As more people adopt social distancing amidst efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, why must we stop viewing and appreciating art? Emirati artist Maisoon Al Saleh has the answer to satiating the aesthete in you, as she has created a virtual gallery for her solo exhibition titled ‘The 3 Phase Signal’, which is showing at Etihad Modern Art Gallery in Abu Dhabi until 28 May 2020.

“Visitor safety is my top priority,” Maisoon tells Villa 88. “Due to the ongoing situation related to COVID-19, I’ve created a virtual gallery that exhibits a part of the 42-piece collection that I’ve created, which can be viewed from the Art Steps website on your desktop and its mobile app.”

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The idea is to bring the exhibition to you and help you relish art, which studies have shown can reduce anxiety and stress, increase motivation and elevate your mood.

Maisoon’s fourth solo exhibition tells a story of tolerance and human connection through the symbolic use of sine waves. The faces of her subjects are left blank and she replaces them with colorful visual effects. She shows that just like the colorful and ever-changing, yet familiar visual representation of the sine waves, it’s the humanity behind all our cultural differences that will always connect us. Maisoon’s exhibition can be viewed via Artsteps.

Maisoon Al Saleh’s ‘The 3 Phase Signal’ runs until May 28, 2020 at Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Images courtesy: Maisoon Al Saleh