Design Days Dubai Announces Gallery Line-up for March 2013 Fair
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – 18 December, 2012: From 18-21 March 2013, Design Days Dubai, in its second year, will offer exceptional rare design creations from 29 galleries, a 30% growth in participation over 2012. As well as being the only design fair in the Middle East and South Asia, Design Days Dubai is now the world’s most diverse design fair globally. By featuring galleries from all six continents, the fair has further established Dubai as centre of discovery and as an international meeting place for the world’s cultural community.
Design Days Dubai further differentiates itself through unique design installations, an enhanced public programme of workshops, talks, and mentorship sessions supported by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the Emirate’s dedicated authority for culture, arts and heritage, in a unique, custom-built location at the base of Burj Khalifa, Emaar Properties’ iconic development and the world’s tallest building, in Downtown Dubai, the city’s thriving lifestyle destination, billed as ‘The Centre of Now.’
“In less than two years, Design Days Dubai has become one of the world’s most diverse international design events, underscoring Dubai’s status as a meeting point for established and emerging collectors, gallery owners and designers,” said Cyril Zammit, Fair Director of Design Days Dubai. “Design Days Dubai has enabled Dubai to rank among an elite group of cities – London, Paris, Basel, New York and Miami – which host fairs specialising in both art and design.”
As limited-edition design becomes a more popular and safe investment both regionally and internationally, Design Days Dubai will feature never-before-seen contemporary works alongside vintage and classic design pieces from the 20th century. With a strong return rate from previously participating galleries, Design Days Dubai will welcome leading global galleries including Carpenters Workshop Gallery (London/Paris), R20th Century (New York), and Gallery Seomi (Seoul) as well as newcomers to the international design sector, such as Broached Commissions (Melbourne) and Galeria Mexicana de Diseño (Mexico City). The fair has also witnessed close to double the number of regional galleries participating, with galleries from Dubai, Kuwait and Beirut taking part.
New for 2013, Design Days Dubai will feature a focus on sustainable works with a design lab, as well as a wider ‘Bespoke Design’ section, in which four design brands will showcase their insight, skills and creations. Fostering the next generation of designers is the remit of Design Days Dubai’s mentorship programme, which is part of the four-day public programme of talks, presentations and workshops around current design issues.
The 2013 edition has again secured the generous support of sponsors including: the reputed French High Jewellery Maison, Van Cleef & Arpels, that will present a signature creative concept, showcasing many celebrated jewellery pieces that can be metamorphosed to be worn in more than one way; global property developer and provider of premier lifestlyes, Emaar; and leading German car manufacturer Audi; together with strategic partner Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Design Days Dubai is a key element of Art Week, the Middle East’s largest and most diverse cultural event annually, which is set to welcome thousands of residents and visitors in March 2013.
Design Days Dubai – Participating Galleries:
Art Factum Gallery, Beirut
Based Upon, London
British Crafts Council, London
Broached Commissions, Melbourne
_Croft, Seoul
Carpenters Workshop Gallery, London/Paris
Carwan Gallery, Beirut
+Coletivo Amor de Madre, Sao Paulo
Contemporary Art Platform, Kuwait
Erastudio ApartmentGallery, Milan
Twentytwentyone Gallery , Beirut
Galerie Diane de Polignac, Paris
Galerie Sofie Lachaert, Tielrode
Galeria Mexicana de Diseño, Mexico City
Gallery Seomi, Seoul
Gazelli Art House, London
Industry Gallery, Washington DC/Los Angeles
J+A Gallery, Dubai
La Galerie Nationale, Dubai
Majlis Gallery, Dubai
Mariam Al-Nassar 20th Century Decorative Arts, Kuwait/London
Nakkash Gallery, Dubai
Perimeter Art&Design, Paris
R20th Century, New York
Salon 94, New York
Sarah Myerscough Fine Art , London
Southern Guild, Wilderness
Stilwerk Limited Edition Design Gallery, Hamburg
Victor Hunt Designart Dealer, Brussels
Design Days Dubai – Bespoke Design Exhibitors:
PF Emirates
Tai Ping
Moissonnier
T Design
Design Days Dubai – Cultural Institutions
Tashkeel, Dubai
FN Designs, Dubai
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), Dubai
For more information about each participating gallery, please visit http://www.designdaysdubai.ae/exhibitors/. Supporters can also keep up to date with the fair on www.facebook.com/designdaysdubai and Twitter @DesignDaysDubai.
About Design Days Dubai
Design Days Dubai is the first design fair of its kind in the Middle East, bringing the most exclusive selection of purchasable, limited edition design to the region. A showcase of rare or unique furniture, objects and design works, the second edition of Design Days Dubai will be held from March 18-21, 2013, to coincide with Art Week, the city’s premier art event. Design Days Dubai will be hosted at its dedicated premises in Downtown Dubai.
For more information, images and interview requests on Design Days Dubai, please contact:
The Portsmouth Group
Lydia Parkinson / Ibrahim Asran
[email protected]
Tel: +971 4 369 3575
About Art Week
Art Dubai is part of Art Week, an umbrella initiative which highlights the plethora of exhibitions, projects and events that now coincide with the fair each March, the most dynamic time in the UAE’s cultural calendar. Special events include Design Days Dubai, the only fair in Asia dedicated to product and furniture design; Sikka, the fair run by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and dedicated to new work by UAE-based artists; and Galleries Nights, featuring 40 new exhibitions across Al Quoz and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC); plus other projects, museum shows and major events throughout the Emirates, Qatar and the Gulf.
DESIGN DAYS DUBAI IS PRESENTED WITH THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS:
About Dubai Culture & Arts Authority:
The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) was launched on March 8, 2008 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Dubai Culture plays a critical part in achieving the vision of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 of establishing the city as vibrant, global Arabian metropolis that shapes culture and arts in the region and the world. The organisation has announced several initiatives that strengthen the historic and modern cultural fabric of Dubai. These include: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards: A first-of-its-kind regional initiative to honour patrons of the arts from around the world for their valuable support in encouraging and strengthening the cultural scene of the Emirate.
Sikka Art Fair: An annual art fair aimed at promoting Emirati and local artists in the UAE.
Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre: An annual festival that celebrates and fosters the art of theatre in the UAE.
Dubai Next: To encourage and sponsor initiatives that contribute actively to the development of the cultural events and activities in Dubai. Recently, Dubai Culture showcased Dubai’s aspirations in culture to an international audience at one of the world’s most prestigious platforms, the Art Basel 39 art fair.
The Holy Lands: A collaboration with the unique and creatively rich Reiss Engelhorn Museen of Mannheim to bring an exclusive collection of never before exhibited rare photographs to the region and more specifically Dubai.
About Van Cleef & Arpels
The history of Van Cleef & Arpels began with a love story when, in 1895, Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a precious stone merchant, married Alfred Van Cleef, the son of a lapidary and diamond broker. In 1906, their passion for jewelry and an entrepreneurial spirit led them to go into business with Estelle’s brothers, Charles, Julien and Louis, and open a boutique at 22, place Vendôme, in an area renowned for its elegance and luxury. Van Cleef & Arpels was born. The jeweller’s Parisian address has never changed, becoming its hallmark.
Today, Van Cleef & Arpels continues to be renowned for its innovative techniques and designs which include only the highest quality gemstones. Successive collections have perpetuated a highly original style defined by poetry, culture, grace and femininity, which allowed it to exert its influence throughout the world.
About Emaar Properties PJSC:
Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer with a significant presence in key emerging markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. In addition to building residential and commercial properties, the company also has proven competencies in shopping malls & retail, hospitality & leisure and financial services sectors. Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, are some of Emaar’s trophy developments.
Emaar is redefining the cultural scene of the city with Dubai Modern Art Museum & Opera House District in Downtown Dubai, to feature the city’s first opera house and several design galleries. The company is also partnering in implementing Mohammed Bin Rashid City, a new city within Dubai, announced recently by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Among the various components of the new development is the Cultural Crossing, connecting Mohamed Bin Rashid City with Downtown Dubai, which is envisaged to be the largest area for arts in the region.
Emaar has launched a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Dawahi Development, a next-generation developer of ‘value housing’ projects within full-service community developments. Dawahi Development will develop ‘value homes’ at attractive price points in key emerging markets across the Middle East & North Africa region, while also creating robust employment and business opportunities for the local population.
In Saudi Arabia, Emaar is developing King Abdullah Economic City, the region’s largest private sector-led project in Saudi Arabia, featuring a Sea Port, Central Business District, Industrial Zone, Educational Zone, Residential Communities and Resort District. www.emaar.com.
About Audi
Audi was founded by August Horch in Zwickau, Germany, on July 16, 1909. He named the company Audi after the Latin translation of his surname (“hark!”). In 2011 the Audi Group delivered around 1,302,650 cars of the Audi brand to customers. Audi produces vehicles in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm (Germany), Gyor (Hungary), Changchun (China), Brussels (Belgium), Aurangabad (India) and Martorell (Spain). The Company is active in more than 100 markets around the globe and currently employs around 63,000 people worldwide. AUDI AG’s commitment to the Middle East region was confirmed through the foundation of its fully owned subsidiary, Audi Volkswagen Middle East FZE, in 2005. For more information, visit www.audi-me.com.
