13th Sikka Art and Design Festival makes waves alongside Dubai Creek

 Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), under the patronage of Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, is celebrating the cultural significance of saffron at the 13th Sikka Art and Design Festival. Taking place in Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood (Jan. 31 – Feb. 9), the fest features over 350 Emirati and UAE and GCC-based artists, offering a diverse range of creative experiences. Dubai Culture aims to open new horizons for emerging talent through the initiative, providing them with a platform to showcase their work to diverse audiences.

This year’s edition, a key initiative under the Dubai Quality of Life Strategy, introduces the ‘House of Saffron’ (House 416), a dedicated space showcasing seven saffron-inspired works. Among them, Fatima Alsuwaidi’s ‘An Exploration Through Poetry and Traditions’ delves into the renowned spice's cultural role, while ‘Saffron’s Prints’ by Mariam Bayat explores the relationship between art and nature. Omar Al Othman’s documentary ‘Saffron in UAE’ captures its importance in local heritage through interviews with a perfumer, a saffron vendor, and a poet who weaves its character into traditional verse. The One Third Studio artists — Amna Bin Bishr, Duna Al Ajlan, and Dania Al Ajlan — present a tableware collection that pays homage to the richness of saffron. Roudhah Al Mazrouei’s ‘Terrain’ depicts the scenic landscape of a village in the UAE. Roudha Bu Abdulla’s ‘Saffron-Infused Emirati Dishes’ illustrates six traditional dishes incorporating the spice, while Taqwa Alnaqbi showcases ‘Preserved Saffron’.

A collection of murals, artworks and sculptures are also transforming the location. This year's edition features 13 murals showcasing a range of themes and techniques. Among the exhibits is ‘A Heritage of Night’ by Eman Alrashdi, which looks at cultural identity through Emirati women depicted against a backdrop inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night. ‘Child’s Play’ by Perryhan El-Ashmawi captures the joy of creative exploration in childhood​, while Karim Jabbari’s ‘Rooted Connections’ integrates Arabic calligraphy with poetry, reflecting the complexities of emotions​.

Noé Peiró’s ‘Dream Big’ metaphorically illustrates Dubai’s transformation from a fishing village to a global metropolis. Meanwhile, Predrag Radovanović’s ‘Sofra’ is influenced by Serbian rugs, symbolising unity. Other murals include ‘Complexity’ by Rafael Gerlach, which showcases the artist’s distinctive visual language​ and ‘Living Moments’ by Duha Alhallami and Saggaf Assagaf, celebrating youthful curiosity​. ‘Wild Plants of the UAE’ by Shaikha Hamouda Al Marzooqi from Zayed University highlights lesser-known native flora​ while ‘Nature Vivante’ by Spaz, questions the fragility of human existence in relation to nature​. ‘Soul of the Land’ by Dina Saadi pays homage to the UAE’s biodiversity and heritage and ‘Seeds of Tomorrow, Cultural Impressions’ by Mariam Eid Al Mansoori is a tribute to past generations​. Mariam Alobeidli’s virtual animated mural combines illustrations that take a step away from reality.

The festival also includes a diverse array of 40+ installations, including ‘Shells’ by Dr. Mohamed Yousif; drawing on stone carving techniques, the artwork tells the story of two seashells that carry many secrets and rest by sea, embodying Dubai’s maritime character. Azza Al Qubaisi’s ‘Dubai Heart (Between the Lines Series)’ offers a visual experience that delves into local culture, traditions, identity, and the rapid development of the UAE​. Syrian artist Aktham Abdulhamid's sculpture ‘Cultural Accumulation’ is also on display, focusing on generations of human experiences.

‘Starry Sky in Dubai’ by Chinese artist Liu Yang introduces a new approach to sculpture, utilising circular forms and light transitions to capture the brilliance of a starry sky. Meanwhile, Saudi creator Mohammed Al Thagafi presents ‘Conversation’, a piece representing society’s pursuit of harmony and mutual understanding​. Romanian artist Ana Maria Negara’s ‘Fractal’ explores the beauty in geometry and the avant-garde architecture of Dubai​. ‘Moon’ by Tunisian artist Mohamed Sahnoun consists of a large circular piece of Omani marble representing the full moon. As the viewer moves around it, it transforms into a crescent; it also features calligraphy, highlighting Arab-Islamic identity​.

Artist Don presents ‘Here for You,’ a sculptural piece consisting of various-sized figures guiding visitors through the alleys of Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood, depicting safety and support. ‘Merin’ by Rashed Al Mulla is an architectural pavilion inspired by Burj Rashid, integrating Islamic and Arab motifs.​ ‘Renewal’ by Studio Thirteen X Nordic Homeworx repurposes high-quality recycled wooden flooring into sculptural artworks, celebrating sustainability​, and ‘Make-A-Friend’ by Hend Almurid is an interactive art installation inviting visitors to create imaginary friends by rotating and assembling different sculptural elements​.

‘Kajoja’s Lamma’ by Jasim Al Naqbi and Hamad Al Mutawa pays tribute to the Emirati craft of Talli-making — the practice of transforming threads into intricate patterns​. Salmah Al Mansoori’s ‘Testimonies of a City’ captures the transformation of the city of Ghayathi amidst urbanisation​. Mahra Al Falahi’s ‘Flowers of My Country’ contrasts two floral species, one native and one introduced, to highlight biodiversity in the UAE​. Meanwhile, Maryam Al Zaabi’s ‘Kwaashi’ reinterprets traditional Emirati earrings into sculptural forms that reflect the resilience of local women​.

‘Emerging Ephemerals’ by Dr Aref Maksoud and Eng. Sarah Isam Alawneh from the University of Sharjah draws inspiration from the UAE’s cultural and natural heritage. Zeinab Al Hashemi’s ‘Through Their Windows’ explores the relationship between personal and collective narratives​. Meanwhile, Maitha Al Omaira and Amna Al Zaabi have successfully repurposed natural materials found in the neighbourhood of Al Shindagha, transforming them into environmental sculptures that connect the past, present and future in their work ‘Paradox of Preservation’​.