Thirty Creative Minds To Bring Urban Art To The Walk At JBR With Dubai Culture And Xpoze’s ’Dubai Outdoor Art Project’

Samsung Canvas Collective is title sponsor of ’The City is Your Canvas’

Thirty creative minds will unravel urban art expressionism at The Walk at JBR, bringing the city’s artistic interpretations to one of Dubai’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Thirty UAE-based artists commissioned by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage and Xpoze, the Idea Factory run by Emirati women, in collaboration with Dubai Properties Group (DPG), have transformed the vases, staircases, benches, and floor space of The Walk at JBR, under the theme ‘The City is Your Canvas.’

Shortlisted by a selection committee chaired by representatives from Dubai Culture and Xpoze, the thirty artists include: Abeer Al Bastaki; Abrar Amin; Ahmad Al Hosany; Ali Kashwani; Alya Al Marri; Alya Al Saabri; Alyazia Al Reyaysa; Amal Al Khaja; Arwa Al Jundi; Ayesha Al Saeed; Butheina Mohammed; Deama Hatahet; Ella Orencillo; Elise Vazelakis; Hanan Al Fardan; Isra Al Saabri; Khawla Al Khaja; Khawla Al Marri; Mahra Dehbashi; Mahra Mohammed; Mariam Al Bastaki; Michal Teague; Mouza Al Matroushi; Nathanial Alapide; Noora Al Awar; Raya Al Azzouni; Roudha Bin Bishr; Sara Sills; Saunders Hildreth; and Zaahirah Muthy.

Through the fourth edition of the ‘Dubai Outdoor Art Project,’ the selected artists have explored the various facets of visual arts - from visual to installations - allowing them to discover and maximise their creative potential.

Khalil Abdulwahid, Manager of Visual Arts, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “The thirty selected artists represent that evolution of the city’s artistic landscape, and the ability of our emerging talent to grasp and incorporate newer elements in their work, further strengthening their creative abilities; while underlining the Authority’s mandate to drive the growth of the arts by creating opportunities for organisations committed to fostering the art industry. We are confident that through the ‘Dubai Outdoor Art Project,’ our artists will usher in a new era of outdoor art, stimulating dialogue and exchange of ideas among community members.”

“We have been overwhelmed by the public’s reaction once the artists started working and producing their artworks, many new artists have approached us still wanting to participate and add their creativity to this vibrant place. Due to this and with the endless support of the Dubai Properties Group we have decided to schedule daily live art and provide artists with the pots situated around JBR as canvases for their expressions. It is great to see the momentum the project has taken and the strong sense of community and belonging the artists have which has turned “The City is your Canvas” into an on-going activity with new artworks produced daily” said Amal Almarri, Co-founder of Xpoze.

Speaking about the exhibition, Sahar Al Ansari, Director of Real Estate at Dubai Properties Group, commented: “This exhibition at The Walk at JBR is a great platform for DPG to support and exhibit the works of local, Emirati artists. The art is sure to receive much attention amongst JBR’s residents and visitors regardless of whether they are art connoisseurs. In addition, the workshops add a great interactive element to the event, allowing children and adults to experience different forms of art.”

Artists have been working at The Walk in Jumeirah Beach Residence on their artworks and have used pots, staircases, bridges, benches, and walls as canvases to express their artistic practices, giving residents, visitors and tourists an insight into the artistic process and an opportunity to see live art creations.

In addition to producing over 40 artworks, participating artists held workshops and gave visitors, children, and families the opportunity to also take part in creating public art pieces as well, including sculpture, light calligraphy and painting.

The fourth outdoor art project launched by Dubai Culture follows the success of the 12 artworks unveiled at DPG’s Bay Avenue, an upcoming retail destination at Executive Towers in Business Bay, as well as the collaboration with the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), to beautify the streets of Dubai.

Dubai Culture is committed to driving the Emirate’s development as an influential driver of culture and the arts in the region, by building a strong creative environment, nurturing and developing talents as well as strengthening artistic community engagement, through its expanded arts services.

For more information, please contact Dubai Culture via email at arstservices@dubaiculture.ae, call at 04 515 5004 or www.dubaiculture.ae.

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Feb 4, 2013

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