UAE artists set to exhibit at the 16th Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art in France

Three artists from the UAE are set to represent the country at the 16th edition of the Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art. (Supplied)
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Updated 25 September 2022
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UAE artists set to exhibit at the 16th Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art in France

  • Wonderful talent showcase, says Noura bint Mohammad Al-Kaabi, minister of culture and youth
  • Hashel Al-Lamki, Mohammed Kazem, Chafa Ghaddar will work under event’s theme ‘Manifesto of Fragility’

DUBAI: Three artists from the UAE are set to represent the country at the 16th edition of the Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art, which will run from Sept. 14 to Dec. 31, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.

Multi-disciplinary creator Hashel Al-Lamki, conceptual creative Mohammed Kazem and mural artist Chafa Ghaddar will present their work at the biennale, which is being held under the theme “Manifesto of Fragility.”




Mural artist Chafa Ghaddar will present their work at the Biennale. (Supplied)

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the UAE to showcase its talent at such a prestigious platform. We have immense respect for the Lyon Biennale, which is marking its 16th edition this year. The UAE is making its presence felt at global art events and this is one of its significant participations,” said UAE Minister of Culture and Youth Noura bint Mohammed Al-Kaabi in a statement.

“The UAE artists exhibiting at this event are known names in the contemporary art world and they will be presenting distinctive works enriched by Middle Eastern and Arab influences. I look forward to seeing their participation in the biennale, wish them a very successful exhibition and I look forward to seeing the fruitful results of the collaboration between these artists come to life.”

Featuring 230 works by 34 artists and more than 300 archival documents from nearly 40 collections worldwide, the exhibition will showcase new creations by living artists alongside historical pieces from museums in the French city.

It will also present loaned collections from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (also known as the Met), the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, and from many of Lyon’s leading cultural institutions, such as the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon, the Lugdunum Museum and Roman theaters, and the Musées Gadagne.
 


Mini op-ed: We need a ‘potluck’ culture of reading

Updated 10 March 2026
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Mini op-ed: We need a ‘potluck’ culture of reading

DUBAI: The number of times we hear, “My kids don’t read,” “I don’t have the time,” or “Do people even read anymore?” is alarming.

With newspapers declared dead and YouTube summaries or ChatGPT reviews becoming the main course of words, I often wonder: have those asking these questions considered the role they play?

Each of us — school representatives, librarians, parents, educators, children, and even occasional readers — must ask whether we are helping create a culture where reaching for a book feels as natural as reaching for a smartphone.

Even the smallest effort counts. I think of a reading culture as a potluck where everyone brings something small, and together it becomes a wholesome meal. If you do not know where to begin, look around.

Purva Grover is an author, poet, playwright, stage director, TEDx speaker, and creative entrepreneur. (Supplied)

The UAE is rich in public libraries including in Sharjah and Dubai, such as the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, which is proof that access is not the issue. 

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is embedding reading into its national identity under Vision 2030 through digital libraries, major book fairs, and daily school reading.

Not a reader? Events such as the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature or the Sharjah International Book Fair offer easy entry points for conversation, community and curiosity.

They are built on cultural blocks that subtly encourage even non-readers into reading spaces. You could even start a reading club. I run one in Dubai called The Reading Village and have seen its quiet magic.

Culture is built by saying yes. And no to pirated PDFs on WhatsApp, as well as unchecked screen habits.

Tiny habits can help build an environment where reading becomes as much a part of our lives as scrolling on Netflix to decide what to binge-watch next.

Purva Grover is an author, poet, playwright, stage director, TEDx speaker, and creative entrepreneur. She is the founder of The Reading Village, a Dubai-based community.