Powerful Art Project Challenges UAE Stereotypes

Here's What They Think of Me

I've always been interested in exploring what it means to be an Emirati contemporary artist who can push boundaries and stimulate constructive, healthy and thought-provoking discussions. What better way to do so than to think of clever ways to break stereotypes?

To solve complex issues we tend to look for overly complex solutions. I believe that in order to conquer something that's multilayered, like stereotypes, we need to take a step back and look at things from a simpler perspective.

It's troublesome to me that certain generalizations or misconceptions can potentially feed into the identity of the Emirates and what it means to be Emirati. My Capstone project at NYU Abu Dhabi, Here's What They Think of Me, is a collection of photographs that seeks to challenge and confront several stereotypes I've come across in my life about the UAE.

It's troublesome to me that certain generalizations or misconceptions can potentially feed into the identity of the Emirates and what it means to be Emirati.

Sara Alahbabi, Class of 2016

Sara Alahbabi, Class of 2016, is from Abu Dhabi and majored in visual arts. Her final project as a student at NYUAD won the Gulf Capital-Abu Dhabi Festival Visual Arts Award.