Dhahran- The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is participating in “Dubai Design Week” by hosting the Saudi pavilion at the event, taking place from November 11-16, 2019, at the Dubai Design District. The six-day festival will explore a range of design disciplines including architecture, product design, interiors, multimedia and graphic design, with the majority of events being free to attend and accessible for both industry professionals and the general public.
This year, with the support of Ithra, Saudi architect Shahad Alazzaz designed the Saudi pavilion, Sa‘af, representing the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia with the support of Ithra, within the event’s larger Abwab pavilion. Abwab is an annually remodeled exhibition dedicated to commissioning work from across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia to promote design talent and stimulate information exchange, uniquely experienced at Dubai Design Week.
Sa‘af comprises of a giant suspended structure composed of four different woven styles, mixing color, scale and texture, and honoring the methods used by craftspeople. The pavilion is designed to maximize interaction with the textiles, wherein the woven mesh extends to the ground, inviting people to climb up the surface where activity and the movement of people can be seen.
Rania Biltagi, Head of Communication and Partnerships at Ithra, commented on the Center’s participation at Dubai Design Week: “Ithra is proud to continue to support and celebrate events recognizing the creativity and innovation across the design industry by hosting the pavilion designed by Shahad Alazzaz at Dubai Design Week.” She added, “Ithra stands to support and promote Saudi talent and showcase their skills across leading regional and global platforms. Dubai Design Week provides a thrilling collaborative hub bringing together the design industry and the public to experience the diverse range of disciplines firsthand.”
Additionally, Ithra will present a workshop at Dubai Design Week conducted by Mr. Robert Firth, Creative Art Director at Ithra, and Mr. Sultan Al-Badran, Creative Programs Coordinator at Ithra’s Idea Lab, on November 13, 2019, titled “Potential of Things - Concrete Canvas,” which will exhibit concrete canvas and explore its potential, its innovation and its usage across different fields.
Ithra is a creative and interactive cultural destination, celebrating creativity and encouraging collaboration via its programming and partnerships with the objective of energizing Saudi Arabia’s knowledge economy, as well as its cultural and creative industries.
