The launch of its 11th edition with various creations

«Sikka Art and Design». Creations celebrate the inspiring story of the UAE

  • The festival is held under the slogan "Creativity is renewed on the same track", with the participation of a wide range of works, art installations, murals and various creative exhibitions. Emirates Today

image

The 11th edition of the SIKKA Art and Design Festival, which is being held this year under the slogan "Creativity Renewed on the Same Track", kicked off yesterday at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, with a wide participation of various works, installations, murals and creative exhibitions adorning the historical district throughout the festival, which will continue until March 5.

Held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the festival will host more than 188 creatives from the UAE and the Gulf, showcasing six murals, nine outdoor installations, more than 100 lectures and panel discussions, and a special participation of Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children, offering a rich programme of events and workshops.

The festival, which opened its 11th edition by the Director General of Dubai Culture, Hala Badri, and falls under the umbrella of the Dubai Art Season, offers visitors the opportunity to live unique cultural and artistic experiences, designed by Dubai Culture in cooperation with a group of institutions and art centers, with the aim of providing events and activities that highlight the aesthetics of the arts and reflect the richness of Dubai's creative scene.

Prestige

Hala Badri stressed that Dubai has succeeded in achieving a prominent position in the arts and culture sector thanks to the visions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, noting that SIKKA Art and Design was able to express the emirate's orientations and ambitions to be a home for artists and creative talents. She said: "A decade after Sikka was launched, the festival has succeeded in consolidating Dubai's position and global leadership, as well as enriching its art scene with works that celebrate the creativity of promising talents and young artists in the UAE and the region."

Badri pointed out that Dubai Culture seeks this year to present an exceptional version of the festival, recognizing the importance of the role of cultural tourism in Dubai, especially since the festival has turned into a supportive platform for artists of all disciplines thanks to its rich programs that reflect the artistic diversity that characterizes Dubai.

Threads of time

Among the works participating in the festival are "Threads of Time: Weaving", produced by artists Hamda Al Falahi and Rima Al Muhairi, in recognition of the region's rich heritage of weaving, as well as the mural "Ya Labs Al-Talli" by Fatima Al Ali, in addition to a group of works displayed at "House 38" bearing the fingerprints of creators Fatima Jawad, Maryam Al-Huraiz and Maitha Al-Amira, among others.

Creations

Bait 31 will host the creations of 14 artists, including Moza Al Falasi's Tasbih series, which depicts emotions and their projections on objects, Malika Shaheen's installation Shaheen, explores the intersection between heritage, belonging and escape from reality, Areen's Sajajid, which seeks to inspire audiences to convey the message of love to others, Ali Bahmani's Mirrorigami, an origami installation, and a collective work by HCT students: Saif Saud Al Riyami, Hamad Al Jassmi, and Mohammed Ahmed Al Dhanhani.

«Beit Al-Talli»

Inspired by artists Sara Al Khayal, Hajar Al Tunaiji, Ferial Al Bastaki, Munira Al Mulla and Noura Taher, Bait Al Talli is inspired by the Al Talli craft to celebrate the UAE's success in inscripting it on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, and the House of Digital Arts is home to the work of 14 artists including Mohammed Al Mansoori, Saeed Al Madani, Ahmed Al Attar, Ahmed Al Ali, Reem Al Mazrouei, Dalia Osama Omran, Patrick Leste, and others.

«House of Porcelain»

In the "House of Ceramics", the audience will be in front of creative experiences for 35 artists, whose works are distributed between sculptures and different artistic installations that express their passion for pottery, and Hala Badri followed in the "House of Photography" the unique artistic visions presented by five artists, and she also saw a group of artistic installations by Abdullah Al-Kindi, and "Al-Darisha" by Rawdat Al-Ketbi, and "Immigrant Generations" by Studio Moi, and Badri visited the "House of Photography", which includes photos taken by artists Noura Al-Neyadi, Shouq Abdullah, Walid Al-Madani, Zayed Ibrahim Al-Hadar, and Mohammed Al-Mazmi.

Organ transplantation

The Ministry of Health and Prevention is participating for the first time in the festival, at Bait 5, with the aim of delivering the message of the National Program for Donation and Organ Transplantation "Hayat" through its qualitative initiative "Art for Health", which seeks to invest the energies of community members to serve health issues in an innovative and interactive way, and "Bait Sikkah" displays the works of a group of Emirati artists, including: Omar Al-Najjar, Sarah Al-Saman, Salma Al-Mansouri, Hamda Ahmed Al-Falahi, Mayed Abdullah, Aisha Hadher, and others.

• 188 innovators from the UAE and the Gulf.

• 100 lectures and seminars.

• 6 murals and 9 installations.

Traditional flavors

In addition to music, cinema and entertainment, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of traditional Emirati and international flavours from many local restaurants and projects, in collaboration with Brand Dubai and supported by members of the 'Proudly from Dubai' initiative, which highlights entrepreneurs and business owners, celebrating Dubai's local culture and rich flavours.