NYU Abu Dhabi brings three dynamic artworks to Dubai Design Week 2024, running from November 5 to 10, that explore technology’s role in connecting with the desert. As part of the Desert Media Art course led by Assistant Professor of Practice of Interactive Media Michael Ang, these projects reimagine the desert landscape through innovative, interactive installations created by NYU Abu Dhabi faculty, students, and alumni.
The three featured installations are:
- The Oasis: Originally showcased at the renowned Ars Electronica Festival in Austria, The Oasis by Dhabia AlMansoori and Joseph Hong, an NYU Abu Dhabi research associate, presents robotic lotus flowers that respond to light, evoking life within the desert’s stark surroundings.
- Dunewind Resonator: Created by Michael Ang and NYU Abu Dhabi artist-in-residence Scott Kildall, this interactive sound sculpture transforms a dune into a musical instrument, inviting viewers to listen to the natural soundscape of the desert as it resonates with the wind.
- حكايـــــة (Hekaya): Developed by recent NYU Abu Dhabi Emirati graduates Nouf Alnuaimi, Shaikha Alnasri, Aalya Sharaf, and Dhabia Alhosani, Hekaya bridges storytelling and interactive technology. This piece celebrates Emirati culture, drawing on oral traditions to share stories of life in the desert through a communal, sensory experience.
“These works don’t just showcase interactive media—they engage people with the environment in meaningful ways, from storytelling to sound, reimagining the desert as a place of innovation and creativity,” Ang said.
The Desert Media Art exhibition invites audiences to discover how interactive media can transform perspectives on nature, encouraging a deeper appreciation of the UAE’s unique landscapes and cultural heritage.
“Through these projects, the University provides its students and faculty a platform to explore technological art that deepens our understanding of the natural world. We thank Dubai Design Week for their partnership and for providing us with the opportunity to bring these works to a wider audience, celebrating the creative possibilities inspired by the desert,” Ang added.
