The ‘HUNA Cultural Programme’ by HUNA, Dubai’s leading culturally driven lifestyle developer, aims to transform living spaces into creative community hubs, hosting insightful dialogues and talks by prominent figures, traversing topics from culture to technology, complemented by artistic performances and experience

HUNA, which is a subsidiary of the Dubai-based investment firm A.R.M. Holding, will officially launch its Cultural Programme on 1 March 2024 with the highly anticipated unveiling of the HUNA Sculpture Park at H-Residence along Jumeirah Road, Dubai. “The HUNA Cultural Programme is an important new addition to the cultural fabric of this enchanting city,” says said Benedetta Ghione, the Executive Director at Art Dubai. “Together with ARM Holding, we aim to foster cross-cultural exchange, nurture talent, and champion creativity, innovation, and thought leadership for a positive impact.”

Rana Begum. No.1235 Mesh. 2023. Powder coated galvanised mild steel. 300 x 930 x 240 cm. Courtesy of artist.

The HUNA Sculpture Park is envisioned as a cultural sanctuary. Titled The Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear, the exhibition of works aims to showcase the dynamic interplay between sculpture and architecture. The artists selected for the curated park are Rana Begum (The Third Line), Shaikha Al Mazrou (Lawrie Shabibi), and Pablo Reinoso (Custot Gallery). The chosen works narrate stories of identity and heritage, fostering a deep connection with the community, as well as invite viewers to reconsider how they perceive themselves within their environment. 

The London-based Bangladeshi artist Rana Begum creates powerful minimalist abstract works that are inspired by Islamic art, architecture, geometric patterns and urban landscapes. The work No.1235 Mesh (2023), presented in the sculpture park, is composed of colourful tessellated mesh panels stacked to create a building-like structure, exploring the interaction of light, colour and form and, in turn, inviting audiences to interact with them.

Shaikha Al Mazrou. Measuring the Physicality of Void. 2022. Copper. 3.6 x 2.4m each. Photo by Lance Gerber. Courtesy of artist.

Five sculptures by the Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou from the series Measuring Physicality of Void (2022) will go on show. Al Mazrou combines ideas from contemporary artistic movements, such as colour theory and geometric abstraction, to create her experimental sculptural works. The 4m-high copper creations in Measuring Physicality of Void look like inflated pillows and are placed within natural environments, creating a tension between material and form. 

The French-Argentinian artist and designer Pablo Reinoso’s Solo Bench I (2023) resembles a standard park bench but has steel strands looping from the seat. An extension of his well-known Spaghetti Bench series, Reinoso explores the dynamics between function and beauty and subverts the nature and limits of materials and techniques. The work also addresses environmental concerns, questioning the relationship between human and natural ecosystems, celebrating plant intelligence and the perpetual growth of vegetal life through his forms.

Pablo Reinoso. Solo Bench I. 2023. Stainless steel painted in white. 101 x 335 x 130 cm. Courtesy of artist.

In celebration of the inauguration of the sculpture park, HUNA will present two of Al Mazrou’s sculptures at Art Dubai 2024 and host a booth welcoming visitors to learn more about HUNA and its cultural programming. “We invite everyone to join us in celebrating creativity and cultural enrichment as we work collectively towards our vision of Dubai becoming a global cultural hub,” says Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, the Chief Executive Officer of A.R.M. Holding. 

The HUNA Sculpture Park will be on view until 25 May 2024.