retrospective | abdulqader al rais at institut du monde arabe

Abdulqader Al Rais, one of the UAE’s most prolific contemporary artists, was asked to display 58 artworks in the Institut Du Monde Arabe. On request from the Dubai Culture Authority, we worked closely alongside the artist to curate his pieces in to an experience spanning the 5 centuries of his career, from the 60’s to present day.

The entrance space holds his most recent large-scale, colored, abstract paintings. The environment has darkened walls and black polished concrete to make the paintings float within the space and reflect below your feet. As you approach the central core of the space you see his more historic and rarer works. The space lightens and the walls begin to encroach and levitate, bringing the visitor closer to this reserved but formidable artist.

Taking inspiration from Abdul Qader Al Rais’ art process, the exhibition’s branding was developed to express forms, shapes and colors as an homage to his work. The design focus’ on one of the artist’s paintings created exclusively for the exhibition, which uses his infamous abstract and geometric forms. The branding also took homage through a literal dissection of the Abdulqader Al Rais Blue ‘WAW Painting’. This was applied to both the environment and to multiple collaterals. 

Client | Dubai Culture