Jumana Emil Abboud's First Gulf Solo Exhibition at Jameel Arts Centre
The Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai is set to host 'The Storyteller and the Obedient Tide' from January 27 to June 28, 2026. This exhibition will be the first solo showcase in the Gulf for Palestinian artist Jumana Emil Abboud and is curated by Indranjan Banerjee. It will feature new works created during her residencies at Aomori Contemporary Art Centre in 2024, Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio in 2025, and a collaborative residency with V&A Jameel Fellowship and Cirva in London and Marseilles from 2024 to 2025. The exhibition will highlight pieces like 'Kohl in the eyes of Zarqa' and 'The Premonition Cups,' along with older works such as beeswax talismans and Issa Freij's film 'Hide Your Water from the Sun.' Abboud will perform a spoken word piece at the opening, focusing on storytelling as a means of resistance and renewal, according to Nora Razian, the Deputy Director of Art Jameel.
Key facts
- First solo exhibition in the Gulf by Palestinian artist Jumana Emil Abboud
- Exhibition runs January 27 to June 28, 2026 at Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai
- Curated by Indranjan Banerjee, Exhibitions Curator at Art Jameel
- New commissions produced during residencies in Japan and with V&A Jameel Fellowship and Cirva
- First works in glass: 'Kohl in the eyes of Zarqa'' and 'The Premonition Cups'
- Film 'Hide Your Water from the Sun' (2014–2017) made in collaboration with Issa Freij
- Opening includes a spoken word performance by the artist at 6:30 pm
- Organized by Art Jameel, an organization supporting artists and creative communities
Entities
Artists
- Jumana Emil Abboud
- Issa Freij
Institutions
- Art Jameel
- Jameel Arts Centre
- Aomori Contemporary Art Centre
- Sapporo Tenjinyama Art Studio
- V&A Jameel Fellowship
- Cirva
Locations
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates
- Japan
- Aomori
- Sapporo
- London
- Marseilles
- Palestine