ArtDayMe: Azadeh Jafarian: *Abu Dhabi, UAE* – Artist Mona Ayyash has been unveiling her first solo exhibition, *The Clock Doesn’t Care*, at 421 in Zayed Port - Al Mina, Abu Dhabi. Running until August 25, 2024, this exhibition has been delving into the themes of time, movement, and productivity through a unique collaborative video installation.

Ayyash, who has been becoming renowned for her focus on repetition and slowness, has created a thought-provoking piece consisting of six single-channel digital videos. These works have been developed in collaboration with a group of dancers, actors, and performance artists, including Inês de Almeida, Dana Amer, Ahmed Elsaghier, Ralph Kabalan, Dalia Khalife, Sara Masinaei, Mohsen Mohi, Vighnesh Prasad, and Alina Vishnevskaia.

The project has started with an open call, inviting participants to film themselves responding to prompts about 'doing nothing'. Over ten weeks, the group has met regularly to review their footage, gradually developing a collective visual language. Ayyash has then meticulously edited this material, extracting small gestures and repeating them in loops to highlight the mundanity and inherent value in these otherwise overlooked movements.

The result has been a series of constantly shifting compositions that challenge the viewer's perception of time and productivity. By layering and juxtaposing these clips, Ayyash has created a non-linear narrative that invites audiences to engage with the concept of passing time without the pressure of traditional productivity.

Commissioned by the 421 Arts Campus as part of their Artistic Development Program, *The Clock Doesn’t Care* has been offering a meditative experience, encouraging viewers to confront their own relationship with time and boredom. The exhibition's title has underscored this theme, emphasizing the indifference of time to human pursuits.

Ayyash's innovative approach has invited viewers to slow down and appreciate the subtlety of everyday movements. This exhibition not only has reflected her previous work, such as the *Folding Bellies* video produced during the 2020 Homebound Residency Program, but also has marked a significant milestone in her artistic journey.

Visitors to *The Clock Doesn’t Care* have experienced an immersive exhibition design featuring fragmented viewing platforms and cut-out frames that enhance engagement with Ayyash’s captivating visuals. By embracing repetition and slowness, Ayyash has challenged the conventional demands for stimulation, inviting us all to simply let time pass.

*The Clock Doesn’t Care* has been open to the public at 421 in Zayed Port - Al Mina, Abu Dhabi, until August 25, 2024.