DCT Abu Dhabi presented Rooted Movements as a capsule exhibition during the first U.S. edition of NOMAD at The Watermill Center in Water Mill, New York. The showcase brought together Emirati artists Afra Al Dhaheri, Zuhoor Al Sayegh and Azza Al Qubaisi in a focused exploration of inherited knowledge through materials and handmaking. According to the department, the works consider how identities, cultural knowledge and materials travel across distances while staying connected to their origins. The presentation aligned with NOMAD’s emphasis on interdisciplinary dialogue at the venue founded by the late Robert Wilson.
Afra Al Dhaheri’s rope installation welcomed visitors ascending the center’s monumental staircase. The piece functioned as both a symbolic and physical embodiment and disembodiment that traced an ever-evolving sensory and emotional relationship with the space. Zuhoor Al Sayegh contributed ceramic sculptures inspired by the date palm life cycle, particularly the offshoot that separates from the mother tree to establish independent roots. Azza Al Qubaisi presented works that abstract forms from the natural world to examine layering, growth and evolution.
The exhibition organized the artists’ contributions in separate clusters to highlight their distinct yet interconnected approaches. DCT Abu Dhabi framed the display as a celebration of contemporary Emirati artistic practice within an international setting. Organizers of the fair noted that the venue’s blend of theater, visual art, architecture and experimentation created a fitting environment for the themes of adaptation and exchange. The event ran for four days and drew participants from the local Hamptons community as well as international visitors.
NOMAD’s inaugural Hamptons edition featured more than 30 exhibitors split evenly between American and international galleries according to coverage of the fair. Most international participants originated from Europe and the Middle East, adding to the diversity of perspectives on view. The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi has pursued similar collaborations to introduce Emirati creators to new audiences. Such platforms allow for direct engagement with global collectors, curators and the public.
Al Sayegh’s focus on the date palm reflects elements central to regional heritage while reinterpreting them in contemporary ceramic form. Al Qubaisi’s sculptural meditations address identity and memory as living processes shaped by ongoing adaptation. The combined works in Rooted Movements examined cultural transmission across generations and geographies. Fair founder Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte told Observer that the spirit of The Watermill Center aligned remarkably with NOMAD’s own vision.
Visitor response included a steady flow of engaged attendees who showed genuine curiosity about the displayed works. The exhibition formed one component of a broader program that incorporated design, art and performance across the venue. DCT Abu Dhabi continues to support Emirati artists through targeted international presentations that emphasize both tradition and innovation.
