How Abu Dhabi's outdoor Children's Biennale brings art to life through play

The Children's Biennale, set to open at Abu Dhabi's Umm Al Emarat Park on Friday, brings art to life through interactive play for children. Presented by Abu Dhabi Festival under the theme "How the World Feels," this month-long outdoor event invites young visitors to touch, play, and explore artworks designed specifically with them in mind.

Curator Dana Almazrouei wanted to create an exhibition where children can engage with art in a hands-on way, rather than merely observing it from a distance. She emphasizes the importance of allowing children to interact with sculptures, as they are often discouraged from doing so in contemporary art settings. Almazrouei, with a doctorate in museum education, has previously curated past editions of the Sharjah Children's Biennial and aims to give children the freedom to make their own discoveries without adult direction.

During the development of the biennale, Almazrouei visited Umm Al Emarat Park to consider how children might experience the space and what would encourage them to pause and explore. The promenade serves merely as a means of access, with the true value lying in the moments of pause and observation. This philosophy influenced the selection of participating artists who are willing to consider how children will interact with their work, even if it means the artwork might be broken or destroyed.

One such installation is Common Thread, Common Ground by Egyptian artist Hana El-Sagini. This large sculpture resembles coral, rocks, and bones, and features ropes that children can braid, twist, and tie together, altering the artwork as they play. The project required careful consideration of materials, safety, and parental comfort, as well as balancing educational value and engaging design.

Palestinian-American artist Sarah Afaneh's work, The Patient Land, The Gracious Sun, The Enchanting Sea, consists of three woven tapestries inspired by natural elements found in children's literature. Afaneh hopes that children will develop their own interpretations of the tapestries, encouraging them to create their own stories without explicit guidance.

Emirati artist and chef Moza Almatrooshi's installation, The Agriculture School – The Pollinators Play Museum, explores the relationship between bees, biodiversity, and traditional beekeeping practices in the UAE. Constructed from brightly colored hexagons inspired by beehives, Almatrooshi's installation invites children to explore the world from the perspective of bees through color, form, and sensory experiences.