"Civilizations: Under the Same Sky"First Edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Contemporary Art BiennaleOpening : January 16th, 2026 Closing: February 16th, 2026

Ras Al Khaimah, UAECurated by Sharon Toval

The inaugural Ras Al Khaimah Contemporary Art Biennale will open on January 16, 2026, as part of the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival 2026, transforming the historic Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village - a 17th-century Fisherman and pearl cultivating Village - into a vibrant crossroads of art, heritage, and contemporary thought.

Curated by Sharon Toval, this first edition — titled Civilizations: Under the Same Sky — reflects a new vision connecting the Ras Al Khaimah community to contemporary creation from around the world. It invites visitors to embark on a journey through four thematic pavilions exploring humanity's shared spirit, creativity, and future potential.

Rather than viewing civilizations as relics of the past, the Biennale presents them as living, breathing frameworks of identity, memory, and imagination. Through immersive installations, photography, video, sound, and craft, the exhibition celebrates the diversity of human expression and the common threads that unite us across cultures.

For further information, high-resolution images, or media inquiries, please visit the link below:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17H5_1NOYLvby_k5N5m9vKhXNOFtWzyUd?usp=sharing

Participating Artists:

Sutee Kunavichayanont - Stefano Cagol - Hannan Abu-Hussein - Hicham Benohoud - Marie Hudelot - Dadoune MiyazawaMiguel Ripoll - Kawita Vatanajyankur - Yifat BezalelSamaneh Roghani - Kenji Kojima - Francesca FiniVincent Martial - Rotem Tamir - Romain ThieryThodoris Trampas - Sophy Abu Shakra - Goekcen Dilek Acay - Lupie Lup - Barak Rotem

A Journey Through Four Pavilions

The Biennale unfolds across four thematic pavilions (villas), each situated within the 17th-century evocative architecture of the Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village — tracing a path from the spiritual to the futuristic.

Pavilion I — The Spirit Within

Since the dawn of time, human beings have sought meaning through their connection to the spiritual. Across cultures and generations, they have shaped belief systems, rituals, and values that not only define how we relate to the world but also reflect our inner selves.The spirit finds expression in our relationship with nature, the languages we speak, the art we create, and the ways we perceive reality. These are more than cultural markers; they are echoes of the soul. This pavilion invites visitors to enter a space where the intangible becomes visible, exploring how the spiritual and cultural converge to shape identity.

Pavilion II — Under the Same Sky

Over the past two decades, there has been a renewed appreciation for traditional crafts—objects once deeply rooted in heritage, tribe, and memory. But what happens when emerging technologies and artificial intelligence begin to shape the way we design, create, and think?This pavilion explores that question through artworks that merge ancient sensibilities with contemporary tools. You'll hear the haunting sounds of abandoned pianos—symbols of Western musical grandeur—recorded in long-forgotten spaces.These works reflect on the tension between cultural legacy and our fleeting presence on Earth. In the vastness of the cosmos, we are small. And yet, under one sky, we remain connected.

Pavilion III — Visions from the Source

Across history and sacred texts, women have stood at the heart of human existence—shaping societies, nurturing families, and carrying cultural memory. As civilizations evolve, women artists continue this legacy, transforming lived experiences, emotions, and identities into resonant works of art.This pavilion celebrates the voices of female artists, opening windows into personal and collective worlds—spaces of beauty, resilience, and truth. From bold AI video visions to immersive installations, the works reveal the layered complexity of womanhood across continents.

Pavilion IV — Future Horizons

In an era of accelerating change, art and technology converge to imagine new possibilities for humankind. This pavilion explores speculative futures—where AI, data, and digital tools coexist with myth, ritual, and memory.The works question what it means to create, to dream, and to belong in an age when the boundaries between the physical and virtual blur. Each piece is a vision of the possible, a reminder that the future is not distant but alive within us.

Al Qasimi Foundation contact: Suqrat Abdullah Bin Bisher | Director of Ras Al Khaimah [email protected]+971 506471822

The curator: Sharon Toval | Researcher and Curator of Contemporary [email protected] +972 507412325

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