The protection of artisanal culture and cultural contaminations stand out among the main threads of the next edition of Dubai Art Week (1-3 March). “Threads” is precisely the word that foreshadows the textile works on view in the city at the showroom of Jaipur Rugs: the brand specialized in handwoven carpets made in Jaipur (India) joins forces with the platform Designeast, created in 2023 to support designers and artists from the South of the world.
The result is the exhibition Designeast x Jaipur Rugs (from 29 February to 4 March), focusing on a collection of rugs with intricate weaves and textures, which address crucial themes like identity, uprooting, and the transmission of traditions across populations and generations.
The works are by five Middle Eastern creative talents – Adrian Pepe (Costa Rica/Lebanon), Studio Bazazo (Lebanon), Maryam Al Homaid (Qatar), Rejo Studio (Palestine/Saudi Arabia) and Noura Alserkal (UAE) – who have collaborated for the occasion with artisanal weavers in Jaipur
In parallel with the show, the ceramic creations by the Friuli-based designer Paola Paronetto bring a special glow to the showroom. Known for her sculptures that combine clay and paper, from 1 to 3 March the designer makes her debut on the creative scene in the Middle East with Paper Clay Stories. The Emirates Collection, an exclusive collection that takes its cue from the vitality of the United Arab Emirates.
“What I have learned about the Emirates has inspired me to dedicate this collection to those lands,” Paronetto remarks about her nine new sculptures, made in a limited edition and based on the alternation of pastel tones and gilded surfaces; “to discover that the region is lively and full of beauty has been a very stimulating experience. Art Dubai seemed like the perfect moment to express my feelings for this beautiful part of the world.”
