Shaikha Al Mazrou and Faysal Tabbarah Present Deliberate Pauses
Five striking red metallic discs stand out against the rugged landscape of the UAE, their smooth, rounded shapes nestled into the terrain. Titled Deliberate Pauses, this installation by Shaikha Al Mazrou prompts a pause in movement, urging viewers to reconsider their perception of time and location. The land art installation is designed as a series of significant installations thoughtfully integrated into the environment, with some discs positioned upright and others inclined into the earth.
Deliberate Pauses aims to create moments of stillness that, as Shaikha Al Mazrou explains, serve as a connection between the past and the future. These contemplative spaces embody stories of cultural and ecological memory, shifting how individuals perceive the environment before steering them back into motion. The discs leave a distinct mark at each pause yet blend into their surroundings as the observer continues on. ‘I wanted the discs to harmonize with the intricacies of the land, enhancing and negotiating with the space they occupy, instead of dominating it,’ states the Emirati artist during a discussion with the work’s curator, Faysal Tabbarah.
all images courtesy of Alserkal Arts Foundation
The Red Discs Engage with the Landscape in Quiet Reflection
Deliberate Pauses emerged from a collaborative dialogue between the artist and curator, focusing on how artistic practices can both preserve and leave a mark on the landscapes they occupy. Over three years, the work was developed through a series of discussions, reflections, iterations, and physical explorations of Hatta’s mountainous region. Shaikha Al Mazrou describes undertaking many instinctive, contemplative walks through the landscape, allowing herself to meander without a predetermined plan, guided by the land itself. ‘Being immersed in the environment without a fixed structure mirrored my approach to land art—allowing the landscape to shape and inform my creations,’ the artist shares.
Moreover, she reflects on the complex layers of ‘negotiation’ between impactful intervention and restraint in her process, acknowledging their coexistence and mutual influence in unexpected ways. ‘I feel a constant tension in my work: the desire to shape, to alter, to leave my mark on the land, while also resisting the urge to overpower or erase what is already present,’ she elaborates. This nuanced approach provides insightful commentary on the ethics of creation, complemented by Faysal Tabbarah’s awareness that engaging with a place also means honoring its heritage, ecology, and temporality.
Shaikha Al Mazrou and Faysal Tabbarah Introduce Deliberate Pauses
The Land Art Intervention Investigates Various States of Transition
The journey that started with unstructured movement across the terrain led to the intentional placement of the discs—crafted in Shaikha Al Mazrou’s signature red—tracing a path that encourages visitors to stop, reflect, and connect. The title embodies the nuanced tensions inherent in the work—representing both the purposeful interruptions made by the sculptures and the progression from instinctive exploration to intentional design. Faysal Tabbarah describes the site as a subtle threshold in itself, which adds depth to the work’s themes of reflection and transition. Nestled amid the peaks of the Hajar Mountains, Hatta he notes, ‘is a historical threshold that is neither fully urban nor rural, but has long been inhabited.’ Although it is part of Dubai, it lies several hours away from the vibrant city and bears its own history shaped by trade and agriculture, with remnants of centuries-old civilizations.
This rich backdrop resonates with the installation’s focus on pause and transition, inviting individuals who encounter it to contemplate the cultural history embedded in the land. Throughout the development of the work, the artist and architect closely collaborated to ensure that Deliberate Pauses promotes a sense of connection, curiosity, and attentiveness to place. ‘In these pauses, I want visitors to consider the historical and cultural importance of the land and reflect on their role within that continuum,’ adds Al Mazrou.
carved into the mountains of Hatta in the UAE
five monumental discs rendered in Shaikha Al Mazrou’s distinctive red hue