Exploring Unconventional Art: Exhibitions to Discover This Week
This week’s art scene is brimming with creativity as artists challenge traditional aesthetics through the use of unexpected materials and forms. From painted Lamborghinis to sausages made from ceramics, these exhibitions offer a fresh perspective on contemporary art.
I Put My Brain on Pause! at Firetti Contemporary
Lebanese artist Ihab Ahmad has taken a bold step in his artistic journey by embracing spontaneity over control. His exhibition, “I Put My Brain on Pause!”, showcases a deeply personal collection that highlights instinct, vulnerability, and emotional surrender. The works, created using oil on linen and spray paint, feature smiling faces – a unique element in Ahmad’s oeuvre that reflects personal connections and memories.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is a collaboration with Lamborghini Dubai, where a Huracan Spyder is adorned with whimsical patterns and figures reminiscent of the surrounding canvases. This fusion of automotive design and fine art creates an engaging visual experience.
The exhibition runs from Monday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm, and will be open until August 20 at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai.
Elysian Awakening of Powerful Spring at Rarares Art Gallery
This group exhibition at Rarares Art Gallery is a tribute to women artists across generations, geographies, and practices. Established names like Emirati artist Fatma Lootah and Rome-born artist Barbara Duran explore identity and transformation through abstract forms, light, and textured surfaces.
Barbara Duran’s “Sortilegio” series features wooden panels layered with gold and silver pigments, evoking a sense of light and depth. Emerging artists such as Emirati Sara Alkhayyal and Egyptian Zeina Abdullah bring a fresh perspective by revisiting regional heritage through innovative use of materials and visual language.
The exhibition celebrates the contributions of women in contemporary art, highlighting emotional depth and imaginative vision. It is open from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm, and will continue until August 31 at the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Antevasin: The One Who Sits at the Border of Two Worlds at Gallery Isabelle
Richi Bhatia’s practice centers around embodied research, often drawing inspiration from personal experiences. Her exploration of fish scales as an artistic material stems from living with a skin condition, which also led her to question our food systems and consumption habits.
In “The Animals, The Bodies, and Coefficient of Time,” Bhatia constructs temporary-scale shelters using fish scales and stainless steel structures. In “Prone to Change…,” she creates a bundle of stringed sausages from ceramics. Meanwhile, “Table – Bed II” combines animal hide, hair, bottled water residue, pearl head pins, ashwagandha, and meat-referencing ceramics.
These works provoke discomfort, which is intentional, as they reflect the dual nature of food as both a sustainer of life and a site of suffering. The exhibition is open from Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm, and Saturday from noon to 6pm, running until September 10 at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai.
These exhibitions not only showcase the diversity of artistic expression but also encourage viewers to reflect on their own perceptions of beauty, identity, and the world around them. Whether it’s through the vibrant colors of a painted car or the thought-provoking use of unconventional materials, each piece offers a unique lens through which to view contemporary art.
