Warehouse421: A New Way To Experience Art and Culture in Abu Dhabi
Since opening in November 2015, Warehouse421 has quickly established itself as a unique addition to Abu Dhabi’s arts and cultural landscape, hosting four major exhibitions and introducing the bi-weekly Wednesdays at the Warehouse program.
One of the venue’s original exhibitions, 1:100 The Warehouse Reimagined, culminated in March 2016 with the announcement of the winning warehouse designs exploring the theme of transformation. As selected by public votes collected over the duration of the exhibition, the winning design (with 300+ votes) was Esra’a Bahman’s Tilal, which was inspired by Arabic culture and the evolution of daily life. In second place was Hayder Mahdi’s Disposition, which featured a warehouse made of copper with a roof adorned with 1,000 steel triangles. And in third place was Raneem Al Nrshi’s Apocalypse, inspired by the water around Mina Zayed and its adaptability to floods.
Commenced in May 2016 (and running until September 2016), a new exhibition entitled Departure encourages visitors to explore the themes of passage and mobility through the works of Spanish artist Xavier Mascaró. Visitors can observe possibilities and meanings through an 18-meter iron ship located at the entrance of Warehouse421, and 26 unique boats presented inside the exhibition, accompanied by insights into Mascaro’s artistic process, poems of reminiscence and experimentations investigating notions of departure.
Meanwhile, Wednesdays at the Warehouse – which commenced in January – is a curated program of workshops, film screenings and panel discussions designed to boost public participation and engagement in creativity. Created in response to significant public interest in Warehouse421 following its launch, the program complements current exhibitions and brings new perspectives to topics of relevance to the region. Its second season, which commenced in May 2016, is inspired by the Departure exhibition and includes the addition of dedicated family workshops and performances.
Stay up to date with news on what’s happening at Warehouse421 through all social media channels (@Warehouse421) and the website.