Creative Act

Presence' was the second exhibition of works from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi collection, held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in 2017. It featured more than 20 international artists and highlighted their interconnections through the themes of performative practice, process and human presence. This publication accompanied the exhibition and features essays by curator Valerie Hillings, Reem Fadda, Maisa Al Qassimi, Sasha Kalter-Wasserman, Alexandra Munroe, Sandhini Poddar, Sarah Dwider and Munira Al Sayegh. There is also an interview with Hassan Sharif (1951–2016) by Reem Fadda. The first chapter focuses on novel approaches to painting through physical actions and use of everyday materials; the second on conceptual art practices in the United Arab Emirates since the 1980s, such as the work of Hassan Sharif. The third chapter features installations since 2000 which offer powerful sensory encounters, as well as the impact of sociopolitical events and movements on art