By RAK Art Festival 2025 blends memory and culture
At the historic Al Jazeerah Al Hamra Heritage Village in scenic Ras Al Khaimah, over 100 artists have paid homage to the beauty of memory through their artistic interpretations. The 13th edition of the prestigious RAK Art Festival 2025 blends creativity and tradition featuring art exhibits, interactive workshops, heritage tours, discussions, film screenings and cultural dining experiences.
Curated by Alfio Tommasini, award-winning art director, this year’s edition embraces memory as a central theme, inviting artists to process nostalgia through their creative lens. True to the theme, a Memory Lane, has been created honouring past festival winners. Merging old memories with contemporary experiences is the Garden of Self-Reflected Memory, a modern art installation that mirrors the ancient village houses in the region.
The Festival’s artist in residence this year, Anja Bamberg from Germany, has pieced together a slice of history from RAK by capturing the ancient falaj system of irrigation in her installation — Tracing Liquid Memories. She also gathered and recycled over 2000 empty water bottles for yet another of her outdoor exhibits — Suspended Threads.
In Lebanese-Canadian artist Marwan Karout’s artwork titled Memory, Solitude and Journey, he explores the profound connection between trees, clouds, memory and the complex emotions that accompany a life of migration and solitude. “Drawing from my personal experiences in Lebanon, Canada, Europe and the UAE, I delve into elements of nature mirroring my inner world shaped by war, displacement and a search for belonging. Through the dialogue between trees, clouds and memory, I aim to create a visual language that speaks to the universal themes of endurance, solitude and ever-changing nature of life,” he explains.
The signature Emirati Al Ayyala dance symbolises the vibrant cultural heritage of UAE. The continuation of this cherished Emirati tradition has been preserved by Filipino photographer Eric Perales. In his exhibit, a young boy is captured dancing jubilantly with his bamboo cane. “I clicked this photograph in 2016, almost eight years ago, but the memory of that moment remains vivid in my mind even today. It was an ode to the passion of the young boy performing the dance amongst the group of adults,” says Perales.
Algerian artist Elbahi Yahya Belkheiri embodies memories of ancestral legacy in his artwork ‘Weight of Heritage’. Inspired by the resilience of women, this artwork symbolizes their ability to bear the weight of tradition and nurture its legacy with grace and strength.
Besides several such themed art installations, the festival also brings together a series of unique culinary experiences. The Belly of the Beast, led by chefs Anouchka Horn and Neil Swart features a menu crafted from sustainable and seasonal ingredients. The award-winning pop-up Antica Australis, returns this year, hosted by husband and wife duo Paolo and Kelly Picarazzi, bringing the renowned Ciociarian dining experience all the way from Australia. Every weekend at the festival visitors can engage with special thematic performances, workshops and enriching talks.
The event concludes on February 28th, 2025. For more details visit https://www.rakart.ae/2025-festival