Abu Dhabi Festival and the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), under the distinguished patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and H.H. Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, are set to make history with Proximities, the largest-ever exhibition of Emirati visual art in Seoul, the Republic of Korea. The event, in collaboration with the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), will run from 16th December 2025 to 29th March 2026.
Bringing together more than 100 works by 47 artists—of which 33 are Emiratis—Proximities delves into five decades of artistic evolution in the UAE, highlighting the country’s vibrant visual heritage across photography, video, painting, sculpture, performance, and installation. Featured artists include Hassan Sharif, Abdullah Al Saadi, Shaikha Al Mazroui, Alaa Younis, Rand Abduljabbar, and Jumairy.
Quoting H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed:
“The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Korea share a deep and enduring bond, strengthened by a flourishing partnership across diverse sectors. Among these, culture and the arts serve as a shining example, beautifully embodied in the collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) as part of Abu Dhabi Festival. This partnership reflects the shared vision of both nations’ leadership in fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and building bridges of cooperation between our peoples.”
He further noted:
“The landmark Proximities exhibition, held at SeMA in the Korean capital and presenting 47 artists from the UAE, marks a significant chapter in the shared journey of artistic exploration and exchange within the global visual arts landscape, particularly in South and East Asia. UAE-Korean relations are rooted in decades of rich and fruitful cooperation founded upon trust, mutual respect and shared interests.”
And concluded:
“Through this milestone collaboration, Abu Dhabi Festival reaffirms its steadfast commitment to enhancing the UAE’s cultural presence globally, building strategic partnerships with esteemed international cultural institutions, cultivating meaningful creative dialogue, and advancing a sustainable cultural renaissance.”
Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, commented:
“Spanning photography, video, painting, sculpture, performance, and installation, the Proximities exhibition traces shifts in meaning, understanding, and cultural dialogue. In partnership with Seoul Museum of Art, the exhibition enhances artistic exchange between the UAE and Korea and strengthens the presence of Emirati artists on the global stage. It broadens our understanding of the role of the arts in shaping our journey towards a more progressive future through the art of storytelling, the embodiment of identities, and the building of meaningful bridges of dialogue.”
She added:
“In today’s world – a global village animated by creativity, innovation, exchange, and dialogue – Proximities presents the experiences of three generations of Emirati artists who have grown up amid the UAE’s rapidly evolving cultural landscape and contributed to its intellectual and artistic renaissance. They have remained true to the authenticity of their vision, balancing tradition and modernity while enriching regional and global conversations. In Seoul, their works gain new resonance and dimension, guided by a vision that builds civilisation and strengthens human connection.”
Proximities is curated by Maya El Khalil and Eunju Kim, and unfolds through three thematic propositions co-developed with guest curators such as Farah Al Qasimi, Mohammed Kazem, Cristiana de Marchi, and the artist trio Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian (RRH). Each section invites viewers to engage with the world through diverse lenses, fostering reflection, dialogue, and discovery.
Maya El Khalil said:
“Proximities is an exhibition of multiple overlapping dynamics – institutional, creative, artist trios and duos, across geographies and generations. Collaborating with these idiosyncratic artist-curators, we did not attempt to translate or find equivalence; instead, we started from the idea that we each have an inherent position, but those views transform through encounter with others.”
She added:
“Each section is a creative proposition for ways to experience a globalised world, starting from different approaches and moving through scales, from the domestic everyday to fabulation, the abstraction of personal and collective mapping, statecraft and the elemental. These collaborations challenged our own perspectives, and we hope audiences will feel those shifts too, becoming part of the ongoing exchanges.”
Eunju Kim commented:
“Through Proximities, we endeavour to delve into the profound contemporary resonance of artistic exchange between Korea and the UAE – a vital space where diverse worlds converge, not merely to meet, but to truly interact and generate open imagination, productive tension, and harmonious coexistence. Our aim with this exhibition was to meticulously weave together narratives that transcend geographical and cultural distances, inviting viewers to explore the intricate tapestry of human connection through the lens of artists connected to the UAE.
I firmly believe that this collaborative initiative between the Seoul Museum of Art and the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation will illuminate new pathways for nuanced dialogue and mutual understanding, enriching the cultural landscapes of both nations for years to come.”
This exhibition represents the second chapter in a three-year institutional collaboration between ADMAF and SeMA. It follows Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits, which explored Korean media-based practices and was displayed at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi earlier in 2025.
Beyond exhibitions, the collaboration encompasses co-commissioned artworks, artist residencies, cross-institutional knowledge sharing, and an ongoing public programme of panel discussions and performances, fostering vibrant cultural dialogue between Abu Dhabi and Seoul.
Team V.4-EM-UAE
