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Danat Al-Shawati

Danat Al-Shawati

Mohamed Al Astad Al Hammadi

When Nature Becomes the Artist.

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Video galleryImage galleryArtwork gallery
V

Artwork gallery

Selected works.

Placeholder panels — final works, titles and details will be integrated from the artist's archive.

VI

Video gallery

Danat Al-Shawati

Danat Al-Shawati · Opening film

1 / 6
Open on YouTube

Abu Dhabi TV · Dubai TV · Sharjah TV · Fujairah TV · Ajman TV · Al Dafrah TV · Yas TV · Sky News Arabia · LBC · Emirates FM · The National · Beijing TV · Tbilisi TV

VII

Image gallery

The artist’s photographic archive

Original photographs of the artist, his studio and exhibitions have not yet been supplied.

I

Artist profile

Mohamed Al Astad Al Hammadi

Mohamed Al Astad Al Hammadi, born 1968 in Khorfakkan, Sharjah, is an Emirati fine artist with over four decades of artistic practice. He joined the Emirates Fine Arts Society in 1987 and later became its Vice President.

In 1998 he developed Danat Al-Shawati, a coastal art process in which untreated canvas, iron, tide, sand, time and oxidation become active collaborators in the creation of contemporary artworks.

40+
Years of art
500+
Group exhibitions
40+
Solo exhibitions
1987
Emirates Fine Arts Society
1998
Birth of Danat Al-Shawati
IIArtistic Concept

The sea does not inspire the work. The sea creates part of it.

1998

The birth of Danat Al-Shawati

The artist places untreated heavy canvas and fabrics inside a longitudinal trench dug into a coastal beach. Raw iron rust and iron filings are layered with the fabric and buried for one to two weeks.

Tide erosion and oxidation create unique marks and rust hues. The artist then intervenes with additional forms and limited colours — producing works that bridge nature, material experimentation, surrealism and dadaist sensibilities.

III

How Nature Paints

Nine movements between shore and studio.

  1. 01

    The Shore

    Choosing the right coastal site — reading sand, tide and exposure.

  2. 02

    The Trench

    A longitudinal trench is dug into the beach to hold the work.

  3. 03

    The Canvas

    Untreated heavy canvas and fabrics are laid into the earth.

  4. 04

    Iron & Materials

    Iron scraps, filings and selected natural elements are layered with the fabric.

  5. 05

    Burial

    The composition is covered with sand.

  6. 06

    Time & Tide

    The work is left for one to two weeks.

  7. 07

    Oxidation

    Rust, tide and weather leave their marks and hues.

  8. 08

    Excavation

    The work is carefully recovered from the shore.

  9. 09

    Artist Intervention

    The artist completes the visual composition with forms and limited colour.

“Nature leaves the first mark. The artist completes the dialogue.”

IV

Why Danat Al-Shawati

  1. 01

    A unique method for producing singular contemporary artworks.

  2. 02

    A dialogue with nature rooted in respect and coexistence.

  3. 03

    Continuous visual research and experimentation.

  4. 04

    A distinctly Arab and Emirati contribution to contemporary art.

  5. 05

    Encouraging experimentation with natural and reused materials.

  6. 06

    Open-ended in scale and form.

The artist describes the process as meditative and emotionally restorative — a slow practice of listening to the shore and staying connected to nature.

VI · Brand Story

Born by the sea

Before the shoreline became his studio, it was his childhood.

He is the son of the Nowkhada Abdullah Mohammed Al Astad Al Hammadi, whose working life spanned pearl diving, fishing, dhow building and the craft of traditional wooden doors and windows. Mohamed grew up in Khorfakkan surrounded by boats, seagulls, shells and the working culture of the sea.

This relationship later evolved from memory into method: the coastline itself became collaborator, material and studio.

VII

Biography

A life measured in tides.

  1. 1968Born in Khorfakkan, Sharjah

    Raised among boats, seagulls and the working culture of the sea.

  2. 1987Emirates Fine Arts Society · first solo exhibition

    Joined the Society, later serving as its Vice President.

  3. 1989Portrait presented to Princess Diana

    Presented during a royal visit, per the supplied biography.

  4. 1993Study in the USA

    Sent to study Graphic Design and Editorial Direction.

  5. 1998Degree in Washington, D.C. · Danat Al-Shawati begins

    Bachelor's in Fine Arts / Graphic Design; the coastal experiments begin.

  6. 2000sArt direction & publishing leadership

    Senior art direction, media and publication leadership roles.

  7. 2019Artist-in-Residence, Cultural Foundation

    Residency at the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi.

  8. 2021“Styles” — K Gallery Dubai

    Solo exhibition.

  9. 2022“Another Perspective” — Cultural Foundation

    Exhibition at the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi.

  10. 20251st Abu Dhabi Biennial · World Art Dubai

    Participation in both.

  11. 202610th Beijing International Art Biennale · Tbilisi

    “Bridges Through Art”, National Museum in Tbilisi.

VIII

Selected Exhibitions

An archive of encounters.

Selected International Exhibitions

  • 1990Italy
  • c. 2001Cairo Biennial
  • —United Kingdom
  • —Germany
  • —United States
  • —Belgium
  • —India
  • —Morocco
  • 202610th Beijing International Art Biennale
  • 2026“Bridges Through Art”, National Museum, Tbilisi

Selected UAE Exhibitions

  • 1987Sharjah Biennial
  • 2004–2020ADIHEX
  • 2016Emirates Visions
  • —Art Abu Dhabi
  • 20251st Abu Dhabi Biennial
  • 2025 · 2026World Art Dubai

Solo Exhibitions

  • 1987First solo exhibition
  • 2021“Styles”, K Gallery Dubai
  • 2022“Another Perspective”, Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi

“—” indicates a date to be confirmed from archival records. “c.” denotes circa.

IX

Global Presence

From Khorfakkan to the world.

  • UAE
  • USA
  • UK
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Belgium
  • Georgia
  • China
  • India
  • Morocco
  • Egypt
  • Lebanon
  • Romania
X

Awards & Honours

  • 1st Place

    Dubai Environment Authority Exhibition

    1997

  • 1st Place

    GCC Youth Art Exhibition, Abu Dhabi

    1990

  • 2nd Place

    Youth Exhibition, Cultural Palace, Sharjah

    1988

  • 2nd Place

    Ana Al Arabi Exhibition, Washington, D.C.

    1996

  • Certificate of Appreciation

    H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak

  • Gold Medal

    H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak

  • Three Certificates of Appreciation

    H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan

As listed in the biographical information supplied by the artist.

XI

Selected Collections

Works are reported, per supplied biography, as held in selected private and institutional collections, including:

  • The Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
  • H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
  • H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
  • The Late Princess Diana
  • HRH Prince Khaled Al Faisal
  • H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
  • Jackie Chan
  • ADMAF
  • Khalifa Medical City
  • Shakhbout Medical City
  • Fam Holding — 72 works, per supplied biography

Collection records can be expanded with archival documentation.

XII · Feature

2017

Shumookh Al Watan

Pride of the Nation

According to the supplied artist biography, the original work is part of the private collection of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with luxury prints placed in various UAE institutions.

XIV

Institutional Vision

Working with the studio.

XV · Rights & Ownership

  • —Artist-authenticated original works
  • —Archival documentation
  • —Danat Al-Shawati process documentation
  • —Copyright & reproduction rights
  • —Exhibition and licensing enquiries

Rights and archival documentation are available for institutional review upon request.