Shifting Sands

Shifting Sands is an installation that engages with the concept of land reclamation, which has dramatically reshaped the shoreline of Abu Dhabi’s Corniche. Sand is imported, transported and filled in order to reclaim areas for inhabitation. Since this process is no longer evident, the project reminds the viewers of the Corniche’s origins, where what is now land was once water.

Shifting Sands resonates with the city’s rapid urban development and transformation, by showcasing the process of reclamation through 3D printed components filled with sand. The installation emphasizes the collective role of society in shaping the spaces we inhabit, while also prompting reflection on the environmental implications of land reclamation. By allowing visitors to actively engage with the sand filled components, Shifting Sands underscores the theme of human interaction with nature in a city that is constantly redefining the boundaries between the natural and the synthetic.

Commissioned by Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourisim for the Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial 2024