A home-grown arts and design centre in Abu Dhabi.
“The cultural ecosystem in the UAE is quite robust today,” says Faisal Al Hassan, the Head of Warehouse421, a home-grown arts and design centre in Abu Dhabi that is dedicated to showcasing and nurturing creative production across the region.
Faisal goes on to say how arts and culture has existed here in the UAE forever. “In the early 2000s, we saw an increase in the interest of art and culture. Sharjah grew, developing programmes for the La Biennale and thereafter in Abu Dhabi, the announcements of major arts and cultural institutions with the major museums. Dubai started to witness the start of the art markets and the emergence of art auctions came into being.”
Clearly, the UAE art scene was growing into two distinct ways, the art market and the big institutions. “What is left behind are the emerging artists and creative practitioners who do not necessarily fit into either at that stage in their career,” he says.
Consequently, an opportunity for a centre like Warehouse421 arose; a space for emerging artists to have a safe space in which they can be nurtured, safely; allowed to take chances, experiment and make mistakes. “There are not enough spaces to cater for this segment. Our exhibitions are very successful and allow artists to create work that is open for negotiation with the audience, to connect and engage with them.”
Located in Mina Zayed, Warehouse421 was founded in 2015, four years after Faisal had arrived to the UAE from Jordan. With artistic aspirations as a child and teen, Faisal pursued a career in diplomacy after studying International Relations.
Working in the sector for eight years, even then his focus was on cultural activities. “On my 30th birthday, I decided to quit my job. I wanted to reconnect with myself and explore what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I looked for opportunities Warehouse421 works in collaboration with local, regional and international entities and aims to aid the development of the UAE’s creative ecosystem through learning, research and commissions. related to art and design.”
Faisal found an opportunity within the cultural side of TDIC, an organisation that eventually grew into the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT – Abu Dhabi).
Working there for four years, he eventually took up an opportunity with the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. “The Foundation and DCT – Abu Dhabi share the same vision and beliefs for developing a cultural ecosystem in Abu Dhabi,” he says.
From there, Faisal joined Warehouse421 which, he says, was being incubated to become the independent arts and culture space that it is now known for.
Today, the centre takes a collaborative approach to hosting and curating exhibitions, presenting and contextualising local and regional research, and examining cultural practices in an anti-disciplinary space.
“So far, it has been a fantastic journey,” says Faisal. “The vision came from the Foundation and it is a success. However, Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole is still in need of such spaces even today. There is still work to be done in cultivating the UAE’s cultural system.”
For more information, visit warehouse421.ae
