Silent Force Exhibition Inaugurated In Abu Dhabi By Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, inaugurated the "Silent Force" exhibition by Syrian sculptor Wael Hilal at Salwa Zeidan Gallery in Abu Dhabi. The opening on 15th January 2026 gathered artists, intellectuals, and followers of contemporary visual arts and sculpture.
"Silent Force" is presented as a solo exhibition that focuses on sculpture as a space for contemplation rather than spectacle. The display highlights how calm, inward energy can shape artistic practice and invites visitors to rethink power, influence, and presence through quiet visual statements.
Within this context, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak stressed that the UAE views culture and the arts as key foundations for personal development and better quality of life. The arts are also seen as channels that encourage dialogue and understanding between different societies and cultural backgrounds.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak pointed out that support for artistic activity in the UAE reflects a long-term policy. This support aims to encourage creativity, protect cultural identity, and maintain openness to a wide range of global cultural and civilisational experiences, reinforcing the country’s cultural message.
The Silent Force exhibition features a group of abstract sculptures produced in marble, travertine, and onyx. Through these materials, Wael Hilal examines "force" as a hidden, internal energy that emerges quietly from within, without display, spectacle, or noise, giving the works a measured and thoughtful presence.
The compositions show a careful balance between mass and emptiness, and between stillness and implied movement. This contrast builds a visual dialogue that hints at human traces or structural forms close to architecture, while maintaining a sense of restraint that adds a poetic layer to their impact.
Wael Hilal uses a carving method based on removal and reduction, working with stone as if it carries memory and time. Stone is treated as a responsive material, not just a resource, which enables sculptures that display inner unity and a deep sense of structural and emotional balance.
The Silent Force exhibition also emphasises the role of contemporary sculpture as an intellectual and aesthetic arena. Here, artworks operate as points of balance between solidity and serenity, guiding viewers to reflect on force as an internal value expressed through calm, composure, and measured physical form.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak noted that the cultural scene in the UAE continues to grow in scope and quality. This development is backed by an ecosystem that supports creativity, appreciates cultural diversity, and offers active platforms for artists and creatives from the region and worldwide.
He underlined that the arts act as a shared human language that helps spread tolerance, coexistence, and peace. This role reflects the UAE’s cultural outlook, which is grounded in respect for human dignity and support for constructive human interaction within the wider global civilisation.
With inputs from WAM
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