Exploring the UAE’s visual narrative with ArtScoops’ Miriam Dunn, April 2026.

This provocative concept, pioneered by the late Hassan Sharif, is at the heart of my book, The Development of an Art History in the UAE. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with ArtScoops to discuss this idea and the broader evolution of the UAE’s contemporary art scene.

In our conversation, we moved beyond the shiny façades of modern galleries to look at the “shocks” and experiments of the 1980s and 90s that truly defined the nation’s creative DNA.

The Myth of the “Instant” Art Scene

One of the key points I addressed in the interview is the common misconception that art in the UAE is a recent phenomenon. Through my research, I’ve worked to document how the “insider-outsider” perspective has shaped Emirati creativity, from the early days of the Emirates Fine Arts Society to the global stage of the Venice Biennale.

Key Highlights from the Interview:

• The Radical 1980s: Why the move away from traditional landscapes to conceptualism was a pivotal turning point for the “Five” artists.
• The Researcher’s Journey: How my time living and teaching in the UAE allowed me to see the subtle shifts in visual culture that outsiders often miss.
• The Future of UAE Art History: Why documenting these stories now is essential as the region’s global cultural influence continues to grow.

Why Context Matters

As I mention in the interview, the “shocks” of contemporary art are not meant to be instantly digestible. They are meant to provoke, to question, and to invite us into a deeper dialogue. My book provides the historical framework for that dialogue, ensuring that as we look at the incredible works being produced today, we remember the voices and visions that paved the way.

Read the full interview on ArtScoops: An Art Not Made to Be Understood: Sophie Kazan Makhlouf on the UAE’s Visual Culture