2.8K 
The United Arab Emirates' first Memorial Park honouring the soldiers and Emiratis that gave their lives while serving the nation has been unveiled in Abu Dhabi. The artwork by British artist Idris Khan anchors the Memorial to the heart of Wahat Al Karama Park, which was commissioned by Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The artwork itself was commissioned by international art and design studio UAP.
Khan was selected as the winner from a shortlist of several international artists, with UAP's curatorial team recognizing his "affinity for local culture" and "strong western voice" as primary assets. "The idea was to create a park for reflection on both loss and remembrance, a spiritual place that conveyed unity and support," said Khan. "I wanted this monument to have positive and hopeful resonance while inspiring curiosity in sculpture and how contemporary art can influence emotions."
The Memorial is composed of 31 offset aluminum tablets, each one 23 metres high. The sculptures lean on one another to represent a unified strength, power, and pride among soldiers, loved ones, and their country. The two front tablets stand vertically to evoke a sense of humility. The Memorial Park as a whole, designed by engineering firm AECOM, symbolizes the eternal martyr. "It is a place for serenity within a city busy with construction and growth, a major part of a country's history and landscape that will be absorbed by the cultural awareness of future generations," said Khan.
Arabic poems and quotes from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are engraved onto the tablets, encouraging visitors to touch and establish a personal connection with the Memorial. Each tablet was handcrafted and made from a total of 850 cast aluminum panels, with a specialized hand painting technique achieving a gradient of colour designed to capture light.
Also designed by Idris Khan and guided by UAP, in partnership with Brisbane-based architecture firm bureau^proberts and engineering consultancy Robert Bird Group, The Pavilion of Honour is a circular structure situated at the end of the visitor's journey. Seven upright glass panels — representing the seven emirates of the UAE — are surrounded by a water feature. The internal wall is sheathed in 2,800 aluminum plates, made from the reclaimed metal of armoured vehicles actively used in service, and are also inscribed with names.
Wahat Al Karama, meaning 'oasis of dignity,' spans an area of 46,000 square metres between Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the General Headquarters of the UAE Armed Forces. It is open to the public daily from 9 AM until midnight. A national public holiday on November 30 commemorates the fallen soldiers in present and past conflicts.
UAP is responsible for numerous large-scale public realm projects across the world, including Al Fanar (Beacon) in Saudi Arabia and XXX Times Square with Love by Jürgen Mayer in New York.
