The ocean has always been more than a passage between places. For centuries, it has connected people, carried stories and brought cultures together. This shared history takes centre stage at Art Here 2026, the annual contemporary art exhibition organized by Richard Mille and Louvre Abu Dhabi, which opened on 11 November and runs until 28 February 2027.

Now in its sixth edition, the exhibition explores the theme Confluences, looking at the cultural connections between India and the Gulf through six new artworks.This year’s edition brings together artists from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and India, each offering a different perspective on movement, migration, memory and belonging. The exhibition also marks an expanded international reach, attracting more than 300 proposals. Set in the iconic of Louvre Abu Dhabi, the six installations respond to the museum’s architecture while reflecting on the centuries-old relationship between the Indian Ocean’s neighbouring communities.

The selection of the six finalists was made by a distinguished jury led by H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, art collector and patron, whose work includes engagements with Tate, the Centre Pompidou and Sharjah Art Foundation. He was joined by Dr Guilhem André, Director for Scientific, Curatorial and Collections Management at Louvre Abu Dhabi; Kamini Sawhney, guest curator of this year’s exhibition and former founding Director of the Museum of Art & Photography in Bengaluru; and Maya Allison, founding Executive Director of the Art Galleries and Chief Curator at New York University Abu Dhabi.

Almaha Jaralla

Emirati artist Almaha Jaralla takes inspiration from the sea and its history of travel. Her installation, Daria Dawlat, features sculptural figures made from cotton futa fabric, positioned across the museum’s shallow water basins. Inspired by a historic merchant vessel, the work reflects on journeys, survival and the uncertainty of life between land and sea.

Ahaad Alamoudi

Among the featured artists is Saudi Arabian artist Ahaad Alamoudi, whose installation, You Promised the World and the Tide Came In, explores the idea of constant change. Using mirrored stainless steel structures, she creates shifting reflections that invite visitors to become part of the artwork itself.

Shamin Sahrum

For Malaysian artist Shamin Sahrum, the idea of home is closely connected to memory and migration. His work, Home is What We Carry, is a six metre high suspended gateway woven from traditional chatai mats. Familiar across South Asian homes and rituals, these mats also hold meaning for migrant communities living in the UAE, making the installation a reflection on identity and the feeling of carrying home wherever life takes you.

Ravikumar Kashi

Indian artist Ravikumar Kashi explores the power of language and communication through Meghadutam. Inspired by an ancient poem in which clouds carry messages between distant lovers, his installation features handmade paper clouds containing messages in different Indic languages. It reflects the emotional connection between people and the places they leave behind.

Reena Saini Kallat

Reena Saini Kallat turns her attention to the personal stories of migration. Her work, Shorelines of Longing, draws inspiration from the Malayalam tradition of letter songs, connected to families separated by migration from Kerala to the Gulf. Combining marble, found objects and audio, the installation gives a lasting voice to stories of love, separation and homecoming.

Vivek Vilasini

Completing the exhibition, Indian artist Vivek Vilasini explores how language can bring different communities together. His installation, Dreaming in Arabia, features 28 glazed vessels displaying Arabic letters alongside sounds from languages spoken across the UAE. The work reflects the country’s multicultural identity and the connections formed through trade, travel and everyday life.

the six artists offer different interpretations of a shared history, reminding us that cultural exchange is not simply about the past but something that continues to shape the present. With the winner of the Richard Mille Art Prize set to be announced in December 2026, Art Here 2026 offers visitors an opportunity to experience the many stories connecting India and the Gulf, one artwork at a time.