Tasmeem interior design fair explores the art of the everyday

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Visitors experiencing Aseel Sahab, Maha Bajnaid and Reema Salama’s time capsule room “ma’ alkhail ya shagra” at the Tasmeem Fair on Nov. 18 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
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Architect Payman Moshfeghi sits on his hammock under his Treehouse creation designed to bring out your inner child at the Tasmeem Fair on Nov. 18 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
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The Tasmeem Fair runs until Nov. 28. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
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Feeling the Hijazi nostalgic vibes with Amar Alamdar’s qanun player at his “Pavilion” display. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
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An ode to the 80’s at the Tasmeem Fair. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
Updated 23 November 2017
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Tasmeem interior design fair explores the art of the everyday

JEDDAH: To design is simply to reflect. It is a notion that was bandied about at the opening of the Saudi Art Council’s first-ever interior design initiative, Tasmeem, and it encompasses all that is on show at the seminal event.
The fair, which runs from Nov. 18-28 at the council’s Gold Moor headquarters in the Shatea district of Jeddah, is showcasing work by 16 designers and architects, 11 of whom are women.
The event is the brainchild of Nawaf Al-Nassar and is being held under the patronage of Princess Jawaher bint Majid bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
Since the launch of the project last August, more than 300 participants from all around the Kingdom sent in their design portfolios. Then, the organizers — Kholoud Attar, Lama Mansour, Johara Beydoun and Nassar himself — whittled it down to 16 lucky participants.
Each designer was given the space to develop their display, resulting in innovative and unexpected creations.

Design concept 01 Karkashan / كركشان By Hanadi karkashan هنادي كرشان @karkashandesign The word KARKASHAN is originated from the Turkish culture. It means a beautiful engraving, and in another saying means the craftsmen. Karkashan is a surname for a Saudi family, they’re considered one of the foundation families of old Jeddah, back then family surnames were given based on their crafts, and my family used to specialize in carpentry especially in the Islamic ROSHAN design . The design idea is inspired by karkashan. This was my starting point and my first inspiration to reach my passion. Karkashan was the foundation that built my goals and ambitions. This design reflects my family roots as a shell for my designs and the gateway to continue my career. forking stripes of different materials that reflect the interior designer use of different materials such as wood, metal, lighting, fabric etc.. Ending with a carpeted floor to be the basis for my designs. كركشان استلهاماَ من كلمة ولقب العائلة كركشان استوحيت فكرة التصميم , كركشان كلمة تركية الاصل تعني النقش الجميل و في مقولة أخرى صاحب الحرفة , حيث ان اجداد العائلة كانو من اشهر مزخرفي الرواشين واصحاب المناقب الحجرية وحصلو على اللقب . كانت هذه نقطة بدايتي و الهامي الاول للوصول لشغفي . فكان كركشان هو عامود الاساس الذي بنيت عليه اهدافي وطموحاتي. التصميم يعكس اصول العائلة و في نفس الوقت هو المظلة التي تحتوي تصاميمي وكأنه الغلاف ( القوقعه ) الاساسي لها ، والباب اللذي ساكمل منه مسيرتي التصميمة . تتفرع منه خطوط بخامات مختلفة تعكس استخدام المصمم الداخلي للخامات من خشب و معدن وإضاءة و قماش وغيره , وتنتهي بأرضية من السجاد لتكون القاعدة لتصاميم @saudiartcouncil #saudiartcouncil ‎#تصميم #مساحات #السعودية #مصممين #مبادرة #تصميم_داخلي #معماري ‏#design #designer #saudidesigner #saudi #interiordesign #interiordesigner #saudi_interior #tasmeem ‏#tasmeemfair

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Designers Sondos Ashi and Dania Al-Saib created a project called “Fold It,” in which they redesigned and reshaped standard office fixtures to challenge traditional preconceptions about what workspaces should look like.
Hanadi Karkashan’s “Karkashan” is inspired by her family’s roots as carpenters familiar with a well-known Islamic woodwork style called roshan from the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia.
“All the designers were chosen for their innovative ideas that were limitless. They didn’t only think outside the box, they were able to create a space further away from the norm that we’re used to. If you asked me today what am I most proud of, I’d tell you Tasmeem, and it’s not due to the role I played here. I am proud of them, the designers, it’s all them,” Nassar told Arab News.
“A true designer reflects clients’ true style into the designs he or she creates for them. We don’t copy, we create,” he added.
The participants were given a vast amount of space to produce something different and distinct, but relevant to consumers today. Organizers did, however, ask participants to work around the concept of “reflection” and, in their own distinct ways, they delivered.
Ghazi Soosi’s “Concept Store” is the physical manifestation of his belief that furniture need not be loud in order to make a statement.
“I wanted to create something that doesn’t take too much visual space, in fact I wanted it to be silent, light and borderless… Give the furniture a chance to speak,” Soosi told Arab News.

This concept is best understood when the designer’s work is viewed in person. The semi see-through white-walled space is a simple one, highlighting the simple, steel-frame chairs with their camel-color bases. According to the designer, the products are 85 percent see-through, which gives the space an airy feeling.
Payman Moshfeghi’s “Elevated Space” consists of a marvelous treehouse. The elevated treehouse’s base is made of discarded electric wood posts as well as other materials, ranging from new to reused material. “I experiment a lot with materials left behind at work sites. As an architect, I have access to these materials. I wanted to create a space that is not only relevant, but also brings people joy and is a safe place for them to be. The treehouse is a key figure in many of our childhood dreams and visitors can go climb the stairs and fulfill that (dream),” Moshfeghi told Arab News.
Visitors flow from hall to hall admiring each installation in this wonderfully-curated exhibition. Although each showcase is unique, they all fit together harmoniously.

Design concept 03 FOLD IT // اطويها Dania alsaib/ subdous ashi دانية الصائب وسندس آشي @dania.alsaib @sundos.ashi The rigid system of an office space needs rethinking. Challenging the dependency on conventional desk layouts. by folding the exterior boundaries to create a multi-use interior figure. the concept of Folding creates a language between the exterior and interior. Creating a unique experience that allows the space to have its own identity. leading to a flexible and creative working environment. تصميم مساحة مكتبية ابداعية من خ ل دمج الهيكل المعماري الخارجي بالداخلي عن طريق عملية الطي. وبذلك يتم تكوين مجسم متعدد ا ستخدام ليعطي المساحة هويتها الخاصة وتجربة فريدة من نوعها.

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Amar Alamdar’s beautiful “Pavilion” is an emotional showcase due to the flowing printed fabrics and soft strings of a qanun being played in the background. For her part, Dana Al-Amri’s “Movement” is a structure straight out of a dream. Flowing strings sway above the ground, strung up by metal and steel rods that allow the viewer to sense lightness that reflects one’s own movement.
Mohammed Al-Ghamdi’s “Ehtiwa,” or “containment,” is a one of a kind. His use of cardboard, eco-friendly material, is an ode to sustainability and he cuts his raw material in a way that reflects the flow of the human body and the nature of movement itself.
The event will also see several keynote speakers give a number of talks on topics ranging from interior design psychology, by Rana Al-Kadi, to the educational paths for designers in Italy, by Leonardo Romei. As such, the fair is as much about learning as it is about admiring the creativity of the designers on show.
Princess Jawaher bint Majid bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud shared her thoughts on the event and expressed her desire for each year to be better than the previous.
“I am very pleased with the extraordinary level of professionalism from our Saudi interior designers. The volume of portfolios that we received are proof of their enthusiasm, elevated sense of style and their level of awareness and intellect. Tasmeem gives a chance for the audience to get to know more about interior design and the designer behind the scenes. I’m confident that each season will be better than the previous,” she said.
The council was created in response to the growing needs of the Kingdom’s art and culture scene. Its goal is to establish a well-cultivated platform for all artists and designers who are embracing new and innovative forms of art and, if the work on show at the Tasmeem Fair is anything to go by, there is a wealth of talent in the Kingdom worthy of such a platform.


Arab-American Heritage Month: Sama Alshaibi — ‘I’m trying to change this idea of what an Arab woman is’ 

Updated 8 sec ago
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Arab-American Heritage Month: Sama Alshaibi — ‘I’m trying to change this idea of what an Arab woman is’ 

DUBAI: The fourth in this year’s series focusing on contemporary Arab-American artists in honor of Arab-American Heritage Month. 

Born in Basrah to an Iraqi father and a Palestinian mother, Sama Alshaibi is an Arizona-based professor and artist who has mostly devoted her 20-year career to video, photography and performance art.  

During the Iran-Iraq war of the Eighties, Alshaibi and her family moved around the region, living in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan, before eventually settling in the American Midwest when she was 13 years old.  

Sama Alshaibi_Water Bearer II. (Supplied)

“Growing up in the United States was strange. We were a ‘different’ family in Iowa and there wasn’t a lot of diversity. But I grew up in a place with nice people,” Alshaibi tells Arab News from Bellagio, Italy, where she is doing a residency at the Rockefeller Foundation.  

But she also says there were obstacles, mainly formed by major political events that impacted her. “It was challenging, because of where I’m from,” she says. 

Alshaibi’s work is largely inspired by her Arab roots. “Arts were so revered in my family,” she says. “I don’t even know if I would be making art if it wasn’t for my heritage.” It was her father, an avid photographer, who taught her to use a manual camera. She aspired to become a photojournalist herself — inspired by 20th-century African-American photographers, notably Carrie Mae Weems and Lorna Simpson, who documented Black culture in their imagery.  

Sama Alshaibi's 'Gamer Albumen' print. (Supplied)

Many of her images are portraits of herself wearing, for example, traditional Middle Eastern garments, referencing romanticized Orientalist portrayals of women, and in the end, challenging them.  

“I’m trying to change this idea of what you think an Arab woman is,” she explains. “I started seeing the power of communication, of taking political or social issues and using your body, your performance, your environment, to address them.”  

One of Alshaibi’s best-known series is called “Carry Over,” in which she photographed herself carrying large objects (or Orientalist props), such as a tower of container tins or a water vessel, above her head. The images poetically show a woman’s endurance and comment on a collective history, affected by colonialism and cultural loss.  

“I’ve always been interested in the notion of ‘aftermath’ — what happens after the destruction of your environment,” explains Alshaibi. “It gets you to the question of what we can’t hold onto anymore.”   


REVIEW: ‘Returnal’ — a thoughtful and challenging sci-fi adventure

Updated 23 April 2024
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REVIEW: ‘Returnal’ — a thoughtful and challenging sci-fi adventure

LONDON: Right from the start, before you even take control of Selene Vassos, a reconnaissance scout who has crash landed on a prohibited and mysterious planet, you are warned that “Returnal” (available originally for PS5 but now PC too) is “intended to be a challenging experience.” Such difficulty may deter the casual gamer used to a steady progression of character and exploration through a games environment. However, “Returnal” is a thoughtful and rewarding adventure that lays claim to much originality of thought in its set up. The key theme is that when you die, you return! But not to the same environment that you were in before. Instead, each new cycle postures new challenges and progress can only be made by unlocking upgrades that allow you to make more meta progress in Selene’s journey.

Selene herself is a super professional, unfazed character who doesn’t appear too bothered when she comes across a body of her former self that died in this strange world where the laws of physics and time appear not to apply. Staying alive is obviously crucial, particularly as it allows her to retain better weapons for longer. In addition, avoiding damage allows for boosts of agility, vision and more, making for a more lethal Selene. The environment is varied and surprising with each incarnation and the weapons on offer come complete with a range of exciting alternative fire mechanisms such as homing missiles or laser-like items. A hostile environment where even plants are a threat to life is mitigated by your technology, the core of which you can improve despite the reset of deaths, through fancy smart “xeno-tech” that becomes integrated with alien kit left around.

There is a paradox in “Returnal” described by Selene herself that she is trapped in an environment that is “always the same, always changing,” which literally makes no sense. Players have to be patient in the early chapters getting used to the sapping dynamic of death and return. Once that makes more sense, the loneliness of both her alien environment and the impossibility of even dying to escape it make for a pretty special atmosphere that a smart shooting engine then complements.


Artist Abdullah Al-Saadi represents the UAE at Venice Biennale

Updated 22 April 2024
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Artist Abdullah Al-Saadi represents the UAE at Venice Biennale

VENICE: Emirati conceptual artist Abdullah Al-Saadi is representing the UAE at the 60th Venice Biennale, curated this year by Adriano Pedrosa under the theme of “Foreigners Everywhere. Stranieri Ovunque.” The pavilion’s exhibition, which opened on April 20 and runs until Nov. 24, was curated by Tarek Abou El-Fetouh.

Al-Saadi has played a pivotal role in the development of the UAE’s evolving art scene — his multidisciplinary practice includes the mediums of painting, drawing, sculpture, performance and photography, as well as collecting and cataloguing found objects and the creation of new alphabets.

“Since I was a student, four decades ago, art has been an integral part of my daily life,” Al-Saadi said in a statement. “My art is the result of interactions with places, people, ideas, and aesthetics that I encounter every day where I live and in my journeys. I find myself driven to document these experiences visually or in written diaries and contemplations, seeking to transfigure the ordinary with the passage of time.”

“I am representing myself in Venice as an artist foremost and then as a local Emirati artist,” Al-Saadi told Arab News. “This pavilion will showcase my artistic journey over a long period of time since after university through eight works, two of which are new commissions,” he said of the ongoing show titled “Abdullah Al-Saadi: Sites of Memory, Sites of Amnesia.”

One of the artistic journeys he made that will serve as a new artwork took place amid the Arabian landscape.

“I spent seven days in the valley studying the tea, the coffee, and bread,” Al-Saadi explained to Arab News. “Then after one week I rode my bicycle, and I went to the mountains. During that time, I was reading a book on the Silk Road and trying to imagine how it was to travel on the Silk Road and I compared my way of traveling with how it was to travel on the Silk Road long ago.”

“Abdullah’s work is comprised of multiple aspects, from his diaries to sketches, to landscapes, scrolls and other objects that he creates,” Laila Binbrek, Director of the National Pavillion UAE, explained to Arab News. “They all stem from his diary — a diary he has been keeping for the last 40 years. Every day he writes in his diary.” 


Christie’s Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds auction highlights rare finds in London

Updated 22 April 2024
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Christie’s Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds auction highlights rare finds in London

LONDON: Christie’s Art of the Islamic and Indian Worlds spring sale will see 261 lots —including paintings, ceramics, metal work, works on paper, textiles, rugs and carpets — go under the hammer at a live auction at their London headquarters on April 25.

Arab News was given an exclusive viewing of some of the works prior to their public pre-sale showing from April 21-24.

Sara Plumbly, Christie’s Head of Department for Islamic and Indian Art, gave her expert insights into some selected pieces.

These included lot 45, an exquisite miniature octagonal Qur’an, dated AH 985/1577-8 AD, which was made in Madinah, the Qur’an has an estimate of $13,000-19,000.

“We very rarely see manuscripts that were copied in the holy cities. So this being copied in Madinah makes it very rare,” she explained.

“It has a Naskh script. This a very steady, cursive script which is relatively easy to read — unlike some of the others. For example, Nastaliq script, which is copied on the diagonal, is much trickier to read. For Qur’ans you would almost always see a Naskh script for ease of reading. Nastaliq is usually reserved for poetic manuscripts,” she said.

This miniature Qur’an would be small enough to carry with the owner on a daily basis, usually around the neck. Alternatively, they would be hung in their silver boxes on an ‘alam (standard or flag) and carried into battle.

Plumbly, who completed her master’s degree in Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Oxford, has lived and travelled extensively across the Middle East and North Africa, including extended periods in Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

Another stunning item in the sale is a Watercolor Album depicting a selection of known prestigious and rare Iznik ceramics from the Louis Huth collection. It comprises 44 single and double-page watercolor paintings of Iznik bowls, flasks, ewers and dishes.

Watercolor paintings of Iznik bowls, flasks, ewers and dishes will go under the hammer. (Supplied)

It was also fascinating to see a rare and complete illustrated manuscript copy of the Khamsa of Nizami by 12th century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi, together with the Khamsa of Amir Khusraw Dihlavi, a 13th century Persian Sufi singer, musician, poet and scholar. The colors in the illuminations leap off the pages as though created yesterday.

Plumbly also pointed out the exceptional workmanship of an early 13th century Kashan pottery bowl, excavated in Iran’s Kashan in 1934.

A Khashan pottery bowl inscribed with three Persian quatrains, or poetic verses. (Supplied)

“This type of Kashan ceramics have a wonderful luster. It’s a very difficult technique to perfect. This bowl has a really beautiful dark gold color which is very well controlled. The condition is remarkable. It’s one of those ‘best of type’ objects,” Plumbly observed.


Merwas — Riyadh’s beating heart of creativity

Updated 20 April 2024
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Merwas — Riyadh’s beating heart of creativity

  • World’s largest music production studio is nurturing Saudi talent, streamlining local industry

RIYADH: Riyadh’s Merwas, considered the biggest art and entertainment factory globally, is proving to be one of Saudi Arabia’s greatest music industry assets.

Nada Al-Tuwaijri, co-founder and CEO of Merwas, told Arab News that the facility, which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest music production studio, “is home to all artists.”

She added: “The methodology behind it is to create solutions through the subsidiaries, and invest in both talent and infrastructure.

“Alongside it being a one-stop shop for all content creators, we strive to take our local talents from local to global and create a unique stamp in the industry.”

Spread across almost 5,000 square meters, Merwas fosters creativity, collaboration, and the production of multimedia content, along with hosting workshops, networking sessions, and community events. (AN photos by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub/Supplied)

The entertainment zone and audiovisual production studio, located in Boulevard Riyadh City, houses 22 main studios alongside its academy.

Some of the top musicians in the world have visited Merwas since it opened in 2022. These include DJ Khaled, the acclaimed Saudi singer Rabeh Saqer, and the Emirati singer Ahlam. Afrojack, a world-renowned Dutch DJ and producer, also led an electronic music boot camp to nurture local talent and inspire a new generation of Saudi artists.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Merwas, located in Boulevard Riyadh City, houses 22 main studios alongside its academy.

• The academy’s classes offer local creatives and artists direct access to seasoned expertise.

• The Earth Sound Studio, or ESS, named after the late Saudi composer Talal Maddah.

Spread across almost 5,000 square meters, the culture factory fosters creativity, collaboration, and the production of multimedia content, while providing artists with access to top-tier services, facilities and industry expertise.

Spread across almost 5,000 square meters, Merwas fosters creativity, collaboration, and the production of multimedia content, along with hosting workshops, networking sessions, and community events. (AN photos by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub/Supplied)

The Earth Sound Studio, or ESS, named after the late Saudi composer Talal Maddah, features state-of-the-art technology, such as the SSL console, which is used to create depth on music tracks and ensures the true soul of the artist’s voice is protected.

This live recording space is booked almost every day by various artists, and has been used by some of the Arab region’s biggest stars.

The facility, which holds the Guinness World Record for the largest music production studio, is home to all artists according to co-founder Nada Al-Tuwaijri. (Supplied)

One of the only five Neve consoles in the world can be found in the Neve Studio. The panel is known for its high-quality sound and warmth, and is ideal for music recording, vocal tracking, and mixing for exceptional audio quality.

Its live studio can accommodate over 120 orchestra members and their instruments to provide a unique recording experience.

Spread across almost 5,000 square meters, Merwas fosters creativity, collaboration, and the production of multimedia content, along with hosting workshops, networking sessions, and community events. (AN photos by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub/Supplied)

Specifically designed for electronic music production, the EMP Suite is a DJ’s dream, with cutting edge synthesizers and digital audio workstations ensuring an artist leaves the room with a fully produced track.

Merwas is also home to three production suites, designed for content creators who require a comfortable and professional environment for music production, editing, and mixing. Each suite is equipped with industry-standard gear, software, and acoustics to support a wide range of projects.

Nada Al-Tuwaijri, Merwas cofounder and CEO

The studio also provides private rehearsal spaces to ensure Saudi talents are nourished to their full potential. The versatile space is designed for musicians, performers, and other artists to rehearse and refine their craft within a comfortable environment with access to instruments and equipment.

Part of the charm of recording studios is the live jam sessions that have given birth to some of the most iconic records to date. Merwas’ Band Live/Control Room also captures the spontaneity of live performance within its soundproof walls.

Alongside (Merwas) being a one-stop shop for all content creators, we strive to take our local talents from local to global and create a unique stamp in the industry.

Nada Al-Tuwaijri, Merwas cofounder and CEO

Championing audiovisual pursuits, the studio has made space for high-quality podcasts and videos to come to life.

The podcast suite and FM radio recording spaces are tailored to immerse listeners with unbeatable audio clarity, while the 25-meter-long Green Screen room helps ideas come to life, whether commercial, film, or music video.

Spread across almost 5,000 square meters, Merwas fosters creativity, collaboration, and the production of multimedia content, along with hosting workshops, networking sessions, and community events. (AN photos by Abdulrhman Bin Shalhoub/Supplied)

Material can then be edited at the color-grading suite, which is essentially a small theater with 4K projector. Producers, directors, writers, and engineers gather here to put the final visual touches on video projects through its DaVinci color grading software and hardware.

Academy Classes offers local creatives and artists direct access to seasoned expertise. These feature advanced stations for sound production, engineering, and technical programs, with everything necessary for a basic understanding and training of music production.

The studio hosts workshops, networking sessions, and community events in an effort to flourish the music industry locally while making it a magnet for international talent. Anyone can be a part of this community by booking a suite or signing up for a workshop on their website merwas.sa.

Merwas has positioned itself at the the forefront of the entertainment industry being the first of its kind in the MENA region. In less than a year since its launch, it has already became a hotspot for musicians across the globe to visit and utilize its services, from rising talents to international A-listers.

Founded by Al-Tuwaijri and Chief Content Officer Rumian Al-Rumayyan in partnership with Sela, Merwas treasures Saudi creativity and is a vital part of building an ecosystem and community for local artists.

Their partnership with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property has set a new focus on preserving the rights of local creatives, pillared by the aim to enrich the culture of the Kingdom while empowering its citizens and their creativity in an environment of abundant knowledge, education in culture, art, entertainment and music.