Maraya Project: The Seawalls of Vancouver and Dubai

Wednesday, February 29, 2012 to Sunday, May 20, 2012

Maraya is an art project that looks at the relationship between urban waterfronts in Vancouver and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Through photography, video, public art, public programmes and an interactive online platform, new forms of urban living pioneered in both countries are explored, showing how we are connected in ways that are both familiar and surprising. Maraya — from the Arabic m’raya for “mirror” or “reflection” — connects the glass and steel residential towers that line the seawall walkways of Emaar’s Dubai Marina and Concord Pacific Place along False Creek, looking at these two cities that are leaders of 21st century urbanism.

Public presentations include exhibitions at Museum of Vancouver, Art Dubai 2012, Jam Jar Gallery (Dubai), and Centre A (Vancouver). A Canada Innovation Fund / Department of Canadian Heritage supported website with state-of-the-art online visualization tools invites interaction and participation with the project. Collaborations with UAE-based universities will catalyze dialogue and international exchange about culture, education and contemporary art.

Led by Henry Tsang, M. Simon Levin, and Glen Lowry, Maraya draws on expertise from artists, educators, scientists, theorists, urban planners and architects. Project sponsors include BC Arts Council, Social Sciences Humanities Research Council, Roundhouse Community and Arts Centre and Emily Carr University of Art & Design.