We recently came across a piece of work, which grabbed our attention.
Federico Babina, an illustrator based in Barcelona, has produced a series of beautifully illustrated and plausible architectural structures, as if several well-known artists had created them. The fun part is that we can recognize the artist (depending on how much time we have spent roaming the museums and galleries of the world) through these caricatures even in a medium they never used.
The work shows how the artists, such as Picasso, Lichtenstein, Dali and Warhol, managed to create unique styles so defined over time that they are easily recognizable through their colours, tones, textures, shapes, structures, scale etc.
In turn, we project all that we know of the artist’s character and nuances on to it. Then, by asking ‘What type of building would I be’, we choose our preferences and use them to reflect how we want the world to regard us.
We like the clear comparison with the branding process.
Consistently and creatively using the elements of a brand’s visual identity system will create the recognition, understanding and engagement with the target audience and let them use the brand to reflect themselves in their own world.
That’s a powerful and valuable relationship to be part of. Take a look for yourselves. Federico’s work can be seen here.
The region’s first and leading dedicated design fair, Design Days Dubai, returns for its third edition to deliver a diverse, exhibition-quality collection of compelling, highly-collectible modern and contemporary design pieces and installations, alongside a public programme with leading design personalities and industry experts, from 17 – 21 March 2014. In anticipation of this, the organizers have planned a series of initiatives to whet the appetite of art & design aficionados. One such, is the exhibitor spotlight.
When Alexis Ryngaert established his design gallery in Brussels in 2008 he created Victor Hunt as an alter ego – an approach just as intriguing as the works that have given the gallery its strong and distinct voice in the contemporary design/art world. As seen in the work presented at Design Days Dubai since the fair’s inception, the designers represented by Victor Hunt produce bold pieces, often unexpected employing both new technology and new uses of old technology.
Victor Hunt’s website incorporates a series of beautifully filmed and skillfully edited documentaries following the designers represented through the production of specific works. By bringing production alive, showing it as an organic and often unpredictable process, driven by the materials used, the films also provide insight into each designer’s creative approach – and they highlight what Ryngaert, through Victor Hunt, defines as designart: the grey area where craft, architecture, industrial design, sculpture and other artistic disciplines meet.
Below are three such videos taken from the website. Enjoy!
The region’s first and leading dedicated design fair, Design Days Dubai, returns for its third edition to deliver a diverse, exhibition-quality collection of compelling, highly-collectible modern and contemporary design pieces and installations, alongside a public programme with leading design personalities and industry experts, from 17 – 21 March 2014. In anticipation of this, the organizers have planned a series of initiatives to whet the appetite of art & design aficionados. One such, is the exhibitor spotlight.
When Alexis Ryngaert established his design gallery in Brussels in 2008 he created Victor Hunt as an alter ego – an approach just as intriguing as the works that have given the gallery its strong and distinct voice in the contemporary design/art world. As seen in the work presented at Design Days Dubai since the fair’s inception, the designers represented by Victor Hunt produce bold pieces, often unexpected employing both new technology and new uses of old technology.
Victor Hunt’s website incorporates a series of beautifully filmed and skillfully edited documentaries following the designers represented through the production of specific works. By bringing production alive, showing it as an organic and often unpredictable process, driven by the materials used, the films also provide insight into each designer’s creative approach – and they highlight what Ryngaert, through Victor Hunt, defines as designart: the grey area where craft, architecture, industrial design, sculpture and other artistic disciplines meet.
Below are three such videos taken from the website. Enjoy!
Full list of Design Days Dubai 2014 exhibitors can be viewed here.
A Dutch artist has found a way to revive interest in what happens outside during a commuter’s journey on a public bus using transparent, GPS-synchronized smart screens integrated in the bus windows. Historical scenes are projected over what is seen through the window, telling the traveller what happened here years or decades ago. If for example all of a sudden a herd of cows appears on the pavement, that signifies a former cattle market.
The projected historical scenes and narratives are important events that took place years or decades ago. On the bus ride, commuters get a chance to see herds of cows on the passing landscape that signifies a former cattle market. Hot-air balloon sightings are also geo-synchronized to appear as soon as the bus passes by a specific part of town. Short enough to keep your attention, but detailed enough to offer insightful information, these mini-lessons are a great way for both locals and visitors to familiarize themselves with the city.
Do you think that the RTA should consider doing something similar for the Dubai Metro?
We have scratched beneath the surface and uncovered a wealth of the team’s creative influences. Here are some of recent treasures.
“Tableau” photographs have been created since the beginning of photography. However, we find Metz+Racine props cleverly staged and witty. The sets evoke the essence of craft and their constructed scenes remind us of the cubists painters. Their stylized use of colors and pure geometrical forms create elaborate architectural sets with wonderland aesthetics.
We love the assortment of balloons and the Winter Olympic flags that Andrew B Myers created. His top down view on objects staged against simple color backgrounds remind us of the pop colors of the 70s and 80s.
Christine Gustafsson and Nicolas Lydeen have embarked on a unique artistic journey. AGONISTParfums are presented in handcrafted glass created in collaboration with glass artist Asa Jungnelius. Every detail is exclusively developed with regard to nature and raw material. ISIS for instance is bottled in a glass sculpture that had tension inside which made it crack and break during the installation to express the bud bursting in spring. Wait until they discover the individuality of Oud.
As the season for festivals is about to start in Dubai, we were wondering if there is room for a holistic event like the DUMBO festival in New York. DUMBO is only for three days in September. However, its impact is felt for the whole year as the participants who win the hearts of the public get to stay and are offered free space. In its 2nd year of practice they received more than 200,000 visitors and got emerging artists to exhibit side by side with established professionals. This year they are aiming for more. The objective: “the best free contemporary art experience for all ages for years to come”. Now there’s a challenge.
Pascal Zoghbi is one of only a few designers working in the relatively new discipline of contemporary Arabic typography. Having studied extensively in Europe, Zoghbi returned to his hometown of Beirut in Lebanon to found 29letters. His work involves creating new Arabic typefaces, corporate identities and print publications. Understanding the structure of traditional calligraphic styles is important to contemporary Arabic typeface design, and Zoghbi’s objective is to create a balance between the old and the new.
Last but by no means least for this blog The Oh my God Exhibition takes a geometric look at character design. In ancient Greece they had something better than superheroes; they had gods, each with their own powers, weaknesses, backstory and followers. Each one a brand. Presenting them in this contemporary form could induce new interest amongst a young audience.
More pictures up on our Facebook page from the opening night of Design Days Dubai 2013 which runs until March 21st.
More pictures up on our Facebook page from the opening night of Design Days Dubai 2013 which runs until March 21st.
Art Week is here! An umbrella initiative that includes the Sikka Art Fair, Design Days Dubai, Art Dubai and a range of contemporary art and design events, major museum shows, new gallery exhibitions and artists’ projects taking place each March, Dubai’s Art Week is one of our favourite calendar events every year. Running from 14-24 March this year, the multitude of planned events across the city by the international & regional galleries partaking in Design Alserkal and DIFC based galleries opening their doors for Art Night on March 18th…Art Week continues its efforts to position the Gulf as a place of artistic production in the Middle East and as a home to multiple cultural centres.
Below are details of some of the key events that we’ll be attending. More comprehensive lists of other activities happening can be found on TimeOut Dubai, the Dubai Calendar website & ofcourse through publications such as Brownbook, etc.
Sharjah Biennale 11the edition (13- 17 March) The SB11 Opening Week will feature a range of events including Performances, Film Screenings, Talks, Tours and the annual March Meeting. More details on the programme are available on the Sharjah Art Foundation website.
SIKKA Art Fair 14-24 March – in 2011 Zaman had the honour of launching the identity of SIKKA (click here for the project details) and this is why it always has a special place in our hearts. This annual initiative, founded by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority to support and showcase Emirati and Dubai-based artistic talent, has once again put together an engaging programme of diverse artistic talent and stance and experiential activities for the public to become more attuned to home-grown creativity at its liveliest and best, in the heart of Dubai. Below is a video recap of last year’s highlights.
Art Night in DIFC & Alserkal Avenue on March 18th– In keeping with what can now be considered a tradition, the next installment of Art Night in DIFC & Alserkal Avenue coincides with Design Days Dubai means March 18th will be a busy night in Dubai as art aficionados will no doubt try fit in visits to both DIFC & Alserkal and the first day (for the public) of Design Days Dubai. More details can be found on the respective Facebook pages of both districts.
Art Dubai 20- 23 March – Held under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the 7th edition of Art Dubai takes place at Madinat Jumeirah. Besides the gallery halls, the fair’s extensive programme will include commissioned projects and performances, artists’ and curators’ residencies, educational workshops, the unveiling of works by the winners of the annual The Abraaj Group Art Prize and the critically acclaimed Global Art Forum (Source: ArtDubai.com)
Follow us on our Facebook page to get photo updates of events we’re planning to attend.
With the 7th edition of Art Dubai just over a week away (March 20-23), the Government of Dubai’s Media Office recently released, via their YouTube channel, a short feature video on ‘Art Dubai’ which has become a cornerstone of the region’s booming contemporary art community.
Details about the participating galleries and various projects & performances that will happen across city during this time can be found on the official website here.
One of the ‘perks’ of the deliberate alignment of Zaman’s identity as an agency with the celebration of varied expressions of the Arab world, is that, because of the type of projects we take on we get to spend a significant amount of time researching and learning something new about this rich heritage.
We’ve recently stumbled across the work of a London-based Moroccan artist called Hassan Hajjaj, who was in the UAE last month at The Third Line gallery debuting his first exhibition in Dubai ‘My Rockstars: Volume 1’ – a series of studio portraits that Hajjaj has been working on since 1998.
Artist bio:
“Hassan Hajjaj’s work encompasses many techniques and fields, from designing and producing furniture including lamps, stools, poufs made from recycled North African artifacts such as upturned Coca-Cola crates as stools, road signs turned into tables tops as well as custom made clothes and photography. Hajjaj is best known for designing the ‘Andy Wahloo’ bar-restaurant in Paris; which is a nod to one of his favourite artists, Andy Warhol, but also at the same time refers to a Parisian slang term meaning ‘I have nothing’, adopted by Hajjaj as a way of describing his work.
His latest works have incorporated the language of fashion photography, as well as African studio photography in a series of playful portraits of friends and various other characters from the streets of Marrakesh.” Below are more images of Hassan’s work and here’s a direct link to the artist’s website.