artist VICTOR DAILO

sculptor

artist ALEX MUTAMBO

sculptor

Abu Dhabi 8 Million Years Ago

Inspired by research published by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey including Mark Beech and Peter Hellyer, Art Hub Artists created several wooden carvings depicting what life was like in the Abu Dhabi region 6-8 million years ago. These small wooden carvings bring to life the fossils of hippopatomus, elephants, and fauna of the region unearthed in recent archaeological surveys. While a contemporary visitor to Abu Dhabi sees the undulating sand dunes of the desert alongside an aqua sea, 8 million years ago, Abu Dhabi looked more like the savannah grasslands of East Africa: acacia trees dotted the landscape, catfish and egrets abounded in the rivers, and prehistoric, dinosaur-like animals such as the Stegotetrabelodon crashed through the undergrowth alongside more recognizable animals like crocodiles and elephants. The Artists has depicted these rich scenes in landscape wood carvings, as well as in individual figurines and collective scenes of animals gathered together in intricate sculptures. These works bring to life and honor Abu Dhabi’s past.