day".

Re-Framing Reality by Hussein Sharif

Location: G/F Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation
Qasr Al Hosn, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Exhibit Date: Thursday 22 February 2024 – Sunday 1 September 2024
Minimum Age: All Ages
Entrance: Free

This exhibit showcases 4 decades of work by the artist, from the late 1980's to present, presenting his work in various mediums. There are crafts from various recycled materials, paintings, drawings, collage, sculpture, and installations.

As soon as we entered the ground floor of the Cultural Foundation, we saw these figures made from twisted wires. A lot of them. It kind of reminded me of one of the scenes in the I-Robot movie by Will Smith.

The first thought that came to me - the artist had so much patience to do this much quantity of the same thing.

Oh well, it takes so much effort and dedication to finish one of these, what more if hundreds.

Seated Tired Man

Or may be he also got tired. That is why he made a variation to the above collection and instead of standing, the figures are now sitting down.

Aha! There you are! Is it hard to be twisted multiple times?

You really look so tired.

I can see faces!

I have been intrigued by this pile of aluminum cans ever since I saw them from the first floor when we visited the Native Plants Exhibit.

I mean, cans? Seriously?

Well, the artist has that passion to explore new materials in light of the changing socio-economic factors in the UAE. So Hussein Sharif used and replicated these materials and gave them new identities.

"These are junk," Little Man said. Yes, but no. Because they are now part of the treasured collection of an artist who was dedicated enough to give them new meaning.

Cement Web

This is another installation composed of over 1,000 cement blocks, made from various materials like tin cans, plastic and glass bottles, wire, lighters, nails, shoe, and a lot more.

One would think, again, what goes on inside the mind of the artist when he created this artwork.

I was not able to take a picture of this creation from the other side, but that's the perspective of the artist -- the repeated rows of cement blocks represent how rapidly the contemporary urban landscape transforms. The objects slowly start to protrude out of the cement blocks, transitioning from being engulfed with cement to finally being completely exposed.

Some more nostalgic pieces...

While I was not able to get the title of these two installations, but the initial reaction was nostalgia. It kind of brought me back to the times when we, as kids, used to craft our own toys very similar to these pieces-- cars/trucks made out of bottles or tin cans and bottle caps that served as the wheels.

In my children's perspective, they are just that, pieces of recycled materials. "If the artist was a child, I would be impressed," my son said.

They kind of do not appreciate the pieces, but I urged them to think deeper. What may be going on inside the mind of the artist, why he decided to embark in this creation. Again, these pieces at the exhibit took the artist over four decades to make.

Paintings, Mosaics, Drawings

"This looks like my dreams," my son said.

"I will have nightmares from this," the other said.

Even his paintings feature repeated patterns and colors.

This one below looks like swarms of bees or whatever insect. I was tempted to look for the queen. LOL.

I have to say, I admire the artist's creativity. It would never have occurred to me to frame bits and pieces of paper and draw different faces on them.

These framed mosaic pieces comprise the other part of the exhibit.

"Now, this is what I call "art"," my eldest said. Like he was an artist. LOL.

But seriously, the way that the Artist put together these scraps of magazine pages into a carousel of three frames to create one big piece or art, is indeed laudable.

Pens

I know, I must also have doodled these patterns with my pens/pencils way back when, but well, it never occurred to me that they may be exhibit-worthy like these.

There were many more similar pieces of pen patterns framed and shown in the exhibit. I am very impressed at the artist's patience to to all of these.

Artist's Studio

Finally, we reached the part of the exhibit that showed a replica of the artist's studio. It is an interactive section where the visitors are encouraged to touch and sit on his creations.

One would first think that these are wooden chairs, cupboard, and coffee table, but would later on realize that these are pieces made of cardboards compressed and coated with glue to make them sturdy and functional.

Little Man getting comfy on the cardboard couch.

This further highlights the artist's commitment to repurpose and recycle, to reduce waste and to show that with creativity and resourcefulness, it could be applied in everyday life.

More from the walls

Re-framing Reality is a pretty large exhibit. There are still some parts that we did not check out.

Here is one part of the installations on the walls, showing more of his creations from repurposed items.

Can we appreciate the interiors and the lattice from ceiling of the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation?

Re-Framing Reality

As we left the exhibit, there were many thoughts that ran through my head. I tried to look at all of these from the artist's perspective -- see the reality from his works of arts. He succeeded in immersing me into a different kind of reality even for just a short period of time.

He was also able to tap on some thoughts out of the box, and inspired creativity in many ways.

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From this exhibits series:

Through The Seasons With Eric Carle	Native Plants in the UAE: Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation