Emirati artist Latifa Saeed redefines public art with impressive installation
DUBAI, UAE (MNTV) – In the UAE’s dynamic cultural landscape, multidisciplinary artist Latifa Saeed has unveiled her latest masterpiece, Al Sarmadi—a monumental public sculpture that reimagines the relationship between art, space, and motion.
The Dubai-born creative, whose work bridges traditional Emirati storytelling with contemporary global perspectives, has transformed the NAS Sports roundabout in Nad Al Sheba into a living canvas.
Commissioned by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the stainless steel installation depicts eight horses in mid-canter, their fluid forms embodying speed, resilience, and perpetual movement.
“My art is a dialogue with time,” Saeed told Khaleej Times on International Women’s Day.
“Growing up in Dubai’s ever-evolving environment taught me to see motion not just as physical change, but as a cultural force.”
A symphony of steel and movement
Al Sarmadi (Arabic for “perpetual”) captures the essence of continuity through its dynamic composition.
As vehicles circulate the roundabout, the sculpture’s interplay of light and shadow creates an illusion of unceasing motion—a metaphor for the UAE’s own trajectory of progress.
“The horse symbolizes endurance and forward momentum,” Saeed explained. “But beyond that, this work is about the invisible rhythms that shape our world—the pulse of cities, the flow of nature, and the passage of time.”
Art as a public experience
Rejecting the confines of traditional galleries, Saeed champions art that engages communities.
“Public installations democratize creativity,” she said. “They turn everyday spaces into cultural landmarks, connecting people to heritage while inspiring new ways of thinking.”
Her philosophy aligns with the UAE’s vision of art as a catalyst for social cohesion.
In a nation where futuristic architecture dominates skylines, Al Sarmadi serves as a reminder of the human narratives woven into urban landscapes.
For Saeed, Al Sarmadi is more than sculpture—it’s an invitation to reflect on progress.
“True art doesn’t stand still,” she asserted. “It moves with society, questions norms, and propels us forward.”
As the UAE continues to champion cultural innovation, Saeed’s work stands as a testament to the nation’s ability to harmonize tradition with tomorrow’s possibilities.
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