AL-Monitor Dubai: Palestinian artists' rescued works from Gaza

This week's show celebrates works by Palestinian artists from Gaza and commemorates the Eltiqa Gallery, destroyed by Israeli forces in December 2023. We also guide you to the annual Sikka Art & Design Festival, an exhibition by Syrian artists celebrating the post-Assad period of transformation, and a solo show of works by the Emirati artist Shama Al Hamed. There are also the dazzling photographs of Preet Uday, capturing daily life in Dubai with his unique take on color.

Leading the week: "Eltiqa: How to Work Together?"

Opening this week at the Jameel Arts Centre is an exhibition featuring over 100 works by the Gaza-based collective Eltiqa (Encounter) and spanning more than two decades of collaboration. Guest-curated by The Question of Funding collective and on view until July 20, the works on view have been safeguarded for years by a trusted network of individuals and institutions around the world. After being exhibited internationally, some remained with institutions and individuals due to the challenges of returning them to Gaza. Others were hand carried out of the enclave by members of the collective after Israeli forces destroyed its gallery in December 2023, after the outbreak of war with Hamas. The exhibition includes works from Mohamed Abusal, Abdel Raouf Al-Ajouri, Mohammed Al-Hawajri, Raed Issa, Dina Matar and Sohail Salem.

“Eltiqa: How to Work Together?” seeks to uphold, preserve and further the legacy of the collective formed in Gaza in 2000. Included in the exhibition is an annotated timeline charting the history of Eltiqa since its founding and its efforts to support Gazan artists through instability and political upheaval. Also presented along with works by the Palestinian artists are anecdotes recounted by Eltiqa members and findings from research conducted by The Question of Funding, a growing collective of cultural producers and community organizers from Palestine.

“During this time of incredible grief and turmoil, it is vital to foreground, and celebrate, Palestinian stories and histories,” said Nora Razian, deputy director and head of exhibitions and programs at the Jameel Arts Centre in a press statement. “We are honored and grateful to have been able to bring together and present so many of Eltiqa’s works in one place, enabling a deeper understanding of their work and influence, both as artists and also as a fundamental part of the cultural ecosystem in Gaza.”

Date: Feb. 6 – July 20

Location: Jameel Arts Centre

More details here.

Word on the street: Hanu

Are you craving Asian food? Korean in particular? If so, a new restaurant in the St. Regis hotel, in Palm Jumeirah, is just for you. Hanu, a charming and intimate eatery, offers a new take on contemporary Korean cuisine with bold and mouthwatering dishes. The decor marries contemporary style with nods to Asian minimalism accentuated with Korean artwork. A private dining lounge situated around a pine tree is an ode to traditional Korean design. Be sure to try Meat Me at the Grill and become the grill master at tables featuring bespoke charcoal grills while waiters prepare premium cuts of meat. Among the restaurant’s delicacies are innovative takes on kimbap handrolls. 

More details here.

Dubai diary

Shama Al Hamed, “I Jump at Dawn When Skies Blush Blue,” acrylic on canvas, 2024. (Courtesy of the artist and the Aisha Alabbar Gallery, Dubai)

“I Jump – Will I Stick the Landing?”

This solo show of works by the Emirati artist Shama Al Hamed at the Aisha Alabbar Gallery, on Alserkal Avenue, presents a collection of paintings, sculptures and installations offering an intimate and deeply personal look at the artist’s journey through experiences and emotions that have shaped her creative practice. Curated by Walter Williams, the exhibition marks the artist’s first solo show. For the exhibition’s title — “I Jump – Will I Stick the Landing?” — Al Hamed adopts the metaphor of jumping to symbolize movement through time, memory and emotion.

Date: Through April 5

Location: Aisha Alabbar Gallery

Find more information here.

Sikka Art & Design Festival

This annual event is a must-visit not only for the captivating array of art and design objects by Emirati and Gulf-based creatives, but also for the old Dubai, where it takes place, amid the traditional structures that once comprised much of the port city. The creative, outdoor celebration is open every day, from 5–11 pm, through Feb. 9. It features public art installations in old houses, workshops on bisque painting, handmade tiles and other activities, as well as a display of pop-inspired murals and pop-ups serving delicious food and beverages.

Date: Through Feb. 9

Location: Al Shindagha

Find more information here.  

“6:18, The Dawn”

During a time of major transformation for Syria, this exhibition curated by Line Kouwatli showcases the work of eight multidisciplinary artists from Syria, including photographs by the renowned Ammar Abd Rabbo, paintings by Joumana Mortada and sculptures by Issa Kazah, among others. It has been nearly two months since the fall of the Al-Assad government, and the works on display, through March 2, showcase a period of reflection, rebirth and change in Syria.

Date: Feb. 9 – March 2

Location: Atelier 14, Al Khayat Avenue

Find more information here.

Book of the week: “The Covenant of Water”

This highly lauded book — it’s on Barack Obama’s list of favorites — was presented by the author at the Emirates Literature Festival that concluded earlier this week. “The Covenant of Water” follows three generations of a close-knit, but haunted family in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Written by the acclaimed Abraham Verghese, it tells an epic tale of love, faith and medicine. Also one of Oprah’s favorites, she calls it “one of the best books I’ve read in my entire life.”

View from Dubai

A classic car in Dubai by Preet Uday. (Courtesy of Preet Uday)

Originally from Secunderabad, India, Preet Uday is a Dubai-based photographer known for his captivating and innovative use of color. His unique signature style presents a timeless and upbeat vision of life, highlighting often overlooked aspects and landscapes of Dubai. His work has been featured on CNN, Apple and Esquire Middle East. See more of Uday’s work here. 

By the numbers

• In 1995, the UAE state-owned telecommunication company Etisalat offered internet services for the first time in the region and the first broadband internet service via ADSL technology in 1999.
• As of 2024, the UAE had 10.14 million internet users, representing 99% of the population, according to DataReportal.