Curated by Shamsa Al Qubaisi, Maryam Al Zaabi and Sara Al Sulaimani, and mentored by curatorial advisors Nada Shabout and Magali Arriola.
Common Grounds is curated by three students of Zayed University, Shamsa Al Qubaisi, Maryam Al Zaabi and Sara Al Sulaimani, mentored by curatorial advisors Dr. Nada Shabout and Magali Arriola. Stemming from a unique academic collaboration, the exhibition reflects the Dubai Collection’s long-term vision to serve as a platform for education, research and cultural preservation. The project also highlights the Collection’s role as both an archive and an active tool, supporting research, creativity and the preservation of cultural narratives for the next generation.
Common Grounds will present a selection of artworks from the Dubai Collection made between the years 1949 and 2024, that, while drawn from different geographic and cultural contexts, speak to a shared human experience. Following a semester-long academic exploration, the exhibition was developed as part of the course ‘AAH420: Communities, Curatorial Practices, and Collections.’ As part of their final project, students used the Dubai Collection as a case study and curatorial resource, each proposing an exhibition concept grounded in their research.
Presented in partnership with Zayed University’s College of Arts and Creative Enterprises.
Common Grounds has been made possible through the generous loan of artworks from patrons of the Dubai Collection — a Dubai Culture initiative in collaboration with Art Dubai.