Iris Projects made debut in Art Dubai with Abdullah Al Othman’s artworks
- Last updated: April 21, 2025 | 10:36
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Contemporary art gallery Iris Projects had its debut participation in Art Dubai, unveiling a new large-scale, site-specific installation by Saudi artist Abdullah Al Othman (April 16-20). Iris Projects showed Abdullah Al Othman’s work in the Bawwaba section at Art Dubai (Booth W4), curated by Mirjam Varadinis; the section highlighted artists from the Global South and Iris Projects was the only gallery from the GCC participating there.
Manifesto: the Language & the City (2025) was a series of multimedia works originally conceived for the Diriyah Biennale (2011) and subsequently presented at the 16th Lyon Biennale (2022). In this most recent iteration, the artist continued to chronicle the linguistic and architectural evolution of Riyadh, commenting on the fluidity of language, architecture and collective memory, in times of transformation.
Concurrently, Iris Projects is also presenting a solo exhibition by Al Othman in its gallery spaces in Abu Dhabi. Structural Syntax is curated by Irina Stark; it is Al Othman’s first solo show in the UAE and is a commentary on fleeting nostalgia and vanishing collective history.
The interplay between structural anatomy and language in the artist’s work is “akin to applying ultraviolet light to the skeleton of a building, deconstructing traditional forms to reveal new cultural narratives and systems of meaning,” says Iris Projects.
The exhibition opened on April 18 in Iris Projects gallery, M_39, MiZa, Abu Dhabi. Iris Projects is the first commercial gallery to open in Abu Dhabi’s MiZa cultural district. Al Othman’s upcoming publication, Language and City, which spans five years of the artist’s research, is also set for release this month.
He says that “architectural and linguistic identity has always been a source of inspiration and a special passion for me. It is not just a reflection of a place, but a living image of people’s history, interactions, dreams, memories, and obsessions.”
Maryam Al Falasi, Founder of Iris Projects, said that “we are delighted to debut at Art Dubai with a site-specific installation by acclaimed Saudi artist Abdullah Al Othman. Known for his rigorous conceptual approach, he researches the site of advertising signs in Riyadh, and then recreates them to create an identity of the city, condensed from its typographic, visual and architectural identity.
As the first commercial gallery to open in MiZa, Abu Dhabi, we’re excited to bring this thought-provoking work to Dubai audiences ahead of Abdullah’s highly anticipated first solo exhibition at our gallery.”
Irina Stark, Curator of Structural Syntax, said that “Al Othman’s work reflects his broader interest in the relationship between language and form, exploring how visual elements can act as a means of communication, transcending the limits of spoken or written words. As part of this exhibition, he encourages the audience to decode the language of structure, inviting to engage with each piece as both an intellectual and emotional experience.”
Abdullah Al Othman (b.1985) is one of Saudi Arabia’s most innovative contemporary artists and a published author, renowned for his multidisciplinary approach to art. For nearly a decade, he has cultivated a visual language rooted in Arabian urban landscapes, architecture, and linguistic history. His monumental installations and sculptures archive and reinterpret the evolving symbolism and narratives that shape his environment.
His practice spans drawing, sculpture, video, and large-scale installation, often incorporating elements of architecture and storytelling, to explore themes of identity, space, and the evolving cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia.
His work has been exhibited internationally including Lyon Biennale, Desert X AlUla and Diriyah Biennale, among others. His recent works highlight a continued exploration of the intersection between language semantics, art and the built environment. He lives and works in Riyadh.
Through Iris Projects, Maryam Al Falasi represents leading regional artists, manages multiple art and cultural projects throughout the UAE, and is a trusted advisor to top collectors. Through her work, she aims to connect regional artists with international audiences.
In addition to her professional achievements, she is a renowned art collector, dedicated to preserving the history of the UAE through her personal archive; it has significantly enriched exhibitions and museums across the UAE. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History of Art and Archaeology from Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi and has completed multiple courses at Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
Maryam Al Falasi is an influential speaker on the regional art scene, having participated in panels organised by Christie’s and FIKR Institute. In 2022, she was recognised as one of the 50 Emirati Women Achievers by StartAD.
She also serves as a brand ambassador for Skira and Museum Studio, and is a member of Young Arab Leaders. Irina Stark is a Los Angeles-based art advisor and curator, with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region. In the last two consecutive years, she was included in ARTnews’s lists of ‘The Top 75 Art World Professionals’ and ‘The 135 Top Art World Professionals’.
Prior to establishing her creative consultancy, she worked for over 15 years at leading European and American commercial art galleries and institutions. She holds an MA in Art History and Curatorial Studies as well as an MPhil in Geopolitics.
Iris Projects represents a growing roster of both emerging and established contemporary artists from the GCC region. MiZa, an acronym for ‘Mina Zayed’, was built in the 1970s, within the working port of Abu Dhabi. The area is being re-imagined as a new home for Abu Dhabi’s and the UAE’s cultural industries.