Wave City Coffee Table by Stelios Mousarris (Photo: courtesy of Dubai Design Days)
Design Days Dubai, the only fair in the Middle East and South Asia’s dedicated to collectible modern and contemporary design works, returns on 14 March with its largest edition yet featuring 50 designers.
“The fair’s unique format provides an international platform for the region’s emerging design studios and solo designers to debut their furniture, lightings and design objects, featuring them alongside a diverse mix of the world’s design galleries,” reads a press release.
Diversity is at the center of this edition, showcasing experimental works by solo designers and independent studios that are otherwise little represented on an international level.
“For design enthusiasts, Design Days Dubai is an annual fixture to meet designers from all over the world and acquire collectible design not seen anywhere else,” said Rawan Kashkoush, the head of programming.
Design Days will host a number of first-time exhibitors from the region, including UAE designers Ayah Al Bitar, AYKA Design, CarpertsCC by Cecilia Setterdahl, Jafar Dajani, Michael Rice and Nader Gammas.
The Days will also feature international designers including Apical Reform from India, Aperçu Designs from Jordan, Marie Munier from Lebanon, and Dahr Design from Saudi Arabia, Todd Merrill Studio from New York, Paris- and Los Angeles-based concept store|gallery L’Eclaireur; and Territoire(s) from Paris.
A testimony to its previous success, the 6th Design Days also sees a high number of returning exhibitors, Coletivo Amor de Madre (Brazil) with the award-winning multidisciplinary Atelier Marko Brajovic; The Crafts Council (UK), and Dutch Creative Industry from the Netherlands.
The fair also functions as a launch pad for nascent designers who have gone on to international acclaim.
In 2015, Aljoud Lootah had two items from her debut collection acquired for the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne); and, in 2016, two of Amar Kalo’s pieces were acquired by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.
This year’s newest addition to the fair is a section for vintage design, presented by specialists in mid-century modern, MCML Studio (UAE): “Our objective is to become a must in the GCC region for any 1950s to 1970s design amateurs and collectors. All our pieces have been carefully selected, are unique or exceptional and represent great names of this creative post-war period.” said its founder, Patrick Rochette.
Design Days Dubai, along with Art Dubai, is part of Art Week, an umbrella initiative of arts and culture events in March, with the aim of promoting the cultural activities of the region to both residents and visitors.
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