Nima Nabavi's geometric visions take center stage in Dubai

Welcome back to Al-Monitor Dubai.

This week we highlight the solo exhibition of Nima Nabavi, who blends geometric abstraction with technology in his latest works; the rich mixed media works of Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd; and a performance by famed Lebanese singer Wael Kfoury at the Dubai Opera.

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Happy reading,

Rebecca

P.S. Have feedback or tips on Dubai's culture scene? Send them my way at contactus@al-monitor.com.

1. Leading the week: “Sunrise at the Vortex”

Nima Nabavi. Source Code. 2025. Archival ink on canvas. (Photography by Altamash Urooj)

Nima Nabavi’s evocative artworks blending geometric abstraction with psychedelic phenomena are presently on view in “Sunrise at the Vortex,” his second solo exhibition at The Third Line. Displayed is a series of works made using an architectural pen-plotter usually employed to print building blueprints. In these works, hand-drawn digital compositions are meticulously rendered by the machine using the same tools as the artist. Here, technology can be used to enhance Nabavi’s practice, allowing him to create geometric shapes that otherwise would have been impossible.

“‘Sunrise at the Vortex’ is a show about transformation and expansion,” explains Nabavi to Al-Monitor. “I have been trying to push my practice outwards in all directions for the past three years, and the works in this exhibition are the result of that journey. Spending as much time outside the studio communing with nature as I did inside the studio working on these pieces, I developed a stronger relationship with the universe and was able to infuse my practice with those learnings.”

Born in Iran in 1978, Nabavi is a self-taught artist based between Dubai and New York. There is a transcendent and transformational quality to the art on display. The works were inspired by Nabavi’s travels to sites around the world considered to be energy centers for various communities, they reflect his dedication to introspection and the merging of technology and tradition.

“From ‘Roswell2223,’ my largest hand drawn artwork to date, to my new series of works using pen plotters to unlock deeper dimensions in my work, to the digital animation ‘The Pull of The Pulse,’ I have been using an expanding set of tools and processes to manifest my ideas in their truest forms,” said Nabavi.

The works on display offer visitors a captivating and meditative experience.

Date: Until July 27

Location: The Third Line, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: China Tang

An interior view of China Tang Dubai. (Courtesy of China Tang)

This snazzy new upscale restaurant was born in London’s The Dorchester in the Mayfair district and recently opened at The Lana in Downtown Dubai. Founded by late businessman Sir David Tang, founder of the ‘90s fashion label Shanghai Tang, the new Dubai restaurant is led by head chef Li Zhenjun and offers a menu filled with Chinese delicacies with a contemporary twist.

Try the Sichuan braised spicy chicken, finished with a zesty, umami-rich sesame and chili oil, or the Beijing Duck, served from a trolley and hand-carved by the chef into fine slices, accompanied by shredded cucumber, spring onion and plum sauce. Take in the stunning Art Deco-inspired interiors as you indulge in these delicious dishes.

Location: The Lana Promenade, Dorchester Collection, Business Bay

Find more information here.

3. Dubai diary

Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd. “They Invaded at Night.” 2024. Oil on silk. (Courtesy of the artist and Carbon 12)

• “Garden of Murmurs” by Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd

British artist of Iraqi descent Malik Thomas Jalil Kydd explores his heritage through evocative abstract and expressionist figuration, often grounded in the tenderness and poetics of desire. His current solo exhibition in Dubai showcases work from the past few years that reflects his journey of self-introspection and personal desire. His works, which mix painting, drawing and fiber art, focus on the male figure, usually rendered to a larger-than-life size.

Of note is the use of natural materials that he incorporates. Sage, for example, used in dyeing, becomes part of his creative process as well as a tool for personal introspection. The smell of sage fills his studio, endowing his process of creation with an olfactory element. The works then take on another resonance — one that invites the visitor to engage with them on a physical level.

Sage is just one of many materials he incorporates. He uses pastel, linseed oil, charcoal and natural dyes. Charcoal soaked in linseed oil transforms his art into a pastel-like material, creating rich textures that relay the fragility and permanence of memory, identity, history and culture.

Date: Through Aug. 23

Location: Carbon 12, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1

Find more information here.

• Wael Kfoury at Dubai Opera

The legendary Lebanese singer, known for his romantic ballads, will make his Dubai Opera debut with timeless hits like “El Bint El Awiye” and “Qalbe Meshtaq,” captivating audiences with his signature charm. Known across the Arab world as the king of romance for his alluring ballad style, Kfoury has won millions of devoted fans throughout the region.

Date: June 27

Location: Dubai Opera

Find more information here.

• Compass and Mirror: Navigating Truth in Non-Fiction Narratives

This immersive nonfiction workshop with award-winning journalist and author Mansi Choksi will guide writers through the art of telling true stories with voice, ethical clarity and editorial structure. This workshop is suitable for established journalists working on reported features or authors writing memoirs, essays or hybrid nonfiction. Choksi’s work revolves around the intersection of crime, gender and pop culture. Her first non-fiction book, “The Newlyweds,” about love and crime in India was published in 2022 and became the basis of a National Public Radio podcast called “Love Commandos,” which aired in 2023.

Date: July 17

Location: WH50, Project Space, Alserkal Arts Foundation, Alserkal Avenue

Find more information here.