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By Mariam Nihal
The fourth edition of Jeddah Art Festival was successfully launched on Wednesday. With over 50 cultural activities, the festival, titled Safar (travel) is organized by the Saudi Art Council and curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath. “The festival will have guests from other Gulf countries and from all over the world. The guests of the festival are head of Bahrain Commission for Culture and Heritage May Al-Khalifah and the former French minister of culture and head of the Arab World Institute in Paris Jacque Lang,” said Princess Jawahir Bint Majed, Head of Saudi Art Council. Lang, is reportedly leading a prestigious cultural delegation of directors including those from Tokyo Palace of Modern Art, George Pompidou Center, International City of Art and the French Institute in Paris. The event will feature creative projects and new commissions by 17 Saudi artists.The festival will host workshops, exhibitions, and educational forums throughout Jeddah, until May 2017. The opening events take place from 1–4 February.
Hafez Gallery is hosting a solo exhibition titled "Sisters of Baghdad" by artist Awdh AlZahrani as part of 21,39 events organized by The Saudi Art Council. The artist originally from Makkah, did his MA in Art Education from Um Al Qurra University and has participated in numerous international and local group exhibitions.
Design Days Dubai 2017, Middle East's contemporary design fair dedicated to to collectible modern and contemporary design works will return with a new home in design district during March this year. Design Days Dubai’s launch edition, vintage design will be presented, by specialists in mid-century modern, MCML Studio (UAE). “Our objective is to become a must in the GCC region for any 1950s to 1970s design amateurs and collectors. All our pieces have been carefully selected, are unique or exceptional and represent great names of this creative post-war period. Design Days Dubai, as the focal point for international design in the region, is definitely the right event to showcase these antique pieces,” said founder, Patrick Rochette.
“And Along Came Polyester” is now open at Athr gallery featuring five solo presentations by female artists from the region and runs till April. Polyester is a synthetic fiber derived from oil and the exhibition denotes how oil has been the main source of economic power in the region. The artists express their constantly shifting geopolitical journey and personal views through their art. Athr also collaborated with street food caterer Krab Load to bring together 20 food vendors in an open-air fest for families on Thursday.
