A Brazilian Explores Ore’S Colors In The Desert

(MENAFN- Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo – Two central elements in the daily life of both Brazil and the United Arab Emirates meet in the exhibition Mineral Garden in Abu Dhabi-iron ore and desert sands. In her first show in the Arab country, at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation , Brazilian artist Ana Elisa Murta breathes new life into iron ore waste and explores the“golden” sands of the Emirati desert, inviting visitors to reflect on how materials can be“redefined.”

Opening of the exhibition in Abu Dhabi: Talks to take the show to other Arab countries

In the case of iron ore, a naturally occurring element extracted in large quantities from the mines of her native state Minas Gerais, Murta has even managed to develop a paint that is not harmful to the environment or humans. This creation, which can be produced on a large scale, is explored in Mineral Garden.

“The concept of the artwork is to create a 'garden' where discarded minerals gain new life, transforming into pigments that evoke natural landscapes-whether the ore mountains of Minas Gerais or the golden dunes of the Arabian desert,” Murta told ANBA.

“My inspiration comes both from the need to rethink our relationship with natural resources and from a fascination with the color palette of these materials. The earthy tones extracted from mineral waste blend with the gold hues inspired by desert sand, creating a visual and symbolic connection between these two territories. The artwork invites reflection on how we exploit and value the materials that shape our world and on the possibility of creating beauty from what has been left behind,” says the artist.

In the desert, a home for art from around the world

The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation is a private, nonprofit art institution open to exhibitions by artists from all over the world. It was founded by publisher, philanthropist, and collector Bassam Freiha. The foundation is located in the cultural district of Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Island. According to Murta, the opportunity to exhibit in the country came through an invitation from the Brazilian Embassy in the UAE.

It was the artist's first exhibition in an Arab country, but there are already discussions to take Mineral Garden to other emirates, as well as to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait-two Arab countries also located in the Gulf region.

“The experience of being here also made me reflect on how different cultures perceive the land and natural resources. In the UAE, the desert is a central element of the country's identity, just as mining is for Minas Gerais. By bringing these worlds together, I place the issue of sustainability in a space of exchange, where art becomes a means of reconnecting humanity with nature,” says Murta.

Quick Facts

Mineral Garden
Every day, from 10 AM to 8 PM, free admission
Until February 16
Bassam Freiha Art Foundation
Cultural District, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

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Translated by Guilherme Miranda

SuppliedSupplied/Ana Elisa Murta

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