Recently, The National announced the opening of the permanent installation, The Rain Room. This immersive exhibit, launched in 2012 was created by Random International, and seen all over the world, has found its permanent home in, of all places, Sharjah. My curiosity completely piqued, I decided to take advantage of easier traffic patterns during Ramadan, and convinced Hubs we were in need of some culture last Saturday morning. Having had at least one friend who attempted to visit earlier (and wasn’t able to), I realized it was in our best interest to buy tickets in advance (and I’m very glad we did). Fortunately, when I logged on the evening before, there were still 3 tickets available for my preferred timing. Tickets are a very reasonable AED25 per person (students are AED15). Given our appointment was scheduled for 10 AM, but we really didn’t go in until 10:10 and the sessions are in 15 minute blocks, I would highly suggest booking the first session of the day. I have a feeling that much like a doctor’s office, things get delayed as the day goes on. As someone who particularly hates waiting (quelle surprise), the decision is up to you. Tickets can be purchased on the spot, however, be prepared for disappointment or a long wait — especially on the weekends.
So, I rarely (if ever) spend time in Sharjah, such that the drive was a bit of a novelty for me. More surprising, the location is bang in the middle of a regular area of town. There is no signage (on the building or near the building), nor is this any sort of cultural center in the city. While I thought the placement was strange, my urban planner husband thought it was an entirely good use of space, and was impressed by how seamlessly the pavilion was integrated into the paving around us (he literally took pictures of how carefully it was aligned). A note for those visiting — there is no dedicated parking, so you’ll have to try and find local parking nearby (again, probably a good reason to go earlier rather than later, and on a weekend, if you can schedule it).
Anyway, after a bit of back and forth with our tickets (apparently, my phone screen, complete with e-mail from the Sharjah Art Foundation with confirmation details was almost not enough – !), we were escorted down a small ramp to the Rain Room itself. With a single bright light guiding the way, our host invited us to walk forward into the rain — but to do so slowly, as the sensors above are good, but not quite enough to keep you dry if you run through the exhibit. I’ll admit, it’s a real leap of faith to take a step forward into the rain (be it real or fake) and expect not to get wet. Of course, living in the desert, playing in the rain is more of a novelty than it is just about anywhere else in the world. Furthermore, when you’re in the exhibit, it entirely takes over your senses. As in, you forget about the rest of the world and things just sort of fall away. I honestly can’t think of the last time an experience so completely removed me from reality.
So, real talk, will you get wet? You might catch a few drops. Or, if you’re like the family we saw, you might intentionally want to play in the rain — entirely your choice. This is not the time to wear your more delicate items of clothing.
Any other suggestions? Definitely book a ticket to avoid disappointment. Wear shoes that are easy to walk in, or that you don’t mind getting a bit wet. No, you don’t need an umbrella.
Would I recommend a visit? I guess it depends on what else you have in mind for your trip to Sharjah. Unlike the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which is well worth a separate trip from anywhere in the UAE, I’m not sure if 15 minutes in this installation are something you want to trek from your home to see (no matter how epic or ‘grammable the photos are). I realize I could’ve reviewed a restaurant (Paper Fig has been on my list forever) or stopped by 1971, the design space, to make my visit a bit more worthwhile, but the choice is yours.
Who is the Rain Room best for? All ages, really. We saw a family of three generations completely enjoying themselves during our visit. I think if you combined it with a nice lunch, it would be a fun outing for visiting in-laws. Or, if you’re really into photography, I’m sure you could put together an interesting series.
Have you been to the Rain Room? What did you think?
