Abu dhabi: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, inaugurated the ‘Silent Force’ exhibition by Syrian sculptor Wael Hilal at the Salwa Zeidan Gallery in Abu Dhabi. The event was attended by a select group of artists, intellectuals, and contemporary visual art and sculpture enthusiasts.
According to Emirates News Agency, the exhibition, which began on 15th January 2026, showcases a solo artistic experience with a collection of sculptural works made from marble, travertine, and onyx. The artist uses these materials to explore the concept of ‘force’ as an inherent, latent energy that emerges quietly and without fanfare.
The pieces in the exhibition are abstract and balanced, incorporating subtle tension, with silence serving as a key element in shaping their meaning and expression. The sculptures reveal a refined interplay between mass and void, stillness and movement, creating a visual dialogue that suggests an abstract human presence or sculptural structures with architectural qualities.
The artist’s practice involves carving through subtraction and reduction, treating stone as a living entity that embodies memory and time, resulting in works that reflect inner cohesion and balance. The exhibition highlights contemporary sculpture’s role as an intellectual and aesthetic space for reflection, encouraging viewers to reconsider the notion of force as an inner value expressed through calm and composure.
In his remarks, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak emphasized the UAE’s commitment to culture and the arts as crucial pillars in enhancing individual life quality and promoting dialogue among different cultures. He noted the importance of supporting the arts to encourage creativity, preserve cultural identity, and embrace diverse cultural experiences.
He further highlighted the UAE’s cultural scene, which continues to experience qualitative growth, supported by an environment that fosters creativity and celebrates cultural diversity. The arts, he stated, act as a universal human language that helps spread values of tolerance, coexistence, and peace, aligning with the UAE’s commitment to human dignity and positive global engagement.
