Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children exhibits pottery masterpieces at Sikka Art & Design Festival

November 9, 2023

Sikka Art & Design Festival, which is being held at Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood until 5 March, is presenting conceptual works and various artistic models based on the art of pottery and ceramics, giving visitors of its eleventh edition the opportunity to explore masterpieces of ceramics and pottery and their artistic uses. This is manifested in the group exhibition organised by Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children in Bait Al Khazaf, as part of its festival participation.

The rooms in Bait Al Khazaf within Sikka are filled with ceramic and sculptural works, presented by 35 Emirati and UAE-based creatives, belonging to several pottery studios, namely: Yadawei Ceramic Studio, The Mud House Studio, OKA Ceramic Studio, House of Clay and members of Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children. Through their works, the artists present inspiring expressive visions, while the exhibition invites audiences to explore pottery, its design and artistic expression.

Kamal AlZubi, curator of Bait Al Khazaf, affirmed that the exhibition within Bait Al Khazaf presents different artistic visions that highlight the aesthetics of pottery and ceramics, saying: “The exhibition includes a variety of murals, installations and sculptural pieces, which are part of the productions of various Al Quoz Creative Zone-based pottery studios, presenting the multiplicity of artistic styles and colours. Through this exhibition, we seek to shed light on the art of pottery in Dubai and its development, and the studios that adopt this art. We also aim to allow them to display their creations to the visitors of Sikka Art & Design Festival.”

There are a large proportion of Emirati representatives. The artwork ‘Vase and Cups’ is ceramic pieces that are the product of cooperation between ceramicists Amal Thani and Rashid Thani. Also showcased are pieces by artist Farah Ahmad titled ‘Flow,’ inspired by ancient African pottery. Emirati Madar Al Suwaidi presents two works: ‘Pottery with Madar’ and ‘Soul.’ Noora Juma has a collection of paintings and sculptures titled ‘2B’, while ceramicist Shamsa Juma, participates with her ceramic work, ‘Assalam Alaikum,’ which consists of four pieces demonstrating Islamic calligraphy aesthetics.

Within the same exhibition, there is French artist Alison Ladegaillerie’s sculpture ‘White Body,’ in addition to her artwork ‘Outrenoir 1-2-3-4’ in which she played with the density and brightness of the black colour. Indian practitioner Aneesha Rai presents four works: ‘Elixir of the Desert,’ ‘The Dance of the Sun and Sand,’ ‘The Breeze’ and The Shifting Sands,’ which seem to represent the unique beauty of the Arabian desert. Pakistani artist Anila Ashraf’s work ‘Moon Jars’ is characterised by calmness, dynamism and drama, while there is Jordanian Aymen Azzam’s ‘Earth’, and Australian Browen Hore’s ‘Beauty or Comfort’ along with his ‘Amphora of Tolerance and Opportunity,’ which he created especially for the country's celebrations of its 51st National Day.

Lebanese-British artist Candice Chidiac sought through her work ‘It's OK’ to convey our different life paths. Turkish Ceren Senbark was inspired by nature in her ‘Back to the Nature,’ while the different visions of the world formed the focus of the work ‘Rustico Vase’ by Brazilian Carolina Galvao. Turkish artist Ceyda Karasu’s ‘Look Different Direction’ is on display, as is ‘Sole Mate.’ Brit Dana Kamal has her ceramic sculpture ‘This Too Shall Pass’, while French artist Isabelle Dufour has her creation ‘Tableware and Vases.’ There is a Shino glazed ceramics piece by Irishman Joseph MC Keever, while France’s Karine Legay drew inspiration from the strength of the elements to produce her work, ‘The Intrepid Quartet.’ Polish sculptor Klaudia Domaradzka’s ‘Bodies Dressed with String of Hoops’ is an attempt to find balance between heaviness and lightness. Italian artist Lara Pollack also shares her work ‘Funky Totem.’

Bait Al Khazaf includes creations by Australian artist Margo Tummel, which were inspired by the local environment. Canada’s Lea Khoustekian has on display ‘Hanging Balloon 1 & 2, Deflated Balloon,’ while the Austrian Mitra Moser seeks through her work to remind us of our essential need for human communicate. Tiny snails influenced the Iranian artist Nahid Soltani to produce her works ‘White and Pink Ceramic’ and ‘Mesmerize,’ while Algerian Nessma Djouhri has ‘When Everything Went Right.’

Portuguese artist Nilza Ying, through her piece ‘Blooming in the Desert,’ recounts her artistic journey in Dubai, Canadian Preeti Pawani exhibits ‘Joey the Handyman’ and France’s Ream Saksouk, through her sculpture ‘Beautiful Nature’, calls for the need to respect and enjoy floral beauty. Pakistani artist Sadaf Aamir’s ‘The Heartwood Saga’ is inspired by nature's oldest symbol, the tree. The group exhibition in Bait Al Khazaf includes other works by Canadian Samer Hejazi, Jordanian Shereen Shalhoub, Iraqi Tahreer Ahmad Alkaisy, French Valerie Vincent, and Sudanese Amani Badur.

Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children is participating in Sikka Art & Design Festival with an agenda full of activities and interactive workshops in cooperation with a group of artists, including Abdulla Lufti, Asma Baker, Victor Sitali, and Maryam Mansoor, in addition to certain artistic and cultural centres in Dubai, namely: Center for Musical Arts, Iqraa Arabic Language Centre, Project You, RFLCT Creative Arts, Sxill Lab, Medaf Studio, and Shoevenir. The centre’s participation comes within the framework of achieving Dubai Culture's commitments to create a sustainable creative ecosystem that contributes to the empowerment of creative talent.