Culture

Dubai Culture organises Art Souk, showcases creative works of staff

11 Jun 2023

Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood is an inspiration for Dubai Culture exhibition.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is organising its inaugural Art Souk at Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children (AJCCC) June 17 — 18 with the aim of providing an innovative platform that combines various types of arts and demonstrates the creative spirit of Dubai, while celebrating emerging talent. The event, which is being held in collaboration with the support of the Sikka platform, “reflects Dubai Culture’s keenness to involve people of all ages in the cultural and creative events it organises,” says the body.

“It will enhance their knowledge of the local cultural and artistic sectors and provide investment opportunities that help them promote their innovative and creative productions.”

In the Art Market at the Souk, Dubai Culture will highlight works in the fields of visual arts, painting, sculpture, photography, design, and digital and multimedia, in addition to displaying numerous creative products inspired by local traditional crafts offered by a group of small and medium enterprises, creative centres and specialised studios in Dubai, including Sxill Lab, Mawaheb, Dot Sew, Sjdana traditional carpet weaving, Galerie Kariman Art and photographers Hamad Al Jasmi, Saif Alreyami and Mohamed Ahmed Aldanhani.

The Art Market will also witness the participation of artists Mona Fares, Haya Al Marzooqi, Mariam Al Obeidli, Leena Al Marzouqi and Sara Al Khayyal specialising in the tradition of Talli weaving, demonstrating the craft and its importance to the UAE. The Pottery Market will allow the public to explore the market for pottery and ceramics; AJCCC will present the work of 10 members from its pottery department, who will display functional and decorative pottery items.

Hala Badri, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Director General, appreciates a work.

The Art Souk also provides the public with the opportunity to buy and own artworks and sculptures presented by the participating talent. Adel Omar, Senior Special Project and Media Director at AJCCC, said: “The Art Souk gives the audience a space to explore the development and richness of the local art scene with its diverse elements.

This event is a continuation of a series of initiatives launched by Dubai Culture in support of resident and citizen artists.” He added: “Through the Art Souk, Dubai Culture seeks to create a solid ground to enable talent to tell their stories and promote their diverse productions.

We aim through this event to establish and strengthen networks and links between artists and introduce the diversity of the creative community.” Meanwhile, Hala Badri, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Director General, has inaugurated the ‘Min - Ela’ exhibition organised by the Authority at Al Safa Art and Design Library.

It will run till June 30. Through it, the Authority celebrates its employees’ talents and creativity in graphic arts, photography, digital art and multimedia, jewellery design, fibre art, sculpture and handicrafts, pottery, and printmaking, among other fields.

The Al Safa Art and Design Library.

The show, which includes over 90 works created by 47 staff members, is part of the Authority’s keenness to uplift Dubai’s creative scene and encourage established and emerging talent to showcase their skills. During her tour, accompanied by the CEOs at Dubai Culture, Badri recommended the collection of artistic and creative works displayed in the exhibition, which, she said, is one of the ways in which Dubai Culture expresses its efforts aimed at empowering the culture and arts sector in Dubai and enriching its creative scene.

She said that the art pieces contributed to strengthening Dubai’s position as a destination for creators. The exhibition presents a wide variety of compositions inspired by heritage and the local social environment.

Works presented include ‘The Desert’, where Khalil Abdulwahid depicts the beauty of the desert landscape in Dubai. Ahmad Al Keswani’s digital artwork ‘Journeys of the Soul,’ expresses life’s beauty, with its richness and complexities, emotions, challenges, opportunities, and quantum leaps.

He calls through it to appreciate and celebrate human moments. Fatima Al Budoor has a series of printed pictures titled ‘Hide and Seek’, symbolising the ability of humans to leave traces of themselves wherever they are. Mohammed Alkaabi’s ‘Yazra Adventure Notebook’ is inspired by the history of Hatta and its natural environment.

Including information and pictures of the place, the notebook is designed to meet the requirements of adventurers and travellers to Hatta. Sara Ahli has a series of black and white photos titled ‘From the Heart of Al Fahidi,’ highlighting the charm of the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and how it brings to light old Dubai’s beauty.

Hala Badri, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Director General, admires jewellery works.

Kamal Al Zoubi has on display a sculpture he has named ‘Letters in Pottery’. It examines the aesthetics of Arabic letters and their flexibility.

Latifa Al Shamsi and Amal Al Abdouli have contributed a variety of jewellery designs, while Basant Ali Sayed shows her artistic ability in painting shoes, especially sneakers, making them stylish and unique. Under the title ‘Aesthetics’, Aseel Awad’s photographs document the aesthetics of public places. Ahoud Alsaadi presents a video series highlighting the natural wonders of Dubai.

Mohammad Mshawrab’s ‘Inception’ is a series of illustrated works that show the ability of the human mind to form images that express aspirations and ideas that help people determine their paths in achieving goals and dreams, while Susanne Kadoura participates with a work that reflects her passion for multimedia arts.

The exhibition also includes a wide variety of works inspired by traditional crafts such as Al Talli, Burqa making and Al Khoos weaving. They explore their ability to keep pace with current developments. An array of sculptures are also part of the exhibition.