In pictures: Art show in Sharjah

The theme of Sharjah's eighth art biennial is the environment. Egyptian artist Susan Hefouna made a mirrored box to reflect the paradox of staging the show in an oil-rich Gulf state.

The art on display was spread throughout the city but the largest pieces, such as Lebanese Marya Kazoun's live performance art, were shown in the spacious Expo Centre.

Lebanese artist Mona Hatoum created a glowing electrical globe, Hot Spot, meant as a reference not just to global warming, but to the spread of conflict around the world.

Nigerian artist Bright cut a foam mattress into tall tower blocks to make a coffin. "I want to show how man uses up all the natural resources that makes life comfortable," he said.

Kimberley Lund, who filled a room with blue plastic rubbish bags, addressed a lack of laws on pollution. "I want to warn people, but the legal sanctions just aren't in place," she said.

Zambian Anawana Halobi asked visitors to use their tongues to draw a road map to peace on salt-covered cut-outs of Middle Eastern countries.

In an installation that recycles electronic waste, Egyptian artist Lara Baladi reflected left-over computer-driven images in a huge mirrored kaleidoscope.

Ghanaian El Anatsui made a carpet of liquor bottle tops. Alcohol is about joy, he said, but it was also central to the slave trade and exchanged for human beings in Africa.

Algerian Sophie El Baz, who allows her photos to deteriorate, says her work shows "the danger of entering the end-stage of our time on earth". Text: Sylvia Smith; Photos: Richard Duebel

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