The sculpture, created by Kuwaiti artist Monira Al Qadiri ideates an iridescent oil drill, a wink to the UAE’s oil-industry. This unveiling of Al Qadiri’s sculpture is the start of Expo 2020’s Public Art Programme which will bring together 11 artists who’s work will form a creative journey through the Expo site.

About the sculpture, Tarek Abou El Fetouh, Public Art Curator, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Her bold sculpture with its magnified size and reflective colour makes it seem like a futuristic creature from outer space. Through this sculpture, the artist attempts to merge the pre- and post-oil eras into one body. She creates aesthetic connections between pearls and oil, through their colour, materiality, symbolism, ecology and economy in order to reimagine the past, present and future of the wider Gulf region”.

“I am very proud to be among the 11 artists from around the world selected to be part of this programme that invites visitors to access new perspectives through art in public space.” Monira Al Qadiri her self says.

This initiative, as the UAE’s first permanent open-air art exhibition, is expected to boost Dubai’s position on the global cultural map. It is inspired by the Arab mathematician, astronomer, and physicist Ibn Al Haytham’s seminal work, Book of Optics. 

The remaining artists who’s work is yet to be unveiled are: Hamra Abbas, Afra Al Dhaheri, Shaikha Al Mazrou, Abdullah Al Saadi, Asma Belhamar, Olafur Eliasson, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Khalil Rabah, Yinka Shonibare and Haegue Yang.