"Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial" Exhibition Opens at NYUAD Art Gallery

Riyadh, October 1, 2024 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The highly anticipated exhibition "Between the Tides: A Gulf Quinquennial" is now open to the public at the NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Art Gallery and will run until December 8.

Showcasing the work of 21 artists, architects, designers, and collectives from across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, the exhibition presents a unique window into the region's contemporary art scene.

The exhibition, which captures key cultural moments in the GCC over the past five years, is co-curated by Maya Allison, Executive Director of the NYUAD Art Gallery, and Duygu Demir, Curator and Research Assistant Professor at the gallery. The curatorial framework was developed in collaboration with regional researchers and practitioners, with four curatorial interlocutors: Abdullah Al Mutairi, Aseel AlYaqoub, Ali Ismael Karimi, and Ayman Zedani.

"Between the Tides" offers visitors an opportunity to engage with contemporary visual production from the Gulf region, highlighting themes such as societal transformation, ecological challenges, urbanization, and the preservation of heritage. The exhibition reflects on the rapid changes across the GCC, providing a platform for discourse on the region’s evolving cultural landscape.

Maya Allison remarked, “In the past decade, we have witnessed a proliferation of arts initiatives across the GCC that have transformed the cultural landscape. The NYUAD Art Gallery has played a significant role in documenting these developments and promoting the region’s art history. 'Between the Tides' formalizes our commitment to continuing this work, as we celebrate the gallery’s 10th anniversary this fall."

The exhibition marks the launch of a new quinquennial initiative that aims to document and showcase the creative practices emerging from the Gulf, with the intention of making it a regular feature in the years to come.