In this poetic and deeply personal talk, Neel Shukla — entrepreneur, artist, and cultural visionary — reflects on five decades of his family’s journey in the UAE and how art became the language of belonging.From a childhood moment when His Highness called his father “Fannaan” — “the artist” — Neel traces a legacy that grew alongside the transformation of the nation itself. He shares how that recognition planted in him a lifelong devotion to creativity and cultural dialogue, one that would later lead him to bring global institutions such as the Louvre to the UAE.As he reflects on the balance between heritage and technology, Neel offers a profound reminder: in the age of AI and automation, it is the imperfection in our hands — the human touch — that carries beauty, meaning, and memory.Key ideas:- The intersection of art, heritage, and national identity
- The story behind bringing the Louvre to the UAE
- Honoring the human touch in an age of machines
- How imperfection defines creativity and authenticity
- Art as a bridge between generations and culturesRecorded live at TEDxAlBateen 2025 — themed “Threads of Us,” celebrating the ties between creativity, humanity, and the enduring spirit of the UAE.#TEDxAlBateen #NeelShukla #ThreadsOfUs #Art #Creativity #UAE #Culture #Innovation #Humanity An art entrepreneur and cultural consultant whose work transforms art into storytelling that bridges generations, identity, and innovation. Raised in Dubai’s art scene and inspired by his father, renowned photographer Ramesh Shukla, Neel learned early on that art has the power to preserve memory and pass knowledge from one generation to the next.Through his studio in Dubai, Neel has developed projects that span museum-quality conservation, monumental sculpture, and bespoke cultural installations. His portfolio includes collaborations for Atlantis The Royal, The WB Abu Dhabi, Mayo Clinic Abu Dhabi, Grosvenor House, Hyatt Centric Jumeirah, and Expo 2020 Dubai. He also contributed to the creation of one million Expo passports, embedding cultural imagery into a global experience.Beyond commercial work, Neel curates exhibitions that highlight the UAE’s cultural legacy, while also preserving his father’s photographic archive — one of the nation’s most significant collections. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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