DUBAI: Luxury British department store Harrods has collaborated with Qatari artist Mbarak Al-Thani on two sets of imagery to mark Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr.
The artwork will be displayed at Harrod’s Knightsbridge location in London, on digital greetings sent out by Harrods, for social content, and across digital screens in the store’s famous food hall.
Part of the façade of the world-famous department store features mashrabiya-style patterns incorporated in 1929 by architect Louis D. Blanc —these motifs play on architectural elements from the Arab world and artist Al-Thani drew inspiration from the design.
The artwork will be displayed at Harrod’s Knightsbridge location in London. (Supplied)
“I loved the idea of allowing myself to get inspired by bespoke patterns that inspired Harrods a century ago, reimagining these patterns in a contemporary feel and aesthetic was fun,” he told Arab News.
“I was mostly intrigued by the Agra Fort pattern and the Kashan pattern. Since these patterns were all Islamic and Eastern, they were a good fit to inspire a Ramadan design,” Al-Thani said, referring to a geometric zig-zag of semi-precious stones used in India’s 16 Century Mughal Agra Fort and the diamond-shaped medallion typically found in Persian Kashan rugs.
“I kept mashing these up until we reached a point of agreement with Harrods on the design that should go forward,” the artist said.
The artwork will also be on digital greetings sent out by Harrods, for social content, and across digital screens in the store’s famous food hall. (Supplied)
As an artist, Al-Thani feels like he has a duty to bridge gaps between cultures.
“What we create is a visual dialogue, aesthetics and design ultimately coming together to celebrate the beauty of culture,” he explained. “So what better venue to do that than Harrods? I have so many memories of Harrods throughout my life. From buying toys as a kid to dining as an adult. To work with such an institution is close to my heart.”
The artist also touched on the importance of an iconic British institution such as Harrods celebrating the Islamic month of Ramadan.
“Ramadan is one of the important events in the Islamic calendar,” Al-Thani added. “Harrods is also a place that brings people from all over the world together. Having a retail store like Harrods celebrate us, our culture and our holy month all while attending to all sorts of details from packaging, to interior displays, to social media is greatly appreciated,” he said.
The present Harrods building, constructed in 1905, stands on Brompton Road, south of Hyde Park, in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Henry Charles Harrod founded Harrods as a grocery store in 1849 but the concept expanded in the late 1800s to include a number of departments — today, it is known for its luxury fashion outlets as well as its lively food hall and cosmetics counters.
