Abu Dhabi: SiltaNews – News Desk
In a continued partnership with NOMAD, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) recently hosted a contemporary art exhibition in the United States. Titled “Rooted Movements,” the showcase was presented at The Watermill Centre during the NOMAD The Hamptons 2026 event.
The exhibition introduced Hamptons audiences to a new generation of Emirati artistic practices. Set across the grounds of The Watermill Centre, the display explored the visual and cultural ties between two distinct coastal landscapes-Abu Dhabi and The Hamptons-examining how identities, materials, and cultural knowledge travel across geographic distances while remaining anchored to their origins.
While working with entirely different material languages, three leading Emirati artists focused on forms shaped by evolution, legacy, and growth.
Afra Al Dhaheri utilized suspended rope installations inspired by both the physical and symbolic traits of hair, treating it as a material deeply tied to the human body that can be detached, altered, and reconfigured. Meanwhile, Zuhoor Al Sayegh crafted ceramic sculptures modeled after the life cycle of the date palm, specifically highlighting the moment a young offshoot separates from the mother tree to form its own roots. Alongside them, Azza Al Qubaisi presented her Metaphor series, which abstracts natural processes like layering, growth, and evolution into sculptural pieces that reflect on memory, identity, and place.
The presentation highlighted the strengthening strategic alliance between DCT Abu Dhabi and NOMAD, which aims to build cultural bridges between the UAE and international communities through modern art and design. Following this successful international dialogue, DCT Abu Dhabi is now preparing to welcome creative communities and global visitors back to NOMAD Abu Dhabi in November 2026.