03 October 2021
His Highness Mohammed Bin Rashid Visits Bahrain’s Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai visited the pavilion of Bahrain at Expo Dubai 2020, held under the theme “Density Weaves Opportunities”. His Highness was accompanied during the visits by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai and a number of Emiratis high officials and Expo Dubai 2020 Managers, supervisors and superindents.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had a tour guide visit to the different components of the pavilion and was briefed about the details of its urban architectural design, the programs offered and the exhibitions showcased that reflect the concepts of density that characterizes all aspects of life in Bahrain.
Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities led by H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Dubai Expo 2020 Commissioner General, hailed this visit that reflects the keenness of UAE leadership to make this global event, the first to be held in the Arab region, a bright success. In addition, BACA has pointed out that Bahrain’s National Pavilion participation in this world endeavor during six months, aims to showcase the promising opportunities available offered by Bahrain and invite the whole world to discover the deeply-rooted historical assets of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Bahraini Ambassador to the UAE, H.E Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, visited the Kingdom of Bahrain’s pavilion and toured the main exhibition space platform, Gift shop and cafeteria. H.E also was acquainted about the cultural programs organized by the Culture Authority in its pavilion and its crucial role in enriching the experience of Bahrain’s participation in this major global event. In addition, the Bahraini Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates praised the fantastic design of the national pavilion, asserting that Bahrain’s participation in Dubai Expo 2020 attracts all attention given its importance at this moment when the world is recovering from the pandemic and the future opportunities lying ahead to achieve historical great deeds.
The Bahraini National Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, the largest and long-awaited global event, themed ‘Density Weaves Opportunity’ was officially inaugurated on October 1st 2021, offering the opportunity to all visitors to discover Bahrain’s history, culture, arts and traditions. The pavilion is located at the ‘Opportunity District’, which is one of the three main areas of the expo and displays density as creator of promising opportunities through tangible and practical time and space outputs.
The pavilion, which is conceived as a physical and spatial experience of density and the future possibilities of building in an increasingly dense world is designed by Christian Kerez Zürich AG, and is imagined as an open plan space, submerged in the site and accessed through a ramp that creates a transition between the outer and inner worlds of the pavilion. The structure of this central space is made of 126 columns of 11cm in diameter and 24m in height that join each other at several points throughout the height of the space. This central space houses the main exhibition space, the gift shop and the cafe that are loosely nestled between the columns of the building, shaping the physical experience of density in the pavilion.
A different set of periodic installations will take their place in the space and transform it over the course of 6 months during the Expo period, creating a different scenography that changes the visitor's reading of the place. Each of these installations is created through a collaborative process, handcrafted in Bahrain using various traditional and contemporary weaving crafts, viewing the weaving process as a metaphor for intensity. Each scenography will have a general theme, revealed in four different exhibitions, as in theatrical work, to show an important aspect of Bahrain's culture and its rich heritage.
The first theme to be shed light on will be an installation artwork, titled “What do you see” created by Bahrain-based textile designer Muhairi Boyle was the opening event of the pavilion. The exhibition focuses on the nobility of textile craft in Bahrain and the beauty of sails of the Banoosh ships used for pearling. Bahrain Culture Authority, in cooperation with “DANAT” institute is offering a unique opportunity for Dubai Expo 2020 visitors to delve into magic world of latest techniques of pearling testing, examination and natural gems valorization.
