Exhibitions

DIFC Sculpture park 2026

Stefano Bombardieri, Hussain Jamil, Manu Alguero 5 Марта - 30 Июня 2026 DUBAI We are pleased to announce our participation in the DIFC Sculpture Park 2026, presenting works by Stefano Bombardieri, Hussain Jamil, and Manu Alguerò.
For the 2026 edition, the DIFC Sculpture Park will showcase a curated selection of large-scale artworks installed throughout the district between 5 March and 30 June 2026. The exhibition transforms DIFC’s iconic urban landscape into an open-air cultural destination, offering visitors the opportunity to experience contemporary sculpture in dialogue with the architecture and public spaces of the financial district.
This year’s presentation by Oblong Contemporary features powerful sculptural works that explore themes of strength, transformation, and human presence within modern environments. On view are Stefano Bombardieri’s Rhino Crack, a striking sculpture reflecting the artist’s exploration of tension between nature and civilization; Manu Alguerò’s The Gold Dress, a refined work embodying elegance and symbolic femininity; and a series of monumental pillars by Hussain Jamil — Parallel 1 (silver pillar), Parallel 2 (green pillar), and Parallel 4 (copper pillar) (2024) — which investigate balance, reflection, and spatial rhythm through minimalist vertical forms.
By integrating sculpture into DIFC’s public realm, the DIFC Sculpture Park continues to reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading global center for art and culture. The initiative invites visitors, professionals, and collectors to engage with contemporary art outside traditional gallery settings, encouraging new perspectives and dialogue between art, architecture, and the city.
The DIFC Sculpture Park also serves as a platform for galleries and artists to present ambitious works to a diverse international audience, transforming the district into a vibrant cultural promenade accessible to the public. Read more

Mr. Brainwash Explained: The Hidden Language of Graffiti

23 Марта - 23 Мая 2026 DUBAI The works of Mr. Brainwash are instantly recognizable. Bold, vibrant, and layered with graffiti, pop imagery, and striking slogans, they capture attention at first glance. Yet beneath this visual intensity lies something far more deliberate: a carefully constructed language built from collective memory, cultural references, and the visual codes of street art.

What makes his work so powerful is its immediacy. It does not require interpretation to be felt. Instead, it operates through recognition. Viewers are drawn in by familiar images—figures, symbols, and compositions that already exist in their visual memory. This instant connection creates a sense of accessibility that defines Mr. Brainwash’s artistic identity.

At the core of his practice is the recontextualization of globally recognized icons. Figures such as Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Albert Einstein, and Madonna are transformed through a graffiti aesthetic into contemporary cultural symbols. This strategy recalls the legacy of Andy Warhol, yet it is infused with the raw energy of the street—where imagery is not only consumed but constantly rewritten.

Graffiti itself emerged as a form of presence. What began as simple tags evolved into complex visual statements, carrying identity, resistance, and expression. Artists like Banksy expanded this language into political and conceptual territory. Mr. Brainwash builds on this foundation, shifting it toward pop culture and global accessibility, making street art both immediate and collectible.

His works are structured through contrast. A central figure—often simple, nostalgic, or iconic—is placed against a dense, layered background that mimics the texture of urban walls. This tension between clarity and chaos is essential: the viewer first recognizes the image, then gradually absorbs the surrounding complexity.



This approach becomes particularly evident across the works presented:

In Beautiful Girl, the image of a young girl holding a heart-shaped balloon functions as a symbol of innocence. Set against an explosion of graffiti and color, the work creates a powerful contrast between vulnerability and visual noise. The image becomes more than a composition—it becomes an icon, repeated and reinterpreted across variations.

In Einstein, a historic figure is transformed into a universal message. The phrase “Love is the Answer” shifts the work beyond portraiture, turning it into a statement about human connection. Surrounded by fragmented visual elements, the message feels both urgent and accessible, reflecting the saturation of contemporary media.

Work Well Together introduces a deeper layer of reference. The image of two children seated side by side, seen from behind, is directly inspired by Norman Rockwell’s Boy and Girl Gazing at the Moon (1926). This reference anchors the work in a familiar visual language associated with innocence and companionship. Mr. Brainwash then disrupts this nostalgic scene through graffiti, bold color, and the phrase “Love is All We Need,” transforming a classic image into a contemporary reflection on unity and shared experience.

In Smile, the child holding a camera introduces a self-aware dimension. The act of photographing becomes a reflection of a culture in which reality is constantly captured, filtered, and shared. Surrounding phrases echo the language of media and advertising, reinforcing the work’s connection to contemporary visual habits.

With Keep It Unreal, the message becomes more conceptual. The phrase challenges the idea of authenticity, aligning with the artist’s broader approach of remixing reality. The work suggests that in a world saturated with images, truth itself becomes fluid—constructed through repetition and reinterpretation.

Express Yourself shifts toward empowerment. The work functions as both a statement and an invitation, reflecting the democratic origins of street art while maintaining a refined, collectible presence. It speaks directly to the viewer, reinforcing the idea that expression is both personal and universal.

Finally, Artist Within brings the narrative to its conclusion. The figure becomes a metaphor for creativity itself, suggesting that artistic expression is not reserved for a select few. Instead, it is something inherent—accessible to everyone.

Ultimately, Mr. Brainwash bridges the gap between street and gallery. His work transforms the ephemeral language of graffiti into globally recognizable, collectible imagery. By combining familiarity with visual intensity, he creates artworks that are both instantly understood and layered with meaning.

In a world defined by images, Mr. Brainwash does not compete with visual noise—he uses it. And in doing so, he creates works that are not only seen, but remembered.

Ultimately, Mr. Brainwash bridges the gap between street and gallery. His art transforms the ephemeral language of graffiti into collectible, global imagery—capturing the energy of contemporary culture in a form that is both instantly familiar and visually striking. Read more