-
-
A confluence of old world and new, the cultural landscape of the United Arab Emirates has seen a seismic shift since its formation in 1971. The seat of such change is Abu Dhabi, where arts initiatives in recent decades have earned the capital credence as a creative heavyweight on the global scale with its numerous galleries, institutions and events.
Abu Dhabi’s ever-burgeoning scene is being shaped by residents like Hashel Al Lamki, an award-winning painter and multi-disciplinary artist whose works convey the legacies of the landscapes that surround him, from his verdant hometown of Al Ain – where he was born and raised until the age of 10 – and beyond. After receiving a BFA from Parsons School of Design at The New School in New York City, where he was based for seven years, Hashel spent significant time in Amsterdam, Haiti, Guatemala, Baltimore and Taos, New Mexico for residencies, scholarships, philanthropic projects and fellowships before returning home to Abu Dhabi.
Through his compositions and sculptural creations, Hashel keeps an eye toward the future – one he’s actively working to construct, by collaborating with Abu Dhabi creatives across mediums and disciplines. We talked with him about building a blossoming art community from the ground up, finding our common humanity through creativity, and the lifeblood that animates Abu Dhabi’s artistic heartbeat.