Artists go 'green' in unique fair

Abu Dhabi: Artists of different nationalities have raised concern over the damage caused to landscapes due to rapid construction projects and artificial cities all over the world.

In a public discussion at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi and organised by Goethe-Institute, Abdullah Al Sa'adi, an Emirati artist based on the east coast compared Dubai's concrete jungle to the mountains of Khorfakhan.

"The landscape in Dubai is changing rapidly and it's like mountains of buildings made to fill with life, as the mountains in my village are full of life already," he said.

"It's hard for me to talk about what is happening though I don't like it, as it is damaging the beautiful environment... the desert which we used to be proud of 20 years ago," he added.

Al Sa'adi's and other artists' works are displayed in a joint exhibition titled "Land change: Art and Environment" that opened on Saturday, a day after the panel discussion by Dr Mohammad Salem Al Daheri, Director General of the Federal Environment Agency.

Al Sa'adi's art work titled 'The desert and the sea scroll' portrays the coastline of the Northern Emirates and its change over time, drawing on the techniques of Japanese landscape painting.

The large size photograph by Emirati artist Mohammad Khazem documents the rapid growth of his native Dubai and the urbanisation of his natural desert surroundings.

The artwork of Dubai-based British artist Valerie Grove called 'Trash Towers' leads the audience to wonder whether it is a critique of the Burj Dubai as it resembles a building made of waste cans and newspaper.

"It may be a criticism (for artificial cities) but as an artist I deliver a question. There are negative sides about the trash and other positive sides too," said Grove, referring to the efficient recycling systems that are being introduced in Dubai.

Through her artwork Grove seeks to draw attention to the ways in which 'nature strikes back' against the transformations of the environment by using materials associated with urban street art and industrial printing processes. The exhibition will be open until November 1.

The landscape in Dubai is changing rapidly and it's like mountains of buildings made to fill with life..."