Under the title 'Eternal Forms', the fourth edition of 'Sculpture Path' has launched, featuring 50 artistic and sculptural works by over 20 artists. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has been transformed into an open-air exhibition, bustling with diverse artistic styles characterized by the use of multiple media. Between the centre's buildings, the sculptures are distributed, marked by tranquility and strength, and inspired by Emirati culture, especially that related to the desert, all according to a contemporary artistic language. The works varied, with most focusing on solid materials such as metal or stainless steel, hovering between abstraction and figurative representation, particularly in the forms of horses, falcons, and trees.
At the financial centre's gate stands the work 'Al-Haddad', designed by Mustafa Khamash from 'Carthegro' studio. He spoke about this piece, saying: 'The work is titled 'Al-Haddad' as a symbol of the falcon's moment of stillness before it takes flight to the sky. Viewing the sculpture from a distance evokes the image of the falcon before its flight. Furthermore, the title of the work is also the title of a poem by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council.' Khamash added: 'I have applied the colours of the UAE flag to the sculpture. The base of the sculpture is made of stainless steel, covered with a metallic mesh (Meche) in the colours of the UAE flag. It carries a great deal of strength in both form and meaning.' He pointed out that the sculpture weighs up to three tons, with the falcon's wingspan reaching 14 metres and its height seven metres, explaining that the logistical aspect was the most challenging in producing the work, which took about two months to complete. He also noted that this is not his first participation in the exhibition, as many of the works currently in the financial centre were presented by him.
The Idea of Union
Meanwhile, designer Ibrahim Al-Najjar from 'In Studio' drew inspiration for his work 'One in the Many' from the Ghaf tree. He spoke about it, saying: 'The work embodies the idea of unity in multiplicity, highlighting the diverse nationalities and ideas that unite in a single entity, making this union occur organically. This is reflected in the design of the Ghaf tree to embody what the country has achieved in this regard.' He noted that the Ghaf tree is considered a testament to this idea, and the sand in which the tree grows is not exclusively Emirati, but is sand that has gathered from many countries over thousands of years, so even the sand itself represents unity.
