This autumn, Louvre Abu Dhabi once again transformed into a stage for some of the region’s most compelling creative voices as it launched the fifth edition of Art Here and the Richard Mille Art Prize. In collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille, the museum continued its mission to spotlight contemporary art from the GCC, Japan, and the wider MENA region, while placing regional perspectives within a broader global dialogue.
Opening on 11 October 2025, Art Here 2025 unfolded beneath the museum’s iconic latticed dome, where shifting light cast intricate patterns across the space, creating a fitting backdrop for the theme “Shadows.” Guest curator Sophie Mayuko Arni invited artists to reflect on what lies between illumination and obscurity, encouraging them to consider shadows as carriers of memory, identity, and transformation. From more than 400 proposals, six finalists were selected to bring this vision to life: Hamra Abbas, Ahmad Alaqra, YOKOMAE et BOUAYAD, Ryoichi Kurokawa, Jumairy, and Rintaro Fuse. Their works, diverse in medium and sensibility, explored the conceptual and emotional depth of shadow in ways that were both intimate and boldly experimental.
In my conversation with curator Sophie, she remarked that:
“Shadows are not simply the absence of light, but a presence of their own.”
This idea guided her curatorial approach and shaped the exhibition as a space where uncertainty could become a catalyst for reflection, inviting audiences to engage with the unseen as fully as the visible.
Image Source: Press Office
Image Source: Press Office
As Art Here marked its fifth edition, it reaffirmed its growing significance as a platform that elevates emerging regional talent and encourages viewers to look more closely at the quiet narratives that take form in the space between light and darkness.
Curious about the inspiration behind this year’s theme, I spoke with curator Sophie Mayuko Arni, who shared insight into how “Shadows” became the conceptual thread guiding the exhibition.
The Interview
Sophie, what inspired the choice of “Shadows” as this year’s theme, and how do you see it reflecting contemporary artistic dialogue?
“This theme very much started with architecture, looking at the Gulf and Japan, two very different geographies, cultures, climates, and artistic scenes. In the Gulf, shadows are protection: the sunlight is harsh, and mashrabiya, a traditional screen, diffuses light as part of our landscape. In Japan, traditional wooden houses, shoji sliding doors, also diffuse light. In shade you find protection, meaning, and maybe a sense of home. It was also inspired by where we are, the Louvre Abu Dhabi dome and the rays of light, so it just made sense to focus on shadows.
Image Source: Press Office
2025 has been a year of incorporating our own shadows, and I feel it’s important to step back and reflect on that.”
Among the many submissions, what impressed you most about how artists interpreted the balance between light and concealment?
“All the artworks are very strong this year. The jury will have a hard time choosing. What impressed me most is the variety of responses, from digital to architectural to 3D modeling. Artists opened new possibilities for how we view shadows as a concept. Shadows are ephemeral, you can never have the same shadow twice, and all these artists, that’s why we chose them, managed to capture something fleeting, something you can’t easily grasp.”
Image Source: Press Office
Image Source: Press Office
What experience or reflection do you hope visitors will take away from viewing “Art Here” beneath the Louvre Abu Dhabi dome?
“I encourage everyone to come. This exhibition is open to all. It’s outdoors and interactive; you don’t need an art history background or prior knowledge of Japanese or Gulf culture. Every viewer becomes part of the artwork, from selfies to the sundial, you can see the full Saadiyat view. I want visitors to immerse themselves in this forest of steel and shadows and find a part of themselves in the exhibition.”
Image Source: Press Office
Image Source: Press Office
Any message for our readers or emerging artists?
“Continue what you’re doing. There are so many opportunities flourishing in the region. Take the time to develop your concept. Many of these artists worked for years on technique and theme. Even if it’s hard, don’t give up, your dreams can come true. It takes years, but you will achieve what is meant for you.”
Image Source: Press Office
As the exhibition continued beneath the shifting light of the Louvre Abu Dhabi dome, Sophie’s insights offered a deeper understanding of why “Shadows” resonated so strongly throughout Art Here 2025. Her reflections on protection, architecture, impermanence, and personal introspection revealed the many layers behind a theme that initially appeared simple but unfolded into something far more expansive. The six finalists, each in their own way, “crystallised the fleeting”, transforming the intangible into moments of connection.
Image Source: Press Office
With its blend of regional creativity, curatorial vision, and public engagement, Art Here 2025 stood as a powerful reminder of how art can shape meaning from the spaces we often overlook. For visitors, emerging artists, and the wider creative community, the exhibition invited not just observation but participation, encouraging everyone to step into the shadows and discover what they might reveal.
I’m Divina, a recent Fashion Business graduate from Istituto Marangoni London with a passion for editorial fashion and luxury brand management. For me, fashion is the ultimate form of storytelling, where words and visuals come together to create lasting narratives. With a love for weaving creativity into both strategy and style, I bring an eye for detail and a voice for expression, think of me as London’s very own Carrie Bradshaw in the making.
