Illuminating Place: DRIFT and More Debut Dazzling Public Art at Manar Abu Dhabi

Public art has the unique power to shift how we move through a city—transforming familiar landscapes into sites of discovery, reflection, and connection. In Abu Dhabi, that experience has taken on a radiant new dimension through Manar Abu Dhabi, a flagship initiative of Public Art Abu Dhabi dedicated to exploring the transformative potential of light. Bringing together site-specific installations, large-scale commissions, and immersive environments, this citywide exhibition invites residents and visitors alike to see the UAE capital through fresh eyes.

A key pillar of the Public Art Abu Dhabi program—launched by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) in 2023—Manar (Arabic for “lighthouse”) illuminates the emirate’s archipelagos, mangroves, deserts, and historic oases with artworks that explore the relationship between light, nature, and human perception. More than a festival, it is an evolving platform that spotlights international artistic innovation while deepening engagement with the local environment.

A New Chapter: Manar Abu Dhabi 2025

From November 15, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi returns under the theme “The Light Compass.” Curated by Khai Hori, with co-curators Alia Zaal Lootah, Munira Al Sayegh, and Mariam Alshehhi, this edition presents more than 23 newly commissioned works across key sites in Abu Dhabi and, for the first time, the city of Al Ain—underscoring the growing regional footprint of the initiative.

This year’s centerstage is Jubail Island, nestled between Yas and Saadiyat Islands. Its sweeping views and winding mangrove boardwalks create a natural amphitheater for works such as EDEN (2025), a large-scale outdoor installation by Malaysian artist Pamela Poh, and several ambitious new pieces by the multidisciplinary studio DRIFT, including UNFOLD (2025), WHISPERS (2025), and a choreographed drone performance titled WIND OF CHANGE (2025).

Emirati sculptor Shaikha Al Mazrou debuts CONTINGENT OBJECT (2025) on Jubail, continuing her investigations into form and tension. Montreal-based digital art studio Iregular brings four interactive works—AS WATER FALLS, FACES, CONTROL NO CONTROL, and FORTUNES—that respond to audience presence, creating a dynamic exchange between viewer and environment. Additional installations by Ezequiel Pini (Six N. Five), Christian Brinkmann, Kirsten Berg, Encor Studio, and Lachlan Turczan complete the island-wide constellation of light.

Whispers, Unfold, and Wind of Change by DRIFT 

DRIFT introduced three new works that explore nature, technology, and transformation through light and movement. Whispers, a field of 500 illuminated elements inspired by wild Guinea Grass, responds directly to the wind. Its tips glow at visitor height, removing any sense of hierarchy between viewer, environment, and artwork. As the breeze shifts, the installation becomes a living choreography of light.

Unfold brings intimacy to the monumental, using AI to translate each visitor’s heartbeat into a dynamic, character-driven digital flower. The result is a one-of-a-kind bloom—an audiovisual portrait shaped entirely by the body’s own rhythm. In its latest evolution, Unfold 2.0 becomes a shared landscape of collective light and connection.

Crowning DRIFT’s contributions, Wind of Change is a sweeping aerial performance of 2,000 drones mapping the invisible forces—wind, currents, time—that sculpt the natural world. The choreography moves from shifting dunes to a luminous falcon, the emblem of Abu Dhabi, before dissolving into a vortex that seeds the city’s imagined future. Together, these works celebrate cycles of movement, adaptation, and renewal.

Light in the Oases: Al Qattara and Al Jimi

In Al Ain, the exhibition unfolds through the Al Qattara Oasis Trail, where Rafael Lozano-Hemmer presents TRANSLATION STREAM (2023) and PULSE CANOPY (2025)—works that merge biometric data, movement, and light. Emirati designer Khalid Shafar contributes SADU RED CARPET (2025), responding to the heritage of the oasis through contemporary craft.

At the Al Jimi Oasis Trail, visitors encounter five installations shaped by the dense geometry of palm groves: Ammar Al Attar’s meditative CYCLE OF CIRCLES (2025); Maitha Hamdan’s poetic BREATH OF THE SAME PLACE (2025); Abdulla Al Mulla’s architectural GUIDING DRAPES (2025); and FLORAL RESONANCE (2024), an audiovisual experience by Christian Brinkmann.

Public Art on the Waterfront: Souq Al Mina

Along Mina Zayed’s skyline, KAWS: HOLIDAY Abu Dhabi introduces a monumental illuminated COMPANION, created with the artist’s long-time partner AllRightsReserved. Reclining with a glowing moon lifted in its hands, the figure bridges global pop culture with the city’s industrial waterfront—an instantly iconic example of the emotional accessibility public art can offer.

Building on the Vision of the First Edition

The inaugural 2023–2024 edition, themed “Grounding Light,” set the stage for Manar’s ambition to reframe Abu Dhabi’s natural vistas. Featuring more than 35 site-specific works across Lulu, Saadiyat, Jubail, Al Samaliyah, and Fahid Islands—as well as the Corniche and Eastern Mangroves—the first edition introduced audiences to a global lineup of artists including Carsten Höller, Jim Denevan, Latifa Saeed, teamLab, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Shezad Dawood, Shilpa Gupta, Alaa Edris, Samia Halaby, and many others.

A Long-Term Commitment to Cultural Place-Making

Manar Abu Dhabi forms part of a broader cultural strategy that includes the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial, launching in late 2024, and an expanding roster of permanent artist commissions. Together, these initiatives underscore the emirate’s dedication to enriching public space through artworks that reflect the region’s heritage while projecting a bold vision for the future.

By transforming islands, oases, and coastlines into living galleries, Manar Abu Dhabi demonstrates how public art can deepen our sense of place—and illuminate the extraordinary in the everyday.