Mariam Abbas Maps UAE's Flora and Skyline in 'Terra Ephemera'

Emirati artist Mariam Abbas launches 'Terra Ephemera: A Visual Cartography of Resilience' at Alserkal Lates, the first of the season. The exhibition pairs pencil sketches of local plants with their botanical names alongside acrylic paintings of the same flora set against the UAE's urban skyline, using common names. Abbas aims to draw attention to the often-overlooked native vegetation, emphasizing that the landscape is more than just skyscrapers. The title combines Latin 'Terra' (earth) and 'Ephemera' (transient) to capture the fleeting yet resilient spirit of the Emirati environment. The show features seven corresponding pairs, highlighting the coexistence of architecture and flora. Abbas notes that colors are muted and flowers small, so many go unnoticed. The press release is from Mestaria Gallery.