Meet the artists creating magic at the World Art Dubai
World Art Dubai is now in full swing with the region’s largest affordable retail art fair welcoming local and international visitors to its eighth edition at Dubai World Trade Centre.
With a 90 per cent increase in artists and 60 per cent increase in galleries exhibiting since last year, 2022’s World Art Dubai is its biggest yet and has witnessed an increase in footfall from those looking to buy art for both corporate and personal usage.
With strong sales seen in the first few hours of the show, Samishka Jawale, the Dubai-based Indian artist from Creative Cubes, the gallery for creative minds welcomed the first sale of the day within just 30 minutes of show opening with their ‘Her Freedom 3’ piece.
“We have been participating in World Art Dubai since 2017 and are very excited to have sold the very first piece at this year’s show – it’s definitely our strongest start yet,” said Jawale. “The piece I sold was all about freedom for women, an important topic which fascinated our buyer.”
Additional artists driving traction to their stands during day one of the show include MSS Arts & Design who are displaying their art pieces complete with Swarovski crystals. “While we do international showcases as well, our concept is so well received in Dubai as we have a really strong, receptive audience, hence we always try to exhibit at World Art Dubai,” said Sarah Moravvej, Artist and Founder – MSS Arts & Design. “We are hopeful for this year’s edition as we are already very pleased with the amount of interest we’ve seen on the first day.”
International galleries making waves include New York based gallery, Tresorie Gallery, and Italian heavyweights TV2 Gallery.
“We’re exhibiting at World Art Dubai for the first time, marking our first visit to Dubai, bringing with us experience from many international art fairs around the world,” said Heba Elbanna, Gallerist – Tresorie Gallery. “Reaction from visitors so far has been positive, people are very friendly and interacting with us about our work. We’re looking forward to meeting even more people over the next few days.”
“This is our second year participating with World Art Dubai, giving eight Italian artists the chance to come and exhibit in Dubai for the first time,” said Sanuj Nair, Deputy Director – TV2. “World Art Dubai is one of the greatest platforms for artists in the Middle East because it’s affordable and really focused on helping artists sell their products across both emerging and established artists to create their own space in the market.”
Debut artist grabbing public attention is Dubai-based photographer Jalal Abuthina, who achieved the highest sales on day one.
“This is my first time exhibiting at World Art Dubai and it’s been pleasantly surprising because I ended up selling nine prints, within three hours of show opening of the series I’m exhibiting,” said Abuthina. “The main reason I wanted to exhibit is because it’s more accessible than many other art fairs in the city and the art which is on sale is more diverse and is priced better for the general population’.
Among the brand-new features drawing interest from crowds is W.A.D Next, the NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) zone where visitors can learn all about the newest form of art collection, and hear first-hand predictions from the creators about the future of this new medium.
“Dubai is one of the upcoming hubs for NFT’s, so we’re really excited to be here at World Art Dubai for the first time,” said Liz Carvalho, Art Director – Saphira & Ventura Gallery. “We’ve brought a collection of 19 artists from different parts of the world, and we’re pleased to see lots of curious people keen to hear more about NFTs”
The refreshed Urban Art DXB area has also been wowing visitors with its exciting and visual displays and competitions. Led for the first time by Ahmed Al Rashid, the Kuwaiti street artist, the area has expanded beyond the graffiti focus of previous editions, and now incorporates make up faceoffs and vogue dance battles.
“As a person who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I wanted to expand people’s understanding of what urban culture really is – I aimed to bring something new and fresh,” said Ahmed al Rashid. “Urban Art DXB in 2022 is a total mash up of street style – dance, vogue, skating, hip hop, make up and more. Every day we also have four graffiti artists, which we consider to be the main genre of the space, creating artworks across eight hours at the show Fashion is also a huge part of street art and another element we have brought with us is a battle on white mannequins, where our artists aim to design the most creative looks. People have been really intrigued by our area and the reception so far has been incredible – we’re really excited for the rest of the show!”
World Art Dubai will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Halls 1-3 from 16-19 March 2022 between 1-9pm each day, except Saturday which runs until 8pm. Tickets cost AED 20 for adults, AED 10 for children, with family packages also available. Buy online to enjoy 20 per cent off ticket cost.
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Creating winning experiences – Design Middle East
Nigel Craddock, design director at IMKAN Properties, talks about Makers District and working in times of pandemic
Could you share your goals at IMKAN Properties?
To continue working on high-quality architectural projects that genuinely add value to the built environment and people’s lives. At IMKAN, I’ve had the opportunity to work with architects whose projects and books I studied at university, such as MVRDV Architects from Rotterdam. I’ve worked with designers who are interested in making the world a better and more enjoyable place to be. That’s an incredible thing to be part of.
Where do you find design inspiration outside of architecture?
Travel and everyday life. The biggest inspiration in my life to date came from nearly two years of travelling that I did some 20 years ago in-between my degree and diploma studies. Armed with a trusty rucksack I covered India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, Canada, and the USA, and the diversity of things I lived and breathed in that two years was simply life-changing. I still use many aspects of that trip as reference points in my life today.
What is your favourite project you’ve worked on at IMKAN Properties?
Makers District and PIXEL. The PIXEL is the project which I feel captures perfectly the spirit of what IMKAN has been trying to do, namely: delivering best in-region high-quality mixed-use projects which drive a sense of community, belonging, and place.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve just finished the Beach club at Makers District in partnership with Cove, which launched on November 27, 2020. The feedback from the community has been incredible and as the first public realm activation point in Makers District, we are super proud to have moved this project across the line under some very challenging circumstances. The project will continue to be enhanced and evolve over the coming months as we seek to further activate the North Beach zone, followed by the Northern Promenade of this 186,000sqm district site. The recently launched Makers District Beach is the only swimmable beach on Reem Island, offering guests an array of pursuits along its more-than-300m of beachfront.
Can you give an insight into the challenges and highlights of working in this region?
Honestly speaking, the biggest challenge is trying to achieve a work/life balance. Construction projects in this region are incredibly stressful and demanding and it makes little difference which side of the fence (consultant or client-side) that you sit in terms of the extreme demands on your time, and that does not come without sacrifice. The highlights are seeing the fruit of your labour. The act of taking something from an idea to paper, constructing it, and then seeing people inhabit and enjoy that space or place is a very special process and an extremely humbling thing in life.
What trends do you see coming through in the architecture / interior design space?
Technology will continue to impact on architecture and design as we strive to ‘clean up’ what is traditionally a highly inefficient process. As the world wakes up to the magnitude and urgency of the unfolding sustainability crisis, we will see stringent legislation which forces cleaner end-to-end processes.
How has COVID-19 affected your work and plans for the future?
Beyond the initial disruption earlier this year, our team has returned to full-time site or office-based work and is busier than ever, however, the wider impact of COVID-19 on the industry and delays to projects is obviously still very much felt. The homeworking experience back in March/April was nothing short of enlightenment. We had this paradoxical situation of, on the one hand, a killer virus taking lives and up-ending the world as we know it, but on the other hand a utopian balance in that everyone was working remotely and being incredibly productive and effective and yet at the same time realising additional time with their families. It was a once in a lifetime experience which gave a lot of people time to reflect on the important things in life. It was a stark reminder that life is incredibly fragile and we should focus on those things in life most precious to us.
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Bogle Architects prioritises sustainability for creating the new Royal Grammar School Guildford campus at Tilal Al Ghaf
The Royal Grammar School Guildford, is working with international architecture practice Bogle Architects to create the school’s first campus in the UAE. Every part of the forward-looking school has been designed to facilitate the Royal Grammar School Guildford’s innovative approach to teaching and learning, while utilising eco-friendly design modifications to ensure that the building is a sustainable hub.
Located within Majid Al Futtaim’s flagship Dubai community Tilal Al Ghaf – which also includes residential, commercial, leisure and retail elements – the Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai is Bogle Architects’ first design project in the UAE and will accommodate and support up to 2,100 pupils from Early Years through to Prep and Senior School.
The impressive campus is set over approximately 40,000sqm, with classrooms, labs and other learning spaces linked by a beautiful ‘street’ concept featuring a lush, central atrium of trees, plants and living ‘biophilic’ walls.
The ‘street’ serves as a communal hub and breakout space for pupils as well as an extension of every classroom, providing a thoroughly modern and flexible learning environment with nature at its heart to reinforce pupil wellbeing. There will also be a 500+ seat, multi-purpose auditorium, an impressive double-storey library, a multi-functional sports facility including a 25m swimming pool, a smaller learning pool and a full-size football pitch.
The campus design seeks to maximise the school’s sustainability and provide an environment that aids children and staff wellness. The stepped design of the main building, with each successive floor expanding outwards, ensures the classrooms are self-shaded from the year-round Dubai sunshine, mitigating solar impact. This smart design feature will also provide the younger children located at ground level with 27 shaded Early Years classrooms with exterior and interior play areas. The Facility will also provide passive ventilation and biophilic elements, creating create a cool, comfortable learning environment that supports pupils in their studies.
The facility is being constructed by Multiplex, a leading and award-winning global construction company who have been established in Dubai since 1997.
Ian Bogle, founder of Bogle Architects, commented: “This is our first project in the UAE and the environmental challenges were clear from day one, so we wanted to make the building as passive as possible. This is where the stepping structure offered a solution for self-shading but also created an internal hierarchy for the distribution of children over the height of the building. The largest spaces at the top for the older children and the more intimate on the lowest floor for the younger children. We are delighted that the project is developing and have really enjoyed working closely with the Royal Grammar School Guildford Leadership team in creating what will be a fantastic addition to the heritage of the school.”
RGS Guildford Dubai will open in September 2021, subject to KHDA approval and completion of construction at the campus in Tilal A lGhaf.
Kasadamo to focus on creating furniture in collaboration with contemporary and pop-art artists
Kasadamo, an innovative start-up aims in creating luxury furniture made in collaboration with contemporary and pop-art artists. The company focusses on providing unparalleled pieces of art and unique designs, realised with the finest materials and techniques.
Kasadamo is dedicated to bringing people closer to their dreams by putting visions, artists and outstanding craftspeople together to show that everything you can imagine is possible. Their revolutionary way of making art will enable a completely new approach to giving life to interior projects.
“We have noticed that the furniture sector is too passive compared to other fields which tend to evolve and become digital. It was from there that we conceptualised this company to bring something new. We believe that pieces of furniture are the perfect element for artists to express themselves in an innovative and revolutionary way.” says Deborah Nardo and Vincent Mazenauer, co-founders and CEOs of Kasadamo Limited. “Luxury furniture will be the new canvas of our artists, to create unique masterpieces that evoke beauty and freedom. We offer unique luxury furniture collections and art, imagined by Kasadamo, to make people’s interiors outstanding.”
This innovative new brand aspires to cultivate a philosophy where leaders are mentors who empower others, where people feel truly valued and sincerely supported at work.
The brand has a strong ecological conscience and seeks to offset 100% of the CO2 emissions from its activities, using a well-known method; tree planting. The brand is committed to donate the amount necessary for the plantation of 5 trees for each product sold. A counter will be updated regularly, with the total number of trees that Kasadamo has replanted.
Chapman Taylor is creating an urban new district in Jeddah
Chapman Taylor is creating the masterplan for an innovative new urban district adjacent to King Abdulaziz International Airport in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
Airport City will be a world-class, mixed-use development which will become a leading destination for visitors from across Saudi Arabia and the GCC region. The 1.91 million m² GBA masterplan for Airport City introduces an innovative mixed-use community concept to the region, creating diverse tourism and business opportunities while also providing a dynamic lifestyle and family entertainment venue.
A vibrant transport orientated development creates a new hub gateway to Jeddah and beyond at the strategically important meeting point of the airport, high-speed railway station and the motorway junction between central Jeddah and the Northern Expansion Zone.
The scheme will deliver a dynamic and sustainable mix of provisions around a central avenue, which links the airport’s railway station to the airport’s dedicated mosque. Included within the masterplan are shops, leisure and entertainment functions, healthcare clinics, private residences, a financial district, an artisans’ district, a green food yard and a central artists’ district. A “Saudi Dreams” centre will provide an ideal showcase for the Kingdom’s culture and ambitions.
The Airport City masterplan vision creates a sustainable new-generation city district, unique for its human scale and fully pedestrianised urban community, with a perfect synergy between landscape and architecture.
The masterplan design emphasises plug & play flexibility and high connectivity, with designs inspired by nature, history and traditional local architecture and art, in addition to careful planning, well-curated community spaces and an in-depth understanding of user requirements.
Green spaces and water features are provided throughout the development, along with public squares, a village street, botanic gardens, a family promenade and other beautifully landscaped areas.