All about the marble baby sculpture in Fujairah
Did you know that there’s an abandoned baby out there in the Fujairah desert?! Well there is but don’t fret….it’s not a real tot but an impressive artwork from popular Italian sculptor Jago. Let’s learn more about this infant sculpture that emerged out of nowhere in Fujairah towards the end of 2021.
WHAT IS THE BABY IN THE DESERT?
Surrounded by mountains and rugged terrain in Fujairah is an astonishing artwork shaped like a baby. Italian artist Jago sculpted the striking figure from white marble. The giant baby statue is curled up as if in a deep sleep with its eyes tight shut and lips turned down. The sculpture will stay in the Fujairah desert until March 2022, after which it will be moved to a permanent location within the UAE.
INSPIRATION BEHIND THE ABANDONED BABY IN THE DESERT IN FUJAIRAH
Jago, the stage name for Jacopo Cardillo, is the artist behind this magnificent-yet-mysterious artwork. Dubbed as the Michaelangelo of contemporary art, Jago is a self-taught sculptor who loves to make political statementS through his art.
The artist intended to choose a site where visitors would have to make a conscious effort to see his artwork. However, Fujairah is not its first location as it has travelled all the way from Italy.
According to Jago, the idea for the abandoned baby was first conceived in 2019, whilst the artist was living in New York City. The statue represents the adverse effects of the lockdown due to COVID-19 when a large number of people ended up living on the streets. The artwork illustrates the anguish and terror of those who have been impacted the hardest by the pandemic.
It took 8 months for the sculptor to complete the artwork. After completion, the abandoned baby with a chain around his wrist was installed in Naples’ Piazza del Plebiscito. After staying there for six months, it was moved to the Fujairah desert, this time without the chain.
About the public’s interaction with the sculpture, the artist once said that what you’ve ‘abandoned’ on the street is no longer yours. He compares it to having a child that will eventually have make their own way in the world.
HOW TO GET TO THE BABY SCULPTURE IN THE FUJAIRAH DESERT
The location of the abandoned infant’s sculpture is at the base of the mountains of Al Haniyah desert. It is a little tricky to find the exact location of the sculpture. Visitors have to trek to reach it with maps as the artist has only shared the following geographical coordinates: 25°22’08.6′′N56°02’57.7′′E.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FUJAIRAH BABY IN THE DESERT?
Popularly known in the UAE as the baby in the desert, the sculpture used to be referred to as, “Look Down – a baby called Homeless”, before being installed in Fujairah UAE.
WHO CREATED THE ABANDONED BABY IN THE FUJAIRAH DESERT?
Italian sculpture Jago created this visual masterpiece to depict the difficulties and challenges of life during the pandemic.
That’s all for our guide on the baby in the desert in Fujairah. Many people have already gone above and beyond to get to the distant site in Fujairah’s desert to see the masterpiece. With some luck and the coordinates in hand, you can also reach this remarkable piece of art.
Once you are in this magnificent emirate of the UAE, there are plenty of things to in Fujairah, such as snorkelling, watersports, mountain adventures and exploring the wadis of Fujairah. Alternatively, you can opt to go on a hike at the most popular hiking trails in the UAE, some of which are located in Fujairah.
Cover image credit: Jago’s official Facebook page
