Warehouse421 adds new perspective to Abu Dhabi art scene

ABU DHABI — From Abu Dhabi's port area of Mina Zayed, Warehouse421 is providing a new perspective to the region’s art scene.

Established in 2015, Warehouse421 is a design and arts centre dedicated to showcasing and nurturing creative production across the region. In addition, the centre is committed to supporting emerging talent from the UAE, Middle East, and South Asia.

Speaking with The Jordan Times on Wednesday, Head of Warehouse421 Faisal Al Hassan said that “Mina Zayed is dear to people in Abu Dhabi”.

Warehouse421 takes its name from the original warehouse space, which was repurposed to “enrich the artistic content starting from Abu Dhabi to the rest of the region”.

The centre’s two most recent exhibitions are titled “On Foraging: Food Knowledge and Environmental Imaginaries in the UAE’s Landscape” and “Mohamed Khalid: Let me tell you something”, which will run until December 25.

“On Foraging: Food Knowledge and Environmental Imaginaries in the UAE’s Landscape” was first introduced at the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020. It features 14 UAE-based and regional artists, “presenting reserves of cultural and agricultural knowledge that have been passed down through generations”.

The aforementioned exhibition tells various stories through diverse mediums including sculpture, photography, sound and others, according to Hassan.

Khalid’s solo exhibition reflects the artist’s personal instances of missed communication, searching for a more specific understanding of the systems and ways through which communication could be created and improved.