Gazan artist Mohammed al-Hawajri debuts new Sharjah exhibition

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A new solo exhibition by Gazan-born Sharjah-based artist Mohammed al-Hawajri has opened at the newly launched Aswar Art Center in Sharjah featuring the artist’s evocative oil paintings that merge scenes from his native Palestine with those of his adopted home. Elsewhere, a presentation of a major work by Iranian New York-based artist Nicky Nodjoumi titled “Chaos” (1988-89) offers a timely reflection on the  upheaval gripping Iran today. In the lead-up to Ramadan, the 15th edition of the Sharjah Light Festival illuminates the emirate in a vibrant and cultural display of light art.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

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1. Leading the week: ‘The Place Is Not a Still Life’ by Mohammed al-Hawajri

Mohammed al-Hawajri. “Tea Under the Shade of Olive Trees” (2025). Acrylic on canvas. 270 × 170 cm. (Photo courtesy of the artist)

Gazan-born artist Mohammed al-Hawajri presents a new body of work in The Place Is Not a Still Life, a solo exhibition at the newly launched Aswar Art Center in Sharjah exploring personal experience, displacement and collective memory.

Born in 1976 in al-Bureij refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, Hawajri emerged on the scene during the late 1990s through a series of solo exhibitions and research-driven projects that marked formative moments in the development of contemporary Palestinian art. His practice spans painting, video, digital media and installation, often incorporating unconventional materials such as spices and bones as active elements within the work. Much of Hawajri’s art articulates trauma and destruction through potent visual metaphors, situating the Palestinian experience within a broader global visual discourse.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is “Tea Under the Shade of Olive Trees” (2025), evoking an intensified psychological presence, sense of charged determination and resilience following the artist’s relocation to Sharjah during the most recent Gaza war. The olive trees serve as enduring symbols of heritage, connecting Palestinians to their history and the land that has been so contested. Reflecting a quiet sense of dignity, the painting articulates the importance of memory and the beauty of the land.

Hawajri’s solo exhibition is one of the first shows to be staged at Aswar Art Center, which opened in November 2025.

“This exhibition emerges from a deep conviction in the role of the arts in shaping human consciousness and fostering cross-cultural dialogue,” said Salem Aljunibi, founder and CEO of Aswar Art Center, in the opening press release. 

Date: until March 7

Location: Aswar Art Center, Base 39 Creative District, Sharjah

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Iftar at Bab Al Shams

Delectable iftar offerings at Al Hadeerah in Bab Al Shams. (Photo courtesy of Kerzner International)

With the beginning of Ramadan just a few days away, restaurants across the United Arab Emirates are gearing up for festive meals to celebrate the holy month. For an experience that takes you out into the desert, head to Al Hadeerah at Bab Al Shams, a desert resort in Dubai. Designed as an open-air Arabian village, Al Hadeerah will stage an iftar buffet of Middle Eastern delicacies prepared across multiple stations, while live performers, musicians, falconers, camel riders and dancers make their way through the various dining areas.

Dishes include slow-cooked whole lamb ouzi, grilled meats, seafood, hot and cold mezze, fresh Arabic bread and traditional desserts such as kunafa and umm ali. The iftar takes place daily during Ramadan from sunset until 11 p.m. and is priced at AED 449 ($122) for adults, AED 275 ($75) for children aged 4-11 and is complimentary for children under four years old.

Location: Al Hadeerah, Bab Al Shams Desert Resort, Al Qudra Road, Saih Al Salam

Find more information here.

3. Dubai diary

Nicky Nodjoumi. “Chaos,” 1989. Oil on canvas. (Photo courtesy of the artist and Taymour Grahne Projects)

• ‘Chaos’ by Nicky Nodjoumi

Iranian New York-based painter Nicky Nodjoumi’s poignant large-scale figurative oil paintings reflect the legacies of personal and collective trauma — especially the artist’s own experiences in the Islamic Republic before he first moved to the United States in 1969. On show at Taymour Grahne Projects in Dubai is one of his most evocative works: “Chaos.” Drawing upon history, social observation, mass media and personal and collective experiences, the richly detailed allegorical scenes convey power and psychological tension. While the work was produced between 1988 and 1989, around 10 years after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, it also nods to present-day protests and the killing of thousands of Iranians, highlighting the ongoing cycle of violence in times of needed change.

Date: until March 10

Location: Taymour Grahne Projects

Find more information here.

• Sharjah Light Festival returns for its 15th year

The Sharjah Light Festival 2026 returns for its 15th year under the theme “Reflections of Belonging,” illuminating 13 iconic landmarks across the emirate with large-scale 3D projections and artistic installations that offer cultural narratives, alongside immersive light shows across cityscapes and coastlines. Major landmarks, including Sharjah Mosque, University City Hall and Al Noor Mosque, feature intricate light displays that sync with custom-composed music, while destinations such as Kalba, Khorfakkan and Al Rafisah Dam are also highlighted.

Date: until Feb. 15

Location: Various sites in the emirate of Sharjah

Find more information here.

• The Sheikh Zayed Festival 

The annual cultural and heritage event staged in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, has returned to the capital. Celebrating Emirati culture and heritage through various pavilions, firework displays, concerts and performances under the theme of “Hayyakum — which means “welcome” in Arabic — the event also features international pavilions showcasing the crafts, food and traditions of 22 countries, alongside a dedicated Heritage Village. Entertainment includes over 750 major performances, weekly fireworks, as well as dozens of drone and laser shows.

Date: until March 22

Location: Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi

Find more information here.