The festival will showcase art and culture, featuring works by local and international artists selected by a scientific committee chaired by Swiss curator Alfio Tommasini. With a focus on celebrating creativity, connecting communities, and inspiring dialogue, this unforgettable event will highlight the rich heritage and artistic vision of Ras Al Khaimah. Throughout February, visitors will be immersed in a unique experience, as various artworks are installed within the historic village, creating a dialogue within an environment that honors memory and history in all its forms. Drawing inspiration from Oscar Wilde’s quote, “Memory is the diary that we all carry about with us,” 200 artists—both local and international—will explore and share their personal memories.
Among the Italian artists participating is Mauro Curti, whose photographic works were selected for the Riturnè project, launched in 2023. The project is inspired by Curti’s return to his homeland, the Province of Cuneo, in Italy. “My participation is made possible thanks to the valuable support of the Italian Cultural Institute of Abu Dhabi,” says Curti.
His images explore the connection between man and land, inner conflicts, and the concepts of family and belonging. Through these photographs, Curti seeks to “freeze” fragments of memory before they are lost, capturing a reality that is slowly becoming history.
The project is both a personal and symbolic journey back to his roots, addressing themes of memory, absence, and the return to one’s origins. After living abroad for many years, Curti felt the need to reconnect with the place where he grew up, exploring the meaning of returning home and the importance of preserving memories and experiences tied to his homeland.
Alessandra Calò has been selected with a series of images from her photographic project NDT – No Destructive Testing, which explores her family history through two distinct legacies: a photographic archive and a radiographic one. The title of the work derives from the inscription on radiographic plates, indicating that the method has not altered the object and that the need to investigate has not compromised the integrity of the body.
Transferred to the realm of family genealogy, this metaphor reflects the artist’s approach: she does not intend to alter the course of personal stories but, rather, to observe and almost backlight them, recalling her roots before moving forward into the future.
For more information about the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival please visit: https://www.rakart.ae/2025-festival