Lady Lioness (2010 - 2019) by Ahmad Saeed Al Areef Al Dhaheri
Set within the historic walls of Al Jahili Fort, Lady Lioness—a mythological figure born from the artist’s childhood memories—comes alive in this exhibition of artist books, photography, video animation and works on paper by Ahmed Saeed Al Areef Al Dhaheri. Animated illustrations and immersive soundscapes draw viewers into a mystical world, offering a meditative journey through myth and memory. Showcased for the first time, the artist’s personal sketchbooks and original artworks reveal intricate studies of Lady Lioness alongside the regional wildlife that populates her realm, such as gazelles and camels. Through a blend of photo manipulation, fine art photography, and traditional illustration, the artist constructs a vivid landscape that presents the beauty and spirit of this imagined world. The exhibition draws on heritage and imagination in a celebration of nature and wonder.
Site Activated: Al Jahili Fort
Ahmad Saeed Al Areef Al Dhaheri
Nagasus, 2010
Photo Manipulation UV print on Aluminum Sheet
120 x 180 x 8 cm
Site Activated: Al Jahili Fort Dima Mattar
Gazelle Hoof (2024) by Dima Mattar
Societies around the world associate this beautiful animal with stories, legends, beautiful tales, clothing, food, civilizations, plants, and beautiful flowers, such as a plant that is found across Palestine called Kebd al-Ghazal. Linguists theorise that the word gazelle is a derivative of ghazal, an Arabic word for love poetry. Such comparisons commonly reflect on the gazelle as an animal of grace and timelessness. Found throughout the Arab world the gazelle has adapted to both desert environments and those by the coast. Mattar has sought to bring together diverse references from across societies, to create artworks that bring hope and joy to the viewer's eyes, renewing the words of the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish; And we love life, if we can find a way to it.
We Defend Our Gazelles, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
150 x 120 cm
The Palestinian Gazelle (2017-2024) by Manal Mahamid Sites Activated: Al Ain Oasis and Al Jahili Fort Manal Mahamid
"The Palestinian Gazelle" is an ongoing series in which the mountain gazelle, native to Palestine and now endangered, becomes the central figure in Manal Mahamid’s meditative explorations of identity, memory, and resilience. Across the Arab world, the gazelle holds profound cultural significance, its image woven into the region’s literary, poetic, and environmental narratives. In this exhibition at Al Jahili Fort, Mahamid’s works on paper offer a contemplative journey into this shared heritage. In Abu Dhabi, the Arabian sand gazelle embodies the life-sustaining pursuit of water amid the desert’s stark landscape. In Palestine, the mountain gazelle stands as an emblem of beauty, resistance, and an indelible bond to the land. Through her drawings and prints, Mahamid presents the gazelle as a leaping figure—a symbol of defiance and the unbreakable connection to heritage and place. The gazelle’s leap is both a gesture of survival and a powerful act of resistance, embodying a desire for life and a vision for a hopeful future.These compositions capture the gazelle as a silent yet resilient witness to the sweeping transformations that have shaped its homeland. Bridging tradition and modernity, Mahamid’s works invite viewers to reflect on the gazelle’s enduring spirit, an emblem of collective aspiration across the Arab world. With each leap, the gazelle defies the forces that seek to constrain it, symbolizing the unyielding strength and shared ambition for preservation, continuity, and a brighter tomorrow.
The Palestinian Gazelle, 2024
Seamless welding, polished reflective finish
252 x 262 x 57 cm
Artists
Ahmad Saeed Al Areef Al Dhaheri
Artist
Ahmad Saeed Al Areef Al Dhaheri
Artist
Dina Mattar
Artist
Dina Mattar
Artist
Manal Mahamid
Artist
Manal Mahamid
Artist