Louvre Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille, has announced the jury panel and shortlisted artists for the fifth edition of Art Here and the prestigious Richard Mille Art Prize. The exhibition, which opens on 11 October and runs until 28 December this year, continues to serve as a dynamic platform for contemporary art, bridging regional and international creative voices.
Exploring Shadows: A Theme of Depth and Duality
Curated by Swiss-Japanese curator Sophie Mayuko Arni, this year’s theme, Shadows, invites artists to delve into the interplay between light and absence, visibility and concealment, and the layered dimensions of memory, identity, and transformation. The theme has sparked a wave of interest, with over 400 submissions from artists across the GCC, Japan, and the broader MENA region.
Meet the Jury: A Blend of Regional and Global Expertise
The selection process is guided by a distinguished jury panel that reflects the exhibition’s international scope. Among the Art Here 2025 jury is His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, a prominent arts patron and advisor to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Joining him are Dr Guilhem André of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Maya Allison of NYU Abu Dhabi, and renowned curators Yuko Hasegawa and Sophie Mayuko Arni.
Their collective expertise spans continents and disciplines, ensuring a rich and diverse curatorial dialogue that aligns with the museum’s mission to foster cross-cultural exchange.
Six Proposals, Seven Artists, Infinite Perspectives
From hundreds of submissions, six proposals by seven artists have been selected for this years Art Here 2025 exhibition. Each artist brings a unique lens to the theme of Shadows, offering thought-provoking interpretations through various mediums:
Ahmed Al-Aqra (Palestine): An architect and researcher whose multidisciplinary work explores spatial practices and philosophical concepts.
Jumairy (UAE): A digital artist and musician known for immersive performances that blur the boundaries between reality and virtuality.
Ryoichi Kurokawa (Japan): Creates audiovisual installations that merge sound and visuals into deeply immersive experiences.
Hamra Abbas (Pakistan/UAE): Reimagines traditional Islamic art through contemporary themes of faith, gender, and memory.
Rintaro Fuse (Japan): Uses painting, film, and poetry to reflect on urban isolation and digital disconnection.
YOKOMAE et BOUAYAD (Japan/Morocco): An architectural duo blending design traditions from Tokyo and Marrakesh to explore form, pattern, and technology.
This year marks a significant expansion of the initiative, with Japan joining the conversation for the first time. According to Louvre Abu Dhabi’s Director, Manuel Rabaté, this inclusion reflects the growing reach of the museum’s cultural mission and the increasing maturity of the regional art scene.
Art as a Bridge Between Worlds
The exhibition not only showcases artistic talent but also serves as a bridge between cultures. Dr Guilhem André highlighted the importance of nurturing emerging voices while cultivating new creative pathways between the Gulf and East Asia. Curator Sophie Mayuko Arni added that the theme of Shadows offered fertile ground for outdoor installations and cross-cultural interpretations.
A Platform for Discovery and Dialogue
As the selected artists begin developing their works, Art Here 2025 promises to be a compelling exploration of shadow, space, and identity. The exhibition continues to push boundaries, inviting audiences to engage with contemporary art as a lens through which to understand our shared humanity.
