Rooted in personal history and collective memory, Hazem Harb’s practice explores how exile leaves its mark on architectural form and cultural identity. Born in Gaza and based in Dubai, Harb’s visual language frequently references architectural ruins and archival imagery that evoke the fragility of built environments and the precariousness of home. At once intimate and expansive, his collages, sculptures, and installations explore the physical and symbolic structures shaped by war and exile presenting them not merely as remnants of destruction, but as foundations for belonging and reconstruction.

ReviewsAnna SeamanSeptember 16, 2025Dubai Collection, Hazem Harb, Collage

Truth In Memory

Memory, often shaped by nostalgia, trauma, and loss, can distort or idealize the past, while truth, bound by its quest for factuality, may resist the emotional weight of recollection. In the liminal space where personal narratives and collective histories converge and diverge, artists often explore the blurred lines between truth and memory. This piece explores how four artists from the Dubai Collection portray human existence through the lens of social norms, intangible experiences and history within the context of individual and collective memories.

ReviewsAnna SeamanSeptember 4, 2025Dubai Collection, Exhibition, Culture

Collector Series: Reem El Roubi and Amir Daoud Abdellatif Collection

Reem El Roubi and her husband, Amir Daoud Abdellatif, see themselves as custodians of art and cultural heritage. Their passion for collecting is driven by a deep appreciation for artistic expression and a commitment to preserving and amplifying voices from the regions they hold dear. Originally from Sudan, their journey as collectors began when they moved from London to Dubai in 2013, shaping a collection that weaves together Sudanese, African, and Middle Eastern art - connecting historical narratives with contemporary perspectives.

FeaturesAnna SeamanSeptember 2, 2025Collector, Art, Dubai Collection

Echoes of Trauma and Identity in Syrian Contemporary Art

The practices of Fateh Moudarres and Safwan Dahoul are almost half a century apart. Whilst the artists share obvious connections to the Syrian cultural and social landscape, their works resonate with universal themes of existentialism, trauma, and national identity.

Features, Most PopularAnna SeamanJanuary 8, 2025Safwan Dahoul, Sy, Fateh Moudarres, Dubai Collection

Meet the Artist: Kamal Boullata

Born in the Christian quarter of Jerusalem in 1942, Boullata went on to study fine art at the Accademia di Belle Arti, Rome in 1965. When war broke out at home in 1967, he was in Beirut and was not able to return to Palestine. He lived the rest of his life in exile moving from Morocco to the US – where he received an MFA from Corcoran School of Art, Washington, DC in 1971, then to France and eventually to Germany, where he lived out the rest of his life. However, the city of Jerusalem was continuously alive in his heart. He once said: "I keep reminding myself that Jerusalem is not behind me, it is constantly ahead of me."

Features, Editor's PicksAnna SeamanJuly 6, 2023Dubai Collection, Artist, PaintingComment