421 Arts Campus Announces New Season of Exhibitions and Events Focused on Slow and Mindful Creative Expression

Taking place from January 22 onwards, the Winter 2025 Program features Abdullah Al Saadi: Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia, and Alla Abdunabi: Are your memories of me enough for you, as well as 30+ workshops and special events

 

image-courtesy-of-421-arts-campus-photography-by-roman-mensing-abdullah-alsaadi-sites-of-memory-sites-of-amnesia-jpg-677e1bef5aef3.jpg (original)

Abdullah Al Saadi, The Sufi’s Journey by Bicycle, 2019. Tin box and graphite pencil on canvas. Image courtesy of the artist and 421 Arts Campus, Abu Dhabi. Photo by Roman Mensing

 

We would like to announce our Winter 2025 program. Running from January 22 to March 21, this season features two major exhibitions and over 30 workshops and special events that focus on gentle and tactile activities that foster spaces of togetherness, restoration, and a collective sense of renewal.

 

The Winter 2025 program focuses on gentleness, tactile activities, fostering spaces of togetherness, restoration, and a collective sense of renewal. Expect a range of events that center on making for the sake of making—on stitching, writing, walking, cooking, watching, and moving as a shared experience. Cornerstone events like Jamming Sessions, Performance Co/Lab, the Khayal Series, and Pencil In anchor the season, alongside new artist-led workshops, community-led "Stitch In" activations, regionally themed film screenings, and more.

 

Running in tandem with the program are the exhibitions, Alla Abdunabi: Are your memories of me enough for you?, and Abdullah Al Saadi: Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia, curated by Tarek Abou El Fetouh.

 

A detailed schedule of the Winter 2025 program is outlined below:

 

Exhibitions

 

Alla Abdunabi:
Are your memories of me enough for you?
Part of the Artistic Development Program
Gallery 1
On view from January 30 until May 4, 2025


Alla Abdunabi’s first solo exhibition presents a new body of work that critiques and engages with simulacra, a concept used in philosophy and cultural studies to analyze how symbols shape our perceptions of what is accepted as “real.” The work emphasizes the ways that iconography has been preserved and restored across different periods of history. By doing so, it raises crucial questions about how symbols not only endure but gain new significance as they are continually reintroduced into contemporary contexts. This restoration process, rather than simply reviving a historical moment or object, often reinforces the power structures embedded within them.Through the preservation of these icons in art, museums, or public spaces, Abdunabi investigates their influence and how they shape cultural and political narratives into the future.


Abdullah Al Saadi:
Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia
Gallery 2
On view from January 30 until May 4, 2025

 

The exhibition features ten works by Abdullah Al Saadi and offers a reflection on his decades-long artistic practice. Expanding on the work initially presented inthe National Pavilion UAE at the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, the exhibition is designed to show the prolific artist’s work in the UAE, giving the local arts community and the wider audiences across the country the opportunity to encounter Al Saadi’s practice more intimately. 

 

In his practice, Al Saadi embodies a wanderer, chronicler, cartographer, poet, decipherer,  memory carrier, and storyteller. This exhibition includes works that were produced on his journeys in the wilderness, and invites viewers to explore his creative process in relation to the practices of Arab poets from centuries ago.

 

Returning Programs

 

Performance Co/Lab
January 26 and February 9

Performance Co/Lab is an open invitation to individuals looking to explore movement practices. Through a sustained program, participants will explore performance exercises such as contact improvisation, breath work, acting warm-ups, games, and techniques. Each session will introduce new and unique exercises throughout the duration of the Performance Co/Lab program. Performance Co/Lab is a gathering facilitated by the community for the community.

 

Pencil In: A Writers’ Group
January 23, February 6 and 20

Pencil In is a writers’ group created to provide a supportive environment for writers to write alone, together! We at 421 love the idea of body-doubling (working near or around someone to help stay focused and engaged) when we are working, writing, and creating. In these communal writing sessions, we invite writers to polish their skills while receiving valuable feedback from experienced peer reviewers in English and/or Arabic, having active conversations with other like-minded writers, and enjoying a safe space to share personal texts and works. These sessions are designed for writers to practice their craft without the pressures of producing a final outcome.

Instructors include: Rawad Raidan, Joanna Orphinade, Purva Grover, Sarah Afaneh

 

Jamming Sessions: Home-cooking Series

January 26 and February 23

‘Jamming Sessions: Home Cooking Series’ is a workshop series led by UAE’s home chefs. Each session features a family duo who teach participants their traditional recipes as handed down through their relatives. The sessions are accompanied by a playlist that sets the scene of a home kitchen.

 

This season explores the flavors of the Philippines and the UAE through two unique Jamming Sessions.

 

New Initiatives and Programs

 

Silent Walk
January 22 and 29, February 5

In this guided silent walk, we invite you to leave behind the distractions of conversation, phones, and external noise. Move quietly and mindfully with a group as you immerse yourself in the unique sights, sounds, and rhythms of Mina. Without the pull of daily interruptions, this is an opportunity to slow down, observe, and connect deeply with your surroundings.

 

Stitch In
January 25, February 8 and 22, March 13 and 20

Join us for ‘Stitch-In for Palestine’, a workshop series where you’ll learn to embroider meaningful motifs.

Tatreez, the centuries-old craft of Palestinian embroidery, is a testament to the richness of Palestinian identity and culture.

This art form, passed down through generations, values slow, intentional stitching over fast-paced, fleeting designs. Our workshop fosters a warm, welcoming community, offering a space to engage in a mindful and healing activity, anchored in the quiet rhythm of needle, thread, and cloth.

 

Urban Sketching
February 2

This workshop combines the dynamic practice of urban sketching with the versatile medium of pastels. Participants will learn to document and interpret urban environments through rapid sketching techniques while exploring the textural and blending capabilities of pastels. Emphasizing both observational skills and creative expression, the workshop offers a comprehensive experience in capturing the essence of cityscapes using architectural forms, natural elements, and human figures, while providing a deeper insight into the cultural landscape of Abu Dhabi.

 

Reclaimed Journeys: Crafting with Found Objects
February 8

This two-phase workshop first explores the urban spaces of Mina Zayed through guided walks that talk about preserving the area around us while collecting found objects. It then takes you back to the drawing board to create mixed media artworks.

 

Abu Dhabi Food Trails
February 21, March 7 and 21

We believe food is one of the best ways to explore a city – offering a direct connection to its cultural fabric and history. Join us for ‘Food Trails’, our unique food walk series, where we’ll use food as a lens to discover the vibrant culinary landscape of the UAE, all while making friends with fellow foodies.

 

Children’s Workshops

 

Khayal with Early Starters
February 1 and 22

Join us for an all-new Khayal Series with Early Starters this winter! Stay tuned for more information on the books for our reading circle and the hands-on activities. This session is suitable for families with children ages 6 and over.

Parents and guardians are welcome to join the session and support their little ones.

 

Messy Play
February 2 and 23

Join us for Messy Play, a hands-on workshop series for young explorers ages 1-5.

Each session will feature uniquely themed interactive trays, tabletop activities, and hands-on baskets that encourage creativity and exploration, allowing children to connect with nature through rich sensory experiences.

Please note: Parents or guardians must accompany children during the workshop.

 

Ramadan Programs

 

This Ramadan program features a number of events and activities happening throughout the holy month that foster shared moments of tactility, community, healing, and solidarity.

 

Film Screening Evening inspired by Sites of Memory, Sites of Amensia 

Date: February 27, March 6, and 13 

We are delighted to present an evocative film program curated by researcher and scholar Rasha Salti. Inspired by the themes explored in Abdullah Al Saadi’s Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia, the program invites audiences to reflect on the intricate interplay between remembrance and forgetting, evoking profound connections to collective and personal histories. Set to take place outdoors over three movie nights during the holy month of Ramadan, the program will feature an engaging selection of films. 

Join us for an inspiring Ramadan program that promises to provoke thought, spark dialogue, and celebrate the power of cinema as a medium for collective introspection.

 

Writer’s Suhoor: Pencil In Showcase
March 9

A gathering for wordsmiths, to exchange writings, engage in readings, and connect over food. This is the perfect chance to share your experiences, discover the inspiration you've been looking for, and exchange ideas while connecting with fellow writers who understand your unique journey.

 

Filmmakers’ Suhoor: Micro-Films

March 16

We are excited to present the Filmmakers’ Suhoor:

Micro-Films, a unique Ramadan program celebrating emerging cinematic voices. This special evening will feature a showcase of micro-films and works in progress, offering a glimpse into the creative journeys of up-and-coming filmmakers.