AURA ART, a new series launching at AURA Skypool, elevates the venue to new creative heights, showcasing a diverse range of art forms. From installations and exhibitions to podcasts, these projects foster a seamless synergy between AURA and the art world. The venue’s unique architectural design, natural light and soaring ceilings perfectly enhance its new identity as a dynamic art space. AURA Skypool invites visitors to ‘find their AURA’ by experiencing the various art mediums on display.
AURA Skypool and Firetti Contemporary are thrilled to unveil Leaving is Home, a captivating installation by the artist Sawsan Al Bahar. For the first time since its grand opening in 2021, AURA Skypool’s stunning lounge will be transformed into a dynamic exhibition space, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience art in this iconic Dubai venue. Throughout October, Leaving is Home will draw in art lovers and collectors alike, creating a unique cultural experience.
The installation’s themes of journeying beautifully resonate with the international audience that passes through AURA Skypool, forming a meaningful connection between the artwork and its setting. This exhibition not only enhances the lounge’s impressive grandeur but also invites reflection on the universal human experience of migration and memory, making this work an especially poignant display within Dubai’s cosmopolitan landscape.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of AURA ART, a unique platform dedicated to showcasing both local and international talent through art pop-ups, podcasts and events. Our collaboration with the remarkable Sawsan Al Bahar represents a significant moment for us, as we proudly present her powerful work, Leaving is Home. We invite our guests to connect with this profound piece and be moved by its narrative at the world’s highest 360-degree infinity pool, encouraging everyone to find your AURA.
Dean Stuart Jarvis, General Manager of AURA Skypool
This installation was first unveiled at Al Bahar’s inaugural solo exhibition, Talaliya, at Firetti Contemporary, in 2022, where she explored themes of loss and memory, through drawings and installations that were shaped around remnants from her past. Drawing from her personal history and the broader experiences of Arab diasporas, Al Bahar reflects on the intangible traces left behind by her family: words, images, stories. The exhibition was deeply influenced by the ancient Arabic poetic tradition known as Al Waqfa Al Talaliya. In this ritual of reflection and mourning, Arab poets stand over the ruins of past homes and loved ones, reciting verses that describe both the physical remnants and the emotions stirred by their absence.
In her installation Leaving is Home, Al Bahar echoes this expression, by literally suspending her grandfather’s words, mid-air. Sawsan is both trying to hold on to them and let them go.
The 3D-printed sculptures of sheets are inscribed with the artist’s late grandfather’s memoirs. Hanging in a flurry, they evoke the unfinished nature of his story, inviting visitors to walk through them and experience fragments of his words.
Through Leaving is Home, Al Bahar reconstructs a metaphorical space where personal loss intertwines with generational journeying. The installation, set against the backdrop of AURA Skypool, brings the work to life once again.
“I’m delighted to have Leaving is Home on exhibition at AURA Skypool and to be the first artist invited to showcase as part of AURA ART. I encourage guests to explore the installation, taking note of which aspects resonate with them personally. Art can often be a form of escapism and reflection, which makes AURA Skypool a perfect host for such artworks. I hope this installation makes a mark on AURA’s visitors, and helps expose AURA Skypool to a new art-loving audience” The second instalment of AURA ART can be explored in December 2024 throughout the festive season.
About Aura Skypool
AURA is the world’s first and highest 360-degree sky pool with unparalleled views of Dubai. Brought to you by Sunset Hospitality Group, guests are transported to an island in the sky on the 50th floor of the Palm Tower that overlooks the majestic Dubai skyline. Deluxe sunbeds and cabanas surround the sky pool, with exceptional food and a truly warm service provided to make every moment a memorable one. AURA’s ethos is to provide an escape for guests; a space to enjoy unique experiences throughout the day, from sunrise to night-time. With diverse pool days, sophisticated indoor lounge dining, a celebratory night brunch and yoga classes for the mind, body and soul, AURA is a must-visit destination for those looking to elevate their time in the city.
About Sawsan Al Bahar
Sawsan Al Bahar was born in Damascus, in 1990, and raised in the UAE. She received a bachelor’s in Architecture from the American University of Sharjah in 2013 and later studied academic drawing at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence.
As an artist, architect and researcher, Sawsan’s studio practice centres on drawing and site-specific installation, bridging the three disciplines. Sawsan’s slow and intense draftsmanship, and her 3d printed installation are an exploration of the tension between abstraction and depiction; hand and machine; physical and digital. She often depicts places and objects from 3d scans both constructed and found, accessing inaccessible landscapes and places in Syria and Palestine.
About Firetti Contemporary
Firetti Contemporary is a gallery that aligns art and creative concepts from the region and beyond, fostering global engagement through meaningful and sustainable collections. By representing established and emerging artists worldwide, it aims to create a multidisciplinary art space with a strong identity on an international platform.
To discover more please visit: https://auraskypool.com/ and https://www.firetticontemporary.com.
Aura Skypool is located on the 50th floor of The Palm Tower, Dubai. Firetti Gallery can be found in Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai.
