UAE’s First Collaborative Gallery Exhibition
The exhibition is a first of its kind for the Emirates, presenting works from over 50 artists. The initiative was conceptualised by Alserkal and curated by curated by Kevin Jones Artistic Director at Alserkal, Nada Raza Director of Alserkal Arts Foundation and Zaina Zaarour Curator & Manager of Programmes at Alserkal Avenue, in close consultation with the participating galleries.
The exhibition takes its name and inspiration from Raed Yassin’s 2016 neon work, Déjà Vu. The curatorial framework explores the “incongruity and inanity of repeated cycles” through three distinct thematic streams.
The Uncanny: An examination of historical mismatches, memory glitches, and the surrealism found within the gap between the perceived and the real.
Historical Absurdity: Influenced by Karl Marx’s assertion that history repeats itself as farce, this stream explores how regional geopolitical tensions alter and glitch collective memory.
Linguistic Slippage: A look at the instability of communication, where language and symbols become unreliable tools for connection in the face of conflicting narratives.
Featured Artists and Galleries
The exhibition features a formidable roster of regional talent, including Farah Al Qasimi, Nazgol Ansarinia, Amir Khojasteh, Samira Abbassy, and Larissa Sansour. These artists are represented by a broad spectrum of the UAE’s most influential galleries, such as The Third Line, Green Art Gallery, Lawrie Shabibi and Carbon12, among many others.
By consolidating these diverse voices into a single collaborative space, Déjà vu functions as both a commercial opportunity for the galleries and a high-level cultural dialogue for the public.
Déjà vu remains on show at Concrete, Alserkal Avenue until 10pm on 8 May 2026.
