The winning project of this year’s Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award has been officially unveiled at Manarat Al Saadiyat, on the eve of Abu Dhabi Art opening to the public.
An installation delving into the proficient photosynthesis processes of mangroves, Shaheeq was conceived by Vivi Zhu, Hala El Abora and Majd Alloush. The artists were named the winners of the 11th iteration of the prize earlier this year, but their work was not publicly revealed until Tuesday.
Shaheeq comprises three columns of varying sizes displayed on mounds of sand. With stacked gradients of grey, brown and blue, the work aesthetically pays tribute to the mangrove’s efficiency in taking carbon from the air and using it to support marine life. It is perhaps due to these qualities that the tree forms an important aspect of UAE heritage.
“They actually absorb the carbon dioxide and trap it into the soil, and convert into organic carbon,” Zhu, an NYU Abu Dhabi graduate, says. “You can’t see it but a lot of things are being converted underneath the ground. These little trees are doing so much. You see them so short but there’s so many things underneath. They’re also so resilient. They are the only trees that grow in salty water.”
Shaheeq’s homage to mangroves extends to its material form and fate. After Abu Dhabi Art concludes on Sunday, the installation will be exhibited at NYU Abu Dhabi and Umm Al Emarat Park before finally being installed at Jubail Mangrove Park, where it will be left to biodegrade.
This degradation process will be gentle and beneficial to the Shaheeq’s future neighbours. The columns are made of rammed earth, providing the nutrients necessary for a mangrove environment.
“The two main components are basalt sand and beach sand,” Alloush, a graduate student at NYU Abu Dhabi, says. “We sourced them from a supplier near the warehouse we were working at in Umm Al Quwain. We used mineral pigments to mix with the sand. We used a concrete mixer to get an even layer and even colour.”
What is also significant about Shaheeq is that the three artists built the installation themselves instead of outsourcing its production. After its design was in place, the project took a month to build.
“The physical labour was one month, every single day in the summer,” El Abora, who is also a graduate student at NYU Abu Dhabi, says. “Of course, I’m doing it with the best people so it makes a difference. The connection that we had, the materials we were using, and the [association] we had with the mangroves themselves. The work was worth it.”
The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award has been held annually since 2013 in honour of the late art couple. The award is open to UAE students and recent graduates. It serves as a launch pad for artists across the country.
The award is held under the patronage of Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan. It is presented by NYU Abu Dhabi in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award is produced in collaboration with The NYUAD Art Gallery.
Emily Doherty, director of the award, says the initiative has grown alongside the creative communities of the UAE, and is continuing to mature in reflection of the local artistic scene.
“We've had 11 years of winning works, and because the arts education in this country has matured, our award has matured. We’re picking up students who are now doing much more considered work, doing master’s [degrees] and not just BAs. Not just architecture and design, they’re doing actual fine arts,” Doherty says.
“This is a huge shift and our award totally reflects what's happening in the UAE.”
Key recommendations
- Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
- Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
- Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
- More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
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The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
Coal Black Mornings
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Little Brown Book Group
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
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SQUADS
UAE
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice-captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
Nepal
Paras Khadka (captain), Gyanendra Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Avinash Bohara, Sundeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Pawan Sarraf, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh
RESULTS
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