Vikram Divecha’s playful and poetic works rely on what he calls “found processes,” in which the artist inserts himself and observes how individuals navigate, experiment with, and bypass these systems. Short Circuits features essays, interviews, and documentation that highlight Divecha’s interest in the often invisible structures of planning, construction, demolition and maintenance. It centres on his long-term collaborations with workers, contractors and decision-makers who shape the cities of the United Arab Emirates and beyond. With texts by Sabih Ahmed, Vikram Divecha, Gayatri Gopinath, Robert T Kilroy, Lucas Morin and Dawn Ross. Edited by Lucas Morin and Dawn Ross. Published by Art Jameel and Press Works in conjunction with the exhibition ‘Vikram Divecha: Short Circuits’ (Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai, 2024). Vikram Divecha is a Beirut-born artist who grew up in Mumbai and is based in the UAE. He holds an MFA in Visual Art from Columbia University and was a participant in the Whitney Museum’s Independent Study program. His work has been exhibited regionally and internationally at the 57th Venice Biennale’s UAE National Pavilion UAE, the 13th Sharjah Biennial, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Centre of Contemporary Art (Warsaw) and The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts (New York). He currently teaches as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Art and Art History at the New York University Abu Dhabi.
