Iris Projects, the first commercial gallery to open in Abu Dhabi’s creative neighbourhood Miza, presents Silent Residues, a solo exhibition by Emirati artist Ammar Al Attar. On view until 26 November 2025, the show is curated by Nasser Abdullah and marks Al Attar’s first presentation at the gallery.
Al Attar, a key figure in the UAE’s contemporary avant-garde movement, is known for his multidisciplinary approach, which spans performance, photography, sculpture and installation. With Silent Residues, he turns his focus to overlooked spaces, industrial debris, and forgotten landscapes around the Emirates. By repeatedly engaging with these sites, he transforms discarded objects into vessels of memory, reflecting on impermanence and the routines that endure within it.
His works invite viewers into an immersive experience where repetition becomes both a burden and a form of poetry, reflecting how individuals endure and adapt within a rapidly shifting world.
“Ammar has long resisted the dull repetition he observes in daily life,” says curator Nasser Abdullah. “This exhibition reflects his journey from behind the lens to becoming the central subject of his own works, raising questions about how the individual navigates the transformations of our reality post-COVID, from technology and economics to global politics.”
For Maryam Al Falasi, founder of Iris Projects, the exhibition highlights the gallery’s mission to champion experimental practices in the UAE. “Getting to know Ammar over the years has been like peeling back the countless layers of his practice. He continues to push the boundaries of his work, expanding across mediums while diving deeper into his subject matter. Choosing Nasser Abdullah to curate this show was intuitive, no one sees or understands Ammar’s journey the way Nasser does.”
The works in Silent Residues are shown publicly for the first time. Together, they trace what Al Attar describes as an endless cycle, marred by monotony. As viewers move through the exhibition, they’re urged to reflect on the persistence of routine and on the ways we adapt to uncertain times.
Visit: Ammar Al Attar Iris Projects
Mariam Khawer is a Dubai-based writer and PR professional whose work spans food, art, and travel across the region. When she isn’t chasing deadlines, she’s likely at a gallery opening, testing out a new restaurant, piecing together one of her mixed-media art projects or at home with her four cats, who keep her on her toes.
