Shama Al Hamed
I Jump – Will I Stick the Landing?
Curated by Walter Willems
Aisha Alabbar Gallery, Dubai
4 February - 5 April 2025
Aisha Alabbar Gallery presents I Jump – Will I Stick the Landing?, the first solo exhibition by SHAMA AL HAMED, curated by WALTER WILLEMS. This collection of paintings, sculptures, and installations offers a deeply personal exploration of the artist’s journey, providing insight into the formative experiences and emotions that have shaped her creative practice and artistic perspective.
In I Jump – Will I Stick the Landing?, Shama Al Hamed uses the metaphor of jumping as a symbol of movement— through time, memory, and emotion. Each leap becomes a reflection of her ongoing efforts to navigate and transcend the spaces that define her, whether driven by joy, individuality, or quiet defiance.
A recurring theme in her work is the integration of architectural patterns, derived from photographs of buildings that framed her childhood. These designs, transformed through repetition and abstraction, evoke defining memories and the influence of physical spaces on her creative vision.
“This body of work is a visual narrative of resilience and transformation,” said Shama Al Hamed. “Each piece represents a leap, a moment of searching, and an embrace of the uncertainty that fuels my growth.”
I Jump – Will I Stick the Landing? invites viewers to journey through Shama Al Hamed’s reflections, navigating memories, thoughts, and dreams. This immersive exhibition is an opportunity to engage with the textures, forms, and patterns that define her work and to consider the leaps we take in our own lives.
This exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue, offering new insights into the works on display and the broader context in which they exist.
SHAMA AL HAMED (b. Abu Dhabi, 1999) is a visual artist who earned her Bachelor of Visual Art degree from the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, UAE in 2022. Her practice centers on capturing moments from her life through paintings and installations. All her work represents self-portraits in a conceptual manner, illustrating the continuous evolution of her mind, including her subconscious. This subconscious reveals different stories and conflicts within her work. She frequently explores self-portraits with a narrative that blends observation with the dreamlike nature of the subconscious. Using painting as her primary medium, she transforms patterns into art, infusing each piece with a unique storyline.
WALTER WILLEMS is a Dutch artist, curator, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the arts and culture industry. He has curated major exhibitions, managed large-scale interactive public art, and co-founded ArtBarrage, a consultancy specializing in digital contemporary art sales and artist career development. Walter Willems has collaborated with institutions like the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Culture, where he co-curated the 2023 Sikka Art & Design Festival. As an artist, his work has been exhibited internationally and is held in public and private collections across Europe, North America, Australia, and the UAE.
AISHA ALABBAR GALLERY
Warehouse C-19, Alserkal Avenue 17th St, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1 - Dubai
