Art Dubai 2025 Talks: Mirjam Varadinis On BAWWABA, 'A Section About Discovery'

by Alexandra Mansilla

Art Dubai 2025 Talks: Mirjam Varadinis On BAWWABA, 'A Section About Discovery'

14 Mar 2025

Mohammad Piryaee, Untitled, 2024, Ceramic, 25 x 25 x 70 cm. Courtesy: Dastan Gallery

With just one month to go until Art Dubai (a quick reminder: it runs from April 18–20), get ready for an overwhelming amount of art — more than you probably expect! The artworks are divided into four main sections: Art Dubai Contemporary, Bawwaba, Art Dubai Modern, and Art Dubai Digital. Each section has its own curator, bringing a unique concept and message to the audience.

We have decided to launch a series of articles exploring these sections through conversations with their curators. First up: BAWWABA (meaning ‘gateway’ in Arabic), curated by Mirjam Varadinis, a writer and Kunsthaus Zürich Curator-at-large with a distinguished career in contemporary curating, often focusing on evolving exhibition formats.

We spoke with Mirjam to find out why she poses the question: "How can we imagine new forms of coexistence, both amongst people and with our planet?" We also explored how artists are responding to this theme, the techniques they use, and what visitors can take away from experiencing BAWWABA 2025.

Mirjam Varadinis

— The theme for this year's BAWWABA is "How can we imagine new forms of coexistence, both amongst people and with our planet?" Why this theme?

— We are living in times of great political and social turmoil and crisis. The climate emergency is becoming more and more tangible. It is, therefore, crucial to think about what other and more sustainable forms of coexistence with the planet we could imagine and how common ground amongst people can be rebuilt. Art has the potential to break with conventions and define the impossible. This is what we need today.

— What criteria did you use to select the artists and artworks for this edition?

— First of all, it was the artistic quality of the proposals. At the same time, I was looking for diversity on various levels, i.e. the status of the galleries, the careers of the artists and their geographies. The artists in BAWWABA are born between 1973 and 1992 and represent a wide range of backgrounds. There are 10 solo presentations across 10 countries, spanning five continents: South America, North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. I am particularly interested in how these projects for BAWWABA interact and complement each other — like different species on our planet.

Gulnur Mukazhanova, "Shadows of Hope #15", 2024, fine merino wool felted by hand, 150 x 205 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Aspan Gallery

— Could you elaborate on how this theme is reflected in the selected artworks? Maybe you could give us a few certain examples!

— Some artists reflect on our relationship with the planet and other species and how we deal with our resources. Karthik Pandian connects to nature and creates an environment that invites us to reflect on the holy rivers of India and their relationship with us human beings. Similarly, Jorge Rosano Gamboa explores the resources we rely on, particularly water. Gulnur Mukazhanova, on the other hand, uses handcrafted wool as a canvas, merging tradition with contemporary forms of painting.

So, it is about imagining a future by re-thinking the past and present. This interplay is particularly relevant to Dubai’s context, where ancient knowledge and rapid modern transformation intersect. Abdullah Al Othman’s work, for example, focuses on the changing landscape in the city of Dubai, using local materials to reflect these shifts.

Abdullah Al Othman, "Suspended Al Balad", 2017, Installation. Courtesy: Iris Projects

— Did you notice any common threads or surprising contrasts in how the participating artists approached the theme? Maybe you could give us a few examples

— The common thread is the loose thematical framework that connects all artistic proposals. At the same time, there is a wide range of techniques that the artists are using, from wool-based "paintings" and large-scale drawings to sound pieces inspired by rivers. What I noticed is that many artists are connecting with century-old craft traditions and using this ancient knowledge to re-think the future.

Kate Newby, "How Have I Never Seen Until Today", 2024, stoneware, minerals, glaze, iron, sand, found glass, 110 x 216 cm. Courtesy of Art : Concept

— What do you hope visitors will take away from experiencing BAWWABA 2025?

— BAWWABA is a section dedicated to discovery. For both collectors and curators, BAWWABA is designed to be a rich, engaging encounter, fostering connections between different geographies, traditions, and perspectives. Thus I hope that visitors take away new insights and inspiring ideas on art but also crucial themes of our current times.

— How do you see the role of art in shaping real-world discussions about coexistence and sustainability?

— As I mentioned earlier, art has great potential as it is not bound to conventions — on the contrary. Also, art has the capacity to communicate across cultures and can therefore build bridges. In that sense, artists can make an important contribution when it comes to imagining other ways of living together and rethinking sustainability. At the same time, there are clear limits to art’s impact on daily politics. Art cannot save the world. But it can open up a space for reflection and a new perception of our environment — and turn abstract numbers and facts into tangible realities that might touch us also on an emotional level. And this is very powerful.

by Alexandra Mansilla