Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 20 March, 2018 4:02 am |

SIKKA Art Fair 2018, a flagship event of Dubai Art Season and the first annual initiative of its kind focused on supporting and showcasing Saudi, Emirati, and GCC based artists, features the ‘Saudi House’ by Culture-Focused Tamashee during its eighth edition. SIKKA Art Fair is held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman of Dubai Culture, and runs from 17th to 26th March 2018 at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.

In a direct translation of the directives issued by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to collaborate with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in many fields including culture, the ‘Saudi House’ at SIKKA Art Fair is hosting a variety of exhibitions and activities that showcase the talent of over 20 Saudi artists under one roof. The house features Tamashee, a collaborative initiative for emerging artists in the fields of calligraphy, pottery, Islamic art and photography, as well an exhibition of works produced by Saudi artists who were selected as part of the SIKKA open call. 

The house will include a ‘Majlis area’ showcasing the work of Sara Maiman; ‘Photography Room’ by Khlood Alkhaldi, Moath Alofi and Abdulrahman Aldgelbi; an ‘Asiri/Al Qatt Room’ by Ibraheem Alalmai and Nouf Binshaieg; the ‘Embroidery/Stitching Room’ by Mashail Faqeeh and Nojoud Alsudairi; ‘Calligraphy & Graffitti Room’ by Ayman Alhafith, Maha Al-Ghanmi and Maryam Abushal; and Aeysha Enani; there are also two rooms dedicated to portraiture — the ‘Abstract Portrait Room’ by Mudi Albednah, Sara Alshobaili and the ‘Egal Room’ by Mohanna Tayeb. 

Selected SIKKA artists including Fatima Al Dawood, Fatima Al Mohsen and Najoud Al Mushawih have created a mixed art display at the ‘Saudi House’, while Muruj Alshatri, Butool Aljefri and Aeysha Enani are showing their contemporary Islamic clay structures and canvases in the ‘Miniature & Geometric Art Room’.  

The ‘Saudi House’ has been brought to life from end to end, also featuring a ‘Courtyard Live Public Activation’ also known as Al Huwyy; where Tamashee designed stencils for colouring in, Nouf BinShaieg is working live around the courtyard and attractive external walls painted by Maryam Abushal and Butool Aljefri. Other attractions include a hallway that provides an introduction to the plants and trees of the Arabian Peninsula, and a ‘Hide Room’ showcasing 11 artists work on camel leather.

This year, Dubai Culture has made it easier than ever before for the public to reach SIKKA Art Fair, reflecting the Authority’s commitment to involving all segments of society in the fair. Visitors can reach SIKKA via metro, car, bus shuttle, Careem, the S’hail app or even by abra for as little as AED 1 per trip. Dubai Culture is providing complimentary shuttle buses from the Al Seef by Meraas multi-storey car park to SIKKA, and has also worked with Careem to provide visitors with a special 15% discount on two rides when they book a taxi using the code SIKKA2018. The code is valid from 17th to 26th March 2018 for ‘now’ and ‘later’ bookings across all car types excluding GO, UNCHR and BOX, with a maximum discount of AED 20 per ride. Valet parking will also be provided at the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood on a first-come, first-served basis. For more travel information, visitors are advised to check www.rta.ae. 

SIKKA Art Fair complements the city-wide activation of cultural events that will take place during the fifth edition of Dubai Art Season, which will run throughout March and April 2018 and feature events such as the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Art Dubai, DIFC Art Nights and the Middle East Film & Comic Con, among hundreds of other initiatives.