In Plain Sight: Scenes from Aridly Abundant Landscapes, co-edited by Faysal Tabbarah and Meitha Almazrooei, published by Kaph Books in conjunction with the National Pavilion United Arab Emirates’ participation at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, advocates for arid practices that propose a new vantage point of looking at aridity as a dynamic condition which can be a state of mind, a practice, or a shared identity. Conceived as a travelogue, the publication is a reference to travel and expedition literature which has historically portrayed arid environments in a homogenous manner as spaces devoid of life. The contributors challenge this narrative by introducing nuance and concepts of abundance to construct multiple lenses to view, sense, and capture the multitudes contained within aridity. In addition to research by the curatorial team, the publication also includes photographs taken by Reem Falaknaz during her exploration as well as scientific essays, travel stories, fiction, and poetry contributed by academics, architects, artists, geographers, and researchers based in the region.
The book is available for sale at the La Biennale book Stores and online here.
