Chiaki Soma in conversation with artists Shaikha al Ketbi and Sarah Al Mehairi

The event took place in the programming space of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, as a venue in lieu of an embassy setting. It featured a panel discussion between Emirati artists Shaikha Al Ketbi and Sarah Al Mehairi, along with Chiaki Soma, Art Producer and Associate Professor of Tokyo University of the Arts. The conversation explored themes of materiality, memory, and place; slowness versus acceleration in contemporary life. This panel was part of ADMAF’s Art @ Embassies initiative, which previously happened in London, Paris, and Seoul. The initiative seeks to strengthen the longstanding relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Japan through cultural diplomacy. By fostering cross-cultural exchange and creating opportunities for Emirati creatives both locally and internationally, it supports ADMAF’s mission to nurture the arts, education, and culture, and to contribute to the advancement of Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision. Speakers: Shaikha Al Ketbi and Sarah Al Mehairi Moderated by Chiaki Soma