This installation continues the artists’ exploration of humanity’s complex relationship with the environment, a central theme in their previous works. It invites viewers to reflect on how we shape, and are shaped by, the spaces around us. The work also raises a critical question: How can we preserve what is lost by reimagining it in new contexts?

Having collaborated on over 20 projects over the past 15 years, this is the first time the artists’ work will be displayed in a more public setting, reaching a broader audience. Each individual piece is an extension of the creator’s unique practice, yet together they form a cohesive, unified whole.

Fereydoun Ave 

Fereydoun Ave (b. 1945, Tehran) is an influential figure in Iranian contemporary art, with a career spanning over six decades.

His work is  a freehanded engagement with a personal ethos informed by larger cultural influences. He ceaselessly reflects on various facets of his relationship with age, myths, plants, elements, seasons, moods, and heredity. He takes inspiration from the art of Iran, which tends to use the entire surface of the canvas, and the Western penchant for minimalism, which leaves large swaths unattended.

His mixed-media collages, often incorporating the legendary Iranian hero Rostam, are part of prestigious collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Museum in London, Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and LACMA in Los Angeles.

Shaqayeq Arabi

Shaqayeq Arabi (b. 1974, Tehran) is a versatile art practitioner whose four-decade career spans painting, assemblage, installation, wearables, and sound. 

Her work transforms everyday materials into sculptures and installations that explore the intersections of abstraction, representation, and materiality, often drawing inspiration from both urban and natural environments. Her large-scale and immersive environments typically combine found objects with natural elements, including metal mesh, wire, paper, film, glue, twigs, plants, wood, and paint. Loosely held together or freely hanging, the individual components perform a tenuous balancing act, seeking an equilibrium between adaptation and stability.

Since relocating to Dubai in 2002, Shaqayeq has been pivotal in managing and curating programs at The Courtyard and Total Arts, while continuing to develop her practice as an artist and maintaining a dynamic exhibition record, Highlights include shows at Signs and Symbols in New York, AB gallery in Zurich, Farjam Foundation, and Total Arts in Dubai.

Dariush Zandi

Dariush Zandi (b. 1952, Tehran) has made significant contributions to design and planning disciplines, including parks and recreational spaces, historic restorations, and environmental conservation. Drawing from a rich, geographically and culturally diverse background, his work blends a deep understanding of heritage with innovative approaches that seamlessly integrates photography with the built environment.

Zandi’s work has been featured in prominent publications, including Dubai: The Arabian Dream, Dubai: 24 Hours, and his renowned series Off-Road in the Emirates. His photographs, which capture the essence of everyday life with a focus on authenticity, have been included in prestigious collections such as those of Reuters and Emirates Airlines. Additionally, Zandi has shared his expertise through lectures and speaking engagements, offering valuable insights into his multidisciplinary approach.

A passionate advocate for heritage preservation, Zandi has played a key role in restoring cultural landmarks, such as the Maktoum Family House. His work reflects a deep commitment to preserving the region’s history and fostering cultural dialogue for future generations.