On Feb. 4, the latest Lest We Forget exhibition, Emirati Adornment: Tangible & Intangible, debuted at Warehouse 421.

The exhibition explores Emirati identity through tangible and intangible modes of adornment and enables visitors to get an in-depth, more intimate look into Emirati culture. Emirati Adornment showcases contributions such as burqas, jewelry and weaponry from community members.

The exhibition is unique in that it takes an aesthetic approach to the past, using the tools of contemporary art as a way to reflect on Emirati adornments and keep the traditions alive. Alongside community contributions, short films by Imagine Nation and installations created by female Emirati students at Zayed University are showcased. Each section of the exhibit is dedicated to a different type of Emirati adornment and is accompanied by a story.

The way in which the items were displayed also emphasizes an intimate approach to Emirati culture. For example, one of the featured displays has burqas lent by local community members arranged in glass panels. While most people usually only see the front of the burqa, this installation enables visitors to view the inside of the burqa that actually touches the face — allowing for a deeper insight into the inner makings of the burqa. Some visitors took advantage of this unique display — personalizing their experience by placing their face behind one of the burqas as if wearing it and having their picture taken.

Interactiveness — by incorporating games and perfume installations — plays a major role in strengthening the connection between visitors and the general narrative of Emirati Adornment. It was an important curatorial choice to highlight the celebration and engagement rather than the memory of Emirati culture.

Many NYU Abu Dhabi community members visited the exhibition on its opening night, including Robert Parthesius’s class: World Heritage Sites and Universal Collections. A school-organized Kashtah trip took students to a talk by Dr. Michele Bambling, Creative Director of Lest We Forget, at the kick off event of Warehouse 421’s Wednesdays at the Warehouse. Bambling provided insight into the behind-the-scenes of the exhibition, featuring statements from some of the collaborators and contributors of the project.

In her talk, Bambling explained how Emirati Adornment built on the previous Lest We Forget exhibition that she curated, which explored Emirati heritage through old family portraits. The portraits she had collected for that project managed to convey a universal shared experience of the past — using photos that otherwise would have stayed in each contributor's family archive. However, while photos brought up issues of consent, objects and traditions could be showcased easily.

“Everyone can participate in that theme,” she explained. From swords to henna making techniques, women and men contributed objects and descriptions of traditions alike.

Warehouse 421 hosts a recording studio as well as archival quality cameras to document objects that visitors bring. Bambling hopes that as people visit the space, they will be inspired to lend items for display. Contributors have found this a productive avenue to promote the cultural richness of the UAE, especially given the misconception that the UAE has limited history. Bambling hopes that the exhibition can have a second rotation of exhibited items.

The exhibition will be on display until late August.