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Afra Al Dhaheri, Give your weight to the ground (spiral staircase), 2023, Steel, stained wood, ratchet, cinderblock, and cotton ropes, 500 x 180 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Give your weight to the ground (spiral staircase), 2023

Steel, stained wood, ratchet, cinderblock, and cotton ropes, 500 x 180 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Don’t pull my hair (set of two), 2023, Cotton rope on stained wood and concrete cinderblock

Afra Al Dhaheri, Don’t pull my hair (set of two), 2023

Cotton rope on stained wood and concrete cinderblock

Installation dimension: 224 x 475 x 60 cm
224 x 224 x 60 cm each

Afra Al Dhaheri, Don’t pull my hair (set of two) (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Don’t pull my hair (set of two) (detail), 2023

Give Your Weight To The Ground, Afra Al Dhaheri, Installation view at Green Art Gallery, Dubai, 2023

Give Your Weight To The Ground, Afra Al Dhaheri

Installation view at Green Art Gallery, Dubai, 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, More afloat than grounded no. 2, 2023, Stained wood, 300 x 90 x 90 x 90 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, More afloat than grounded no. 2, 2023

Stained wood, 300 x 90 x 90 x 90 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, More afloat than grounded no. 2 (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, More afloat than grounded no. 2 (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tangle, Untwist, REWIND - Sweat For Years To Come, 2023, Installation view at The Watermill Center, New York, NY, 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tangle, Untwist, REWIND - Sweat For Years To Come, 2023

Installation view at The Watermill Center, New York, NY, 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tangle, Untwist, REWIND - Sweat For Years To Come (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tangle, Untwist, REWIND - Sweat For Years To Come (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tangle, Untwist, REWIND - Sweat For Years To Come (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tangle, Untwist, REWIND - Sweat For Years To Come (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tangle, Untwist, REWIND - Sweat For Years To Come (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tangle, Untwist, REWIND - Sweat For Years To Come (detail), 2023

Afra Al Dhaheri, Weighing the Line, 2022, Cotton rope and wood

Afra Al Dhaheri, Weighing the Line, 2022

Cotton rope and wood

Afra Al Dhaheri, Weighing the Line (detail), 2022

Afra Al Dhaheri, Weighing the Line (detail), 2022

Afra Al Dhaheri, I met a line and we made paintings no. 2, 2022, Acrylic on wood panel, 210 x 120 x 3.5 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, I met a line and we made paintings no. 2, 2022

Acrylic on wood panel, 210 x 120 x 3.5 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, I met a line and we made paintings no. 2 (detail), 2022

Afra Al Dhaheri, I met a line and we made paintings no. 2 (detail), 2022

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 24 (Spaces for improvisation), 2022, Cotton mesh on wood, 120 x 80 x 3.5 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 24 (Spaces for improvisation), 2022

Cotton mesh on wood, 120 x 80 x 3.5 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Bobby tamed our frizz, 2022

Afra Al Dhaheri, Bobby tamed our frizz, 2022

Afra Al Dhaheri, Bobby tamed our frizz (detail), 2022

Afra Al Dhaheri, Bobby tamed our frizz (detail), 2022

Afra Al Dhaheri, Pillow Fort Playground (نلعب بيت؟), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Pillow Fort Playground (نلعب بيت؟), 2021
Marble, 357 x 160 x 289 cm, 143 x 120 x 52 cm

© Afra Al Dhaheri 2021

Commissioned by and Collection of Expo 2020 Dubai

Afra Al Dhaheri, Pillow Fort Playground (نلعب بيت؟) (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Pillow Fort Playground (نلعب بيت؟) (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Pillow Fort Playground (نلعب بيت؟) (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Pillow Fort Playground (نلعب بيت؟) (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Back-combing, 2021, Cotton rope, 255 x 130 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Back-combing, 2021

Cotton rope, 255 x 130 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Back-combing (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Back-combing (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Hide and seek No.2, 2021, Glazed white stoneware, 30 x 14 x 35 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Hide and seek No.2, 2021

Glazed white stoneware, 30 x 14 x 35 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Hide and seek No.2 (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Hide and seek No.2 (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Indomie curls, 2021, Glazed white stoneware, 35 x 35 x 20 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Indomie curls, 2021

Glazed white stoneware, 35 x 35 x 20 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Indomie curls (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Indomie curls (detail), 2021

Afra Al Dhaheri, Fil Al Shaar, 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, Fil Al Shaar, 2020
Cotton rope, Dimensions variable

Afra Al Dhaheri, Fil Al Shaar (detail), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, Fil Al Shaar (detail), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, One at a Time (To Detangle Series), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, One at a Time (To Detangle Series), 2020
Hair on cotton fabric, 200 x 35 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, One at a Time (To Detangle Series) (detail), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, One at a Time (To Detangle Series) (detail), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, Absent Yet Present, 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, Absent Yet Present, 2020
Wood and metal door handle with key
277 x 106 x 22 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Too Pretty To Let Go, Too Heavy To Carry On, 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, Too Pretty To Let Go, Too Heavy To Carry On, 2020
Cement, hair and pvc tube, Composed of 3 pcs
35 x 9 x 9 cm each
 

Afra Al Dhaheri, Spiral staircase No. 1, 2 & 3, 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, Spiral staircase No. 1, 2 & 3, 2020
Acrylic and carbon graphite on paper
Triptych, 25 x 18 cm each
 

Afra Al Dhaheri, Split Ends, 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, Split Ends, 2020
Cement, resin and foam, Composed of 13 pcs
40 (diameter) x 20 (thickness) cm each
 

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 2 (Split Ends Series), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 2 (Split Ends Series), 2020
Cement, resin and foam
84 (diameter) x 40 (thickness) cm
 

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tasreeha, 2020, Cotton rope, 600 x 600

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tasreeha, 2020

Cotton rope, 600 x 600

Installation view at Beyond: Emerging Artists

Abu Dhabi Art, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tasreeha (detail), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, Tasreeha (detail), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, To detangle Series, 2020, Rope, artist’s hair and cotton

Afra Al Dhaheri, To detangle Series, 2020

Rope, artist’s hair and cotton

Installation view at Beyond: Emerging Artists

Abu Dhabi Art, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 1 (To Detangle Series), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 1 (To Detangle Series), 2020
Palm fiber rope, 32 x 32 x 115 cm
 

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 2 (To Detangle Series), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 2 (To Detangle Series), 2020
Cotton rope, 32 x 115 cm
 

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 4 (To Detangle Series), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 4 (To Detangle Series), 2020
Cotton rope and natural cork, 15 x 20.5 x 55 cm
 

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 6 (To Detangle Series), 2020

Afra Al Dhaheri, No. 6 (To Detangle Series), 2020
Cotton rope, 25 x 90 cm
 

Afra Al Dhaheri, Preserving impatience I, 2017, Glass, porcelain, 20 x 20 x 10 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Preserving impatience I, 2017

Glass, porcelain, 20 x 20 x 10 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Preserving impatience II, 2017, Glass, porcelain, 15 x 15 x 10 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Preserving impatience II, 2017

Glass, porcelain, 15 x 15 x 10 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, We Hang No More, 2017, Glass, Dimensions variable

Afra Al Dhaheri, We Hang No More, 2017

Glass, Dimensions variable

Afra Al Dhaheri, We Hang No More (detail), 2017, Glass, Dimensions variable

Afra Al Dhaheri, We Hang No More (detail), 2017

Glass, Dimensions variable

Afra Al Dhaheri, St. Ives Drawing 2, 2019, Hair and watercolor on paper, 26 x 36 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, St. Ives Drawing 2, 2019

Hair and watercolor on paper, 26 x 36 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, St. Ives Drawing 2 (detail), 2019, Hair and watercolor on paper, 26 x 36 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, St. Ives Drawing 2 (detail), 2019

Hair and watercolor on paper, 26 x 36 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Between existence and absence, 2018, Cement, wax, and charcoal on cotton fabric mesh

Afra Al Dhaheri, Between existence and absence, 2018

Cement, wax, and charcoal on cotton fabric mesh

209 x 121 cm (each side)

Afra Al Dhaheri, Between existence and absence (detail), 2018, Cement, wax, and charcoal on cotton fabric mesh

Afra Al Dhaheri, Between existence and absence (detail), 2018

Cement, wax, and charcoal on cotton fabric mesh

209 x 121 cm (each side)

Afra Al Dhaheri, Stripped away from all constructs, 2018, Cement and charcoal on cotton fabric mesh

Afra Al Dhaheri, Stripped away from all constructs, 2018

Cement and charcoal on cotton fabric mesh

210 x 110 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Stripped away from all constructs (detail), 2018, Cement and charcoal on cotton fabric mesh

Afra Al Dhaheri, Stripped away from all constructs (detail), 2018

Cement and charcoal on cotton fabric mesh

210 x 110 cm

 , Afra Al Dhaheri, The past is tomorrow (No. 2), 2017

 

Afra Al Dhaheri, The past is tomorrow (No. 2), 2017

Hand built ceramic, cement and fabric, 160 x 22 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, The past is tomorrow (No. 2) (detail), 2017, Hand built ceramic, cement and fabric, 160 x 22 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, The past is tomorrow (No. 2) (detail), 2017

Hand built ceramic, cement and fabric, 160 x 22 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Dining East or West, 2016, Glass, ceramic, cement, and cinderblocks

Afra Al Dhaheri, Dining East or West, 2016

Glass, ceramic, cement, and cinderblocks

Dimensions variable

Afra Al Dhaheri, A version of a version of my feet, 2017, Poured sand cast glass, 6.5 US shoe size

Afra Al Dhaheri, A version of a version of my feet, 2017

Poured sand cast glass, 6.5 US shoe size

Afra Al Dhaheri, Dry flowers, 2016, Poured glass and dry flowers, 35 x 12 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Dry flowers, 2016

Poured glass and dry flowers, 35 x 12 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Absence in presence, 2017, Cement, acrylic, graphite and watercolor on paper

Afra Al Dhaheri, Absence in presence, 2017

Cement, acrylic, graphite and watercolor on paper

50 x 75 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, To Preserve, 2017, Cement and encaustic on wood panel, 62 x 45 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, To Preserve, 2017

Cement and encaustic on wood panel, 62 x 45 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Thoughts on fabric, 2015, Encaustic, cement, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil on stiffened cheesecloth

Afra Al Dhaheri, Thoughts on fabric, 2015

Encaustic, cement, charcoal, graphite, colored pencil on stiffened cheesecloth

Left (62 x 80 cm), Right (62 x 115 cm)

Afra Al Dhaheri, Absence recalled, 2015, Oil, twine and cement on canvas, 45 x 35 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Absence recalled, 2015

Oil, twine and cement on canvas, 45 x 35 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, In absence we don’t remember, 2015, Intaglio print and cotton mesh on paper, 27.5 x 22.5 cm (each)

Afra Al Dhaheri, In absence we don’t remember, 2015

Intaglio print and cotton mesh on paper, 27.5 x 22.5 cm (each)

Afra Al Dhaheri, In absence we don’t remember, (detail) 2015

Afra Al Dhaheri, In absence we don’t remember, (detail) 2015

Afra Al Dhaheri, My Urban Desert, 2016, Found wood, music wire, cement, Dimensions variable

Afra Al Dhaheri, My Urban Desert, 2016

Found wood, music wire, cement, Dimensions variable

Installation view at T + H Gallery, Boston, USA

Afra Al Dhaheri, Who Has Time For It?, 2016, Steel pipes, rope, cement and plaster, 135 x 75 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Who Has Time For It?, 2016

Steel pipes, rope, cement and plaster, 135 x 75 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Who Has Time For It? (detail), 2016, Steel pipes, rope, cement and plaster, 135 x 75 cm

Afra Al Dhaheri, Who Has Time For It? (detail), 2016

Steel pipes, rope, cement and plaster, 135 x 75 cm

Biography

Afra Al Dhaheri - Artists - Green . Art . Gallery

Detail of Afra Al Dhaheri, I met a line and we made paintings no. 6, 2022

 

Afra Al Dhaheri’s work is rooted in her experiences growing up in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE – a place of recent and rapid change. Working across various mediums including mixed media, sculpture, drawing, painting, installation, photography, and printmaking, she draws out notions of time and adaptation, rigor and fragility.

With each experiment, there is a new phase, each new phenomenon or actualization plucked from her unique vocabulary of references – repetition acts as a method for prolonging time as much as a tool through which to truly experience or realize each stage of a work.

Afra Al Dhaheri - Artists - Green . Art . Gallery

Afra Al Dhaheri, Too Pretty To Let Go, Too Heavy To Carry On No.3, 2021

Born in 1988 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Afra Al Dhaheri obtained her MFA from Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island in 2017. She had her residencies from The Salama bint Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship, in partnership with the Rhode Island School of Design (2014); Porthmeor Studios, St. Ives, Cornwall, UK (2019); Viafarini, Milan (2022); and The Watermill Center, NY (2023). She was among the finalists for the Richard Mille Art Prize 2022.

Al Dhaheri is the Creator and Artistic lead for the project Collective Exhaustion (2024), with the inaugural production supported by the National Grant for Culture and Creativity at the Ministry of Culture and Youth of the United Arab Emirates.

Public commissioned works include: Union of Artists, commissioned by Dubai Culture in collaboration with Art Dubai (with artists Khalid Albanna, Shaikha Al Mazrou, Asma Belhamar and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim) (2024); and Pillow Fort Playground, Public Art Programme, Expo 2020, Dubai, UAE (2021).

Solo exhibitions include Give Your Weight To The Ground, Green Art Gallery, Dubai, UAE (2023); Split Ends, Green Art Gallery, Dubai, UAE (2021) and Inevitable Ephemera, T + H Gallery, Boston, MA (2016).

Selected group exhibitions include: Acacia Seeds, Galerie Balice Hertling, Paris, France (2024); Icon. Iconic., Art Here 2022 x Richard Mille Art Prize, Louvre Abu Dhabi, UAE (2022); Portrait of a Nation II: Beyond Narratives, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2022); Zemanna, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2022); Tadaroj (Gradation), Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival, Sharjah, UAE (2021); Between the Sky and the Earth: Contemporary Art from the UAE, Middle East Institute, Washington, DC (2021); Under Construction, Misk Art Institute, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2021); Hair Mapping Body; Body Mapping Land, ICD Brookfield Place, Dubai, UAE (2021); Beyond: Emerging Artists, Cromwell Place, London, UK (2021); Conscious Becoming, Tatjana Pieters, Ghent, Belgium (2021); Beyond: Emerging Artist, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2020); From Within, Riyadh, KSA (2019); Avoid Bad Dreams, Green Art Gallery, Dubai, UAE (2019); Barcelona to Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2018); and Emirati Expressions, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE (2011 and 2015) amongst others.

She lives and works in Abu Dhabi.

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