The Third Line Gallery Marks 20 Years with Exhibition Curated by Shumon Basar in Dubai

Dubai's The Third Line gallery is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an exhibition titled "The Only Way Out Is Through." Curated by Shumon Basar, the show reflects on the gallery's two-decade trajectory within broader regional and global upheavals. Since opening in 2005, the gallery has become a consistent presence in Dubai's art scene, initially championing artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Global South when such practices were considered a gamble. The exhibition avoids self-indulgence, instead connecting the gallery's history to events like the global financial crisis, the Arab Spring, and the pandemic. The gallery's name is borrowed from a verse by Iranian Sufi mystic Shams-e Tabrizi, suggesting an alternative path beyond binary logic. Located in Alserkal Avenue, The Third Line has defined its program by carving out space beyond inherited hierarchies, moving from skepticism to assured commitment.