Experience tranquility
An 'experience' is the only thing that could describe what the Sharjah Rain Room is all about. The SRR is located in Al Majarrah, Sharjah. This art exhibit was installed by the Sharjah art foundation in 2018 and is created by Random International. This exhibit has attracted hordes of people to come experience what its like to go through a shower without getting wet. "Most people want to know if the water is an illusion", says Ali Mrad, from the social media team of the Sharjah Art Foundation. "That's the most common question. The other is, where is it?",(Butalia, 2018).
Credits of the photo go to my mum!
This artistic piece is an immersive experience allowing you to move through a bunch of rain without getting wet! For those who know of the anime known as Avatar: The Last Airbender(DiMartino & Konietzko, 2003), I felt like I could bend water. It was a moment I couldn't fathom. Being able to move about the room without the water touching me. Its as if my family and I were in complete control of the water. Motion detectors (3D type cameras) are used to track your every movement, accordingly the water is either stopped or continues falling(International, 2012). The way this is constructed shows me what a person with a vision is capable of. The relationship between man an machine is displayed with the utmost beauty. This shows the power of the human race as well, having the ability to play mother nature, manipulating the flow of water. With the success of this room the art exhibit has toured the world branching from its first appearance in Barbican, London (2012) all the way to MoMA, New York (2013); Yuz Museum, Shanghai (2015) and LACMA, Los Angeles (2015–2017) and now Sharjah, United Arab Emirates(2018).
This tourist attraction is constantly booked! In order to slot in a session, you'd have to book in advance. This simple yet ambitious setting of rain and motion is what truly attracts an audience to just experience how the rain falls without being annoying or tedious to go through. The room echoes with each raindrop that hits the surface of the floor, creating a harmonious symphony of raindrops. Living in the U.A.E., we barely know what heavy rain is all about. This exhibit gives us a taste and more. This exhibit is not heavy on the wallet either. You get to experience something that is beyond comprehension. The feeling I got whilst going around the room is almost indescribable. It is truly a must see.
References:
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Butalia, N. (2018). Walk into this rain room in Sharjah, but getting wet is optional. Retrieved from https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/general/Walk-into-this-rain-room-in-Sharjah,-but-getting-wet-is-optional
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International, R. (2012). projects - Sharjah Art Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.sharjahart.org/sharjah-art-foundation/projects/rain-room
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DiMartino, M., & Konietzko, B. (2003). Avatar: The Last Airbender [TV show]. Hollywood: Nickelodeon Animation Studios.