Emirati Artist Juma Al Haj Explores Seclusion and Reflection in First Institutional Solo Exhibition in Abu Dhabi

Juma Al Haj’s new exhibition arrives at a turning point in his life. Last June, after spending 15 years in a corporate career, the Emirati artist left his job and returned to university to fully commit himself to art. Revelation, currently on view at 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi, grew directly out of this period of intense reassessment.

The exhibition marks Al Haj’s first institutional solo show and was developed through 421’s Artistic Development Programme. Running until January 10, the showcase brings together painting, glass, text, light, shadow, water, and installation to form a deep meditation on seclusion, reflection, and the concept that personal revelation is an ongoing process rather than a final conclusion.

Al Haj notes that his decision to transition into a full-time artist happened relatively late in life. After studying visual communication, he completed a master’s degree in international relations and entered government work, following a path familiar to his family. His father is a diplomat, and his siblings also work within government and diplomacy. While art was always present, it remained separate from his professional routine as something he practiced only in his spare time.

That dynamic shifted when he began sharing his work online during the Covid-19 pandemic. The positive response encouraged him to take his practice more seriously, and between 2020 and 2021, he began viewing art as a viable career path. When he joined the Artistic Development Programme roughly two years ago, he initially wanted to explore seclusion and the metaphor of a maze, questioning why individuals withdraw from society when trying to process difficult life experiences. His thinking was heavily influenced by journals, philosophy, poetry, and spiritual texts from the three Abrahamic religions.

Over time, the exhibition evolved away from a fixed narrative and became a space designed for viewers to discover their own understandings. This philosophy is reflected in the installation design. Glass panels feature inscribed text, but their meaning shifts dynamically depending on light, shadow, and reflection. Al Haj describes the objects themselves as only one component of the artwork, comparing the panels to floppy disks that only reveal information when activated by light.

The installation gradually guides visitors toward Hijr, a darker, more enclosed space dedicated to contemplation. At its centre lies water, utilized by Al Haj as a symbol of movement and renewed energy. Further into the exhibition, Balaa—named after the Arabic concept of trial or affliction—tackles the tension of measuring life through time, emotions, deeds, and moments amid constant uncertainty.

The physical environment of the exhibition is carefully curated to slow down the visitor experience. A thick carpet covers the space, requiring visitors to remove their shoes in a manner reminiscent of entering a sacred space like a mosque. Combined with subdued lighting and dark walls, the atmosphere acts as the primary artwork, hugging visitors like a cocoon.

Currently, Al Haj considers his place within the broader Emirati art scene as part of a third generation of Emirati artists who benefit from greater institutional support and early experimentation. Having recently relocated to Paris, he aims to understand the international art world from within while maintaining a strong connection to his roots, which originally stem from childhood Arabic handwriting exercises.

Revelation by Juma Al Haj remains on display at 421 Arts Campus in Abu Dhabi until January 10.