Rising above the waters of the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi is the vibrant capital of the United Arab Emirates; a futuristic cityscape that’s home to almost two million people.
Visionary architectural marvels dominate the skyline of the city by the sea, where world-class museums like Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrate the region’s culture and heritage, and awe-inspiring sanctums like Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque welcome visitors of all faiths.
Beyond the municipality, 435 miles of rolling coastline speckled with beaches and islands cradle an expansive desert, where a patchwork of dunes, lush oases and historic forts tell tales of times gone by, and adventure beckons.
Unlocking this sublime landscape, photographer Michael Yamashita and artist Ugo Gattoni reveal the heart of Abu Dhabi, with photographs and illustrations that dance to life through camera’s lens and artist’s eye. Using the Emirate as inspiration, these storytellers paint a vivid picture: a new vision of a first-class destination.
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Photographer Michael Yamashita has been shooting for National Geographic for over 30 years, combining his dual passions of photography and travel. His particular specialty is in retracing the paths of famous travelers, resulting in stories on Marco Polo, the Japanese poet Basho, and the Chinese explorer Zheng He. As a third-generation Japanese-American, Michael is fluent in Japanese, and has covered the length of Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu. To date, his work has taken him to six continents.
Michael has received multiple awards for his photography and film work, and his photographs have been exhibited at galleries in Los Angeles and at the National Gallery in Washington, DC. Major exhibitions have opened throughout Asia, in Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Taipei and Singapore, as well as in Rome, Venice, Frankfurt, and Perpignan, France.
A frequent keynote speaker for corporations and foundations, as well as a lecturer and teacher at schools and workshops around the world, Michael has received numerous industry awards and published 11 books, most inspired by his 30 National Geographic stories. While not traveling, Michael lives with his family in rural New Jersey, where he maintains a studio and is an active volunteer fireman.
Ugo Gattoni is a Parisian artist whose thought-provoking images render cities, landscapes and buildings in larger than life detail. His scenes reveal interconnected worlds and dreamlike universes that invite viewers to step inside, elevating the real to the phantasmagorical.
Ugo graduated from EPSAA graphic design school in Paris in 2010, and exhibited his first major personal project the following year. The 10-meter long scroll, entitled Ultra Copains, was the first of many oversized works created by the artist, who has since produced grand-scale artworks for institutions including London's Hayward Gallery.
His 2013 work Bicycle — a five-meter long black and white cityscape inspired by the London Olympics — attracted the attention of French fashion house Hermès, and he has collaborated with the brand ever since. For the last three years, Ugo has also lent his unique creative vision to the French Champagne house Ruinart, and worked on campaigns with companies including Rolex and Pierre Frey.
For this project, Ugo was invited to reimagine a selection of Michael Yamashita's photographs, transforming Abu Dhabi landmarks into dreamlike scenes inspired by his wandering imagination.