"In 1980 - Today: Exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates, I am looking at the emergence of contemporary art practices in the UAE over the past four decades. Rather than taking a monolithic or one-sided approach, I wanted to create a more multifaceted narrative, exploring a range of works by artists from different generations, backgrounds, styles and techniques.[ ] Much of this research focuses on the Emirates Fine Art Society, which was also crucial in the development of the Sharjah Biennial when it was founded in 1993, and continues to have a profound impact on the community today. I am very committed to the documentation of these histories, in order to establish a deeper understanding of the artists who were so central in shaping the UAE's early conceptual art scene. Still, there is so much more research to be done." (Hoor Al Qasimi)