A founding member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society, Mohamed Yousif is a pioneering artist who has made invaluable contributions to the arts movement in the UAE. His works bridge tradition and modernity, weaving memory through material forms, to investigate the dynamic interplay between past and present. His early practice was deeply rooted in carpentry, exemplified by the 1981 wooden sculpture Abu Wajhain, which Yousif crafted while keeping the wooden column upright. The two contrasting faces, angry and joyful, speak to the complexities of identity and public perception, as well as Yousif's own struggle with the disparate reactions he encountered during his formative years, when some referred to him as Abu Wajhain (two-faced in Arabic). The use of  eucalyptus wood, commonly used for landscaping across the UAE, reflects Yousif’s organic approach to materials—one that prioritises sustainability and a harmonious relationship with nature, lending weight to his credo: from nature to nature.

^{*Currently exhibited at Misk Foundation}