MAGZOID - Luxury Magazine in the Creative Space | December 2022

December 2022
The
Other Side
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KSA - SR 61 | Qatar - QAR 60
Oman - OMR 6.3 | Bahrain - BD 6.2
Kuwait - KWD 5 | UK - £12 | EU - €14
Artwork by Kelly Eden

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Art That Matters
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Please recycle the magazine once you've finished reading it
“Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate,
inspire and motivate.” - Harvey Fierstein
"Beauty is beyond what the eyes see"
We've Hall heard
ave you
the
ever
expression
had the epiphany
"beauty
that
is in
no
the
two
eye
fingerprints
of the beholder,"
are
but
how many
identical?
of us understand
But isn’t it overwhelming
what it actually
to consider
means?
how
Butterflies
unique each
cannot
perceive individual their beauty, is, to the but point everyone where their around fingerprints them does; are theirs the same and is
true for humans. There theirs is alone? beauty Similarly, all around it is expected us, but not to have everyone conflicting can perceive ideologies it.
It is determined from person by your to person. heart and Even thoughts. the origin Each of art has person many defines assertions. beauty However, in their
own unique we can manner. agree art is one of the oldest ways humans have sought to harness
We all know and create that beauty social change. isn't perfect, Art and yet activism it may have shine a long through and complex the flaws. history, True
beauty is from about Picasso’s being comfortable Guernica to Rosie in one's the own Riveter. skin; skin tones or wrinkles on the
eyes have nothing As we wrap to do up with the year, it. It's we all cannot about strengthening overlook the generation what you that have has so that
you can bravely shine. Many come people to the forefront believe to that advocate beauty change. is all about Art is how more much than aesthetics makeup
you wear, and the luxury; nice clothes it moves and us emotionally. accessories The you combination own, pretty of both and can silky ignite hair, and
nice colored hearts eyes, to empathize, but true stand beauty for is change, seen throughout and provide life a platform when someone for reflection, gets
lost in music, collaboration, when nature and building looks prettier community. by the Artists day, and are now when openly a mother and intensely holds her
child for devoted the first time. to creating Similarly, art that every tackles October, critical we societal are reminded issues and of how strives beautiful to alter
the individuals how we who regard fight the breast world. cancer are with their amazing fortitude and efforts
that go beyond Hence, our this thoughts. edition monumentalizes the Power of Art and the true healers
This edition of our universe. commemorates On the cover, such we beautiful have the beautiful people, Kelly beginning Eden, who with stands the
magnificent as an cover epitome by of artist strength Ira Valkova, and finding which the purpose demonstrates of life through that pink art. is Our more
powerful featured than we artists realize, include symbolizing Lo Chang the Peng, tenacity a brilliant of the artist warriors who truly who has combat his
this exasperating
own way of
illness
expressing
all the
human
way to
emotions
the Heroes
on canvas,
Corner,
and
where
the
we
one-of-a-kind
speak about
the current
artist
combats
Lupo Sol,
of
an
the
expressionist
disease and
artist
a special
who paints
section
simple
on
scenes
how art
from
acts
life
as a
through his eyes. As the festival season is upon us, remember to check out
tool of awareness. Enjoy reading this magazine and relish in the beauty around
the Designer’s Corner, curated with the gifting season in mind. We hope this
you till we meet again in the next issue!
edition takes you on a beautiful journey yet again. We extend our warmest
season’s greetings to all our readers and hope for a wonderful new year!
Editor
Editor
Saleha Khanam
saleha@magzoid.com
Saleha Khanam
saleha@magzoid.com
December 2022
7
www.magzoid.com October 2022 7

ARTIST STORIES | Inspire & Empower
Warehouse421 Artist
24-25
46-47 52-53 34-35
36-37
Lo Chang Peng
Lupo Sol
Matt Gondek
Mohamed Khalid
Paola
66-67
74-75
78-79
38-39
Dr.Dodi
Nikolas
Simona
Auguste
Artist In Focus
42 43
Hashel
Roudhah
50-51 Artist Spotlight 62-63
Artist Spotlight
70-71 Digital Artist 16-17 Cover Story
58-59 Indian Artist
www.magzoid.com December 2022
9

20-22 Celebrating Emirati Artist
Mattar Bin Lahej Khalil Abdul Wahid Faisal Abdulqader Abdul Qader Al Rais Fatma Lootah
Special Days
Maisoon Al Saleh Shaima Al Awadhi Moosa Sultan Al Halyan
UAE 51st National Day Special Art Talks
44 Christmas Day
Art Advice
18 A Lookback: UAE’s Glorious
Emergence into the Art World
40 A look into Art World’s conscious
shifts towards an inclusive market
54 A Case of the Night Owls
Event Coverage 13 | 26 | 49 | 68 | 77
Special Feature 14 | 56 | 72
Art News 11 | 23 | 45 | 61 | 65 | 76 | 81
Featured Photographs 12 | 48
Picture Story 60 | 64 | 82 | 90
Art exhibitions and events 84-85
Art Facts 86-87
Featured Artworks 88-89
Architectural Wonders 92-93
Brand Logo 100
94-95
96-97
98-99
Jewellery
Watches in Focus
Fashion & Lifestyle
10 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

ART NEWS
An art installation at the UN COP27
Summit expresses viewpoints on the effects of
climate change.
Twenty drawings were created by
the Bristol-based illustrator and
designer Jasmine Thompson, 28,
in advance of the UN’s COP27
summit. Establishing and operationalizing
a loss and damage fund was the historic
conclusion of the 27th Conference of the
Parties to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (COP27),
held in the Egyptian beach city of Sharm
el-Sheikh, on November 20.
The Cabot Institute for the Environment
at the University of Bristol hired Ms.
Thompson, a Montpelier native. In addition
to conveying messages to their leaders at
the meeting, the drawings shared people’s
experiences with climate change. The
intention was to express concerns through
art to reach a global audience.
Thompson drew on comments from
attendees of public spaces at the COP26
conference in Glasgow the previous
year. Conservation, biodiversity, unified
action, urgency, and the inclusion of
underrepresented perspectives are some of
the subjects covered.
The climate catastrophe is now
becoming more personal, and everyone is
becoming more aware of and concerned
about its far-reaching effects, according to
Ms. Thompson. She continued, “I hope the
drawings speak to people of all ages and
motivate people to consider the future and
what we can do to start changing things
today.”
Another Bristol artist who participated in
the project was Andy Council. A city filled
with trees and greenery, people strolling or
cycling, and structures with solar panels
are how he imagined Bristol may appear in
2030. “A green transition must happen, so
it was great being part of this project,” he
continued.
Dr. Alix Dietzel, a senior lecturer at the
University of Bristol, commissioned the
experiment. “Hope for a better future lies at
the core of our idea,” he expressed.
The artwork was on display in the
university’s Richmond Building from
November 15 through November 18, 2022,
and shared on social media with the tagline
“Every Voice Matters.”
- news@magzoid.com
The drawings
shared
people’s
experiences
with climate
change.
www.magzoid.com December 2022
11

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHS
1
2
3
1
@_alsawafi
@7r6er
@ahmadannaji
2
@alia_bent_sultan
@alphaspotting
@bikooig
3
@dubai_photoconcierge
@eman.alawadhi
@faalsh7i
12 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

UAE hosted the Premium
Jewellery Expo 2022
with 100+ exhibitors
The premier edition of the Premium
Jewellery Expo Dubai Expo
launched on November 1–3, 2022,
at Festival City Arena, Dubai.
The expo featured over 100+ companies
exhibiting their unique craftsmanship in the
gem and jewellery industry.
The gem and jewellery sector has grown
significantly recently, with more companies
planning to expand their presence in the
Middle East market and get involved in
business opportunities. Premium Jewellery
Expo Dubai 2022 is a premier jewellery
exhibition and seminar featuring over 100
jewellery manufacturers, wholesalers,
retailers, distributors, machinery, and
technology providers. The three-day event
brought together a vast network of Gem
and Jewellery professionals and consumers
from across the globe.
EVENT COVERAGE
carats and weighs 511.50 grams.
Magzoid Magazine presented a LIVE
painting by artist Kalopsia Wiz during the
aesthetic and luxury art display at the event.
The show opened for sale at the premium
jewellery expo and conducted technical
seminars from leading industry speakers.
-events@magzoid.com
Featured Exhibitors comprised of Jewel
Trading, KP Sanghvi, Pace Gems, DN
Diamonds, Hybrid solutions, KVCF (The
stone of Great Faith), House of Chatterjee,
Riddhi Corporations, Blue Diamond Gems
and jewellery, Hady International, United
gems, Yangon lucky jewellery, and Threestar
jewels, who exhibited their products
and services to the visitors.
THE STONE OF GREAT FAITH from
KVCF displayed the largest sapphire stone
in the world for the first time in the history
of gem and jewellery exhibitions across
the globe. The blue sapphire stone is 2570
Scan barcode to view the video
www.magzoid.com December 2022
13

SPECIAL FEATURE
Check out these 5 Pop-Ups for
the Winter
Winter City
The Mobility District, Surreal
water feature, and Al Wasl
Plaza will be transformed into a
wonderful world with a towering
tree, a letter-to-Santa station,
typical chalet-style market stalls,
pine trees, and entertaining
carnival games.
Time: 3 pm to 11 am
Location: Expo City, Dubai
Not A Space
Not A Space is a short-term
winter desert cafés pop-up
in the Al Faya desert with
stunning mountain scenery in
the background in Sharjah’s
Meleiha neighbourhood.
Including F&B, the cafe offers
regular live performances by
DJs, musicians, and other
artists, along with yoga classes.
Time: 4 pm to 1cam
Location: Al Faya Desert,
Sharjah
14 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

SPECIAL FEATURE
Sonara Camp
Sonara Camp offers a luxurious vacation in the
deserts of Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, with two
places to select from. This must-do event features
a fine-dining set meal, top-notch entertainment,
and a variety of activities like camel riding,
falconry, live music, fire shows, and much more.
Time: 4 pm onwards
Venue: Dubai Desert Conservation and The Ritz-
Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert
Uncommon
Uncommon is referred to as the
“mirror desert café” because of
its enormous mirror wall, rolling
desert dunes, plush seats, and
adorable coffees. This pop-up café
in Sharjah should be added to your
list of locations to drink coffee and
take pictures for your Instagram
feed.
Time: 4pm to 1am
Location: Al Faya Desert, Sharjah
My Space
The Space is a family-friendly restaurant
and entertainment venue including a
children’s play area. Take advantage
of the fantastic weather to explore the
desert with camel rides, coffee, pastries,
and a spectacular fire show.
Time: 3pm to 1am
Location: Nazwa, Sharjah
www.magzoid.com December 2022
15

COVER ARTIST
GRIEF
By Kelly Eden
16
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

Meet the
Phoenix that
arose from
her Ashes
- Exclusive to Magzoid
“Life simply has no room for the fluorescent washout of pure
white or for the rough, impermanent tradition of canvas as a medium,” says
Kelly.
Kelly Eden has lived a life worthy
of the art she aspires to create:
dramatic, layered, vibrant, and
unexpectedly meaningful.
When she was 17, she enrolled in the
Denver School of the Arts and fell in love
with oil painting. She was only there for a
short time before graduating and moving to
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
There, she honed her skills as a painter
and, in some ways, as a model for her
fellow artists, designing a very effective
social-media presence for herself. Her
online presence was so compelling that it
quickly went viral, attracting much attention
to Kelly and her work.
She graced magazine covers as an
alternative model, generating a lot of
interest in the “tattoo pastel” aesthetic she
represented at the time. Several magazines
spreads featured an intriguing double
feature with Kelly’s paintings alongside
photographs of herself. She leveraged her
artistic fame into a role as an “influencer”
and a successful YouTube personality. But
after nearly ten years of that life, Kelly was
compelled to quit because of the constant
stress, self-doubt, and online abuse she
was receiving.
“Eventually, with a new appreciation
for therapy, she began to rediscover her
partially neglected first love: painting,”
explains Kelly. She now uses paint to shape
the good and bad notions that have filled
her life with self-compelling significance.
Kelly Eden has found some of her artistic
purposes by reveling in the specifics of the
color wheel and color theory as someone
who rejects bland, titanium white.
“With a new
appreciation for
therapy, she began
to rediscover her
partially neglected
first love: painting,”
says Kelly.
“Life, as she sees it, simply has no
room for the fluorescent washout of “pure”
white—or for the rough, impermanent
“tradition” of canvas as a medium,” says
Kelly. Instead, she paints on aluminum
composite panels over a base of N5 grey,
focusing on the complex relationships
between the many colors she employs and
the interesting purities within them.
She paints in a realistic, time-consuming
style, focusing on lighting and context.
Thematically, she has begun to concentrate
on evocative portraits of imagined women
who represent the “saints” and “spirits” who
have shaped her fascinating life.
Kelly had spent most of her life
disconnected from religious thoughts and
feelings. As a result, when she discovered a
calling within herself to paint figures called
“Mother Lithium” or “Primordial Debt,” the
process gradually revealed to her a deep
and unnamed link between her life path and
something beyond.
Kelly’s year’s highlights have been
featured in NETFLIX’s “Amazing Interiors
series,” being accepted into the
Salmagundi Club, and being an Artefex
Featured Artist.
Kelly’s artistic vision—both very
specific in its imagery and very open in
its metaphors—has brought her strengths
together into a mature solidity as a result of
these figures’ mixtures of the positive and
the negative, the modern and the ancient.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
17

UAE 51st NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL
Image Courtesy: Salama Al Nuaimi
A Lookback: UAE’s Glorious
Emergence into the Art World
The United Arab Emirates, especially
its three largest emirates, have
diversely embraced Art and are
influenced by their respective
rulers’ and patrons’ visions. Dubai has
evolved into a commercial art center,
Abu Dhabi has invested in large-scale
international collaborations, and Sharjah
has connected local artists to an
international art scene.
The country has emerged as a global
crossroads for the Arts primarily due to the
UAE’s unique position between East and
West. Open immigration policies and an
oil-fueled economic boom have enticed
creative minds to the nation. Subsequently,
collectors and museum professionals have
followed in search of Art from the region.
The UAE experienced a period of
rapid artistic and cultural development in
the 2000s. After establishing economic
free zones, Christie’s opened in Dubai
to hold Middle East’s first modern and
contemporary art auction in 2006. The
UAE’s burgeoning art scene benefited from
diverse perspectives and experiences as
its expatriate population grew and galleries
sprouted across the country.
“This transformation has become an
enabler for the UAE’s young people and a
magnet for a cosmopolitan community of
over 200 nationalities living harmoniously
together and contributing to the country’s
strategic vision,” says Zaki Nusseibeh,
Cultural Adviser to the President of the UAE
and the Chancellor of UAE University.
Events, Museums, and International
Collaborations that champion UAE’s Art
Scene
The Arab World’s first universal museum,
The Louvre Abu Dhabi was established in
2017 under a mutual agreement between
the UAE and France signed in March 2007.
Described by the Louvre as “France’s
largest cultural project abroad,” Louvre
Paris authorized UAE to use the Louvre’s
name until 2037. The Louvre Abu Dhabi
is an architectural masterpiece that draws
inspiration from the UAE’s geography
and history. Designed as a micro-city with
55 detached rooms, visitors can wander
through like an Arab medina. The Louvre
Abu Dhabi intends to be a cultural meeting
place, both architecturally and culturally.
18 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

The Louvre Abu Dhabi boasts a
collection of over 600 artifacts that tells
stories of human creativity that transcend
place and time. The gallery is divided
into 12 chronological chapters, revealing
humanity’s common threads from prehistory
to today.
Art Dubai kicks off Dubai’s art season
at the Madinat Jumeirah Resort every
March. In the past 16 years, Art Dubai has
solidified its position as a significant catalyst
for dialogues about work from the Middle
East and the surrounding area (MENASA).
With displays across its gallery sections,
the fair facilitates meaningful engagement
with the region’s rich cultural heritage and
contemporary artistic practices, extending
to territories encompassing Southeast and
Central Asia, the African continent, and
Latin America.
UAE 51st NATIONAL DAY SPECIAL
arts and top-notch entertainment
shows. It is dedicated to creating and
hosting the world’s best-performing arts
events as it can accommodate events,
including conferences, galleries, opera,
ballet, concerts, fashion displays, live
entertainment, and orchestras.
Culture plays an essential role in the
future scene of ART in the UAE
Over the last few decades, the cultural
scene in the UAE has seen a dramatic
shift, marked by the rapid development of
art initiatives, institutions, auction houses,
galleries, and creative hubs. The country’s
annual art fair, biennale, and large-scale
international collaborations have also
gained international acclaim. However,
amid this rapid development, a crucial
question arises regarding the art scene’s
The Sharjah Biennial was primarily a
regional event organized in an exhibition
center after Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin
Muhammad Al-Qasimi launched it in 1993.
Artists from all over the world now attend
the biennial and the March Meeting, an
annual gathering dedicated to creating and
disseminating Art. The foundation launched
an online research platform in 2017 and
hosts year-long workshops. Today, the
biennial is well-known worldwide and hosts
exhibitions all over the city, largely thanks
to the leadership of his youngest daughter,
Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi.
The thriving Arts hub in Al Quoz’s
industrial zone began in 2005 with a single
gallery: The Third Line. The Third Line
attracted collectors from near and far by
giving a voice to Middle Eastern artists.
Because of its success, other galleries
shifted to Al Quoz areas. The space
remerged in 2007 as Alserkal Avenue,
thanks to the patronage of developer
Abdelmonem bin Eisa Alserkal.
The Dubai Design District, or d3, is a
neighborhood where creatives can “live,
work, and play.” It is the emirate’s first
creative cluster, housing everything from
design studios to hotels, luxury apartments,
and restaurants. Since its birth in 2015, d3
has nurtured talent across the region and
attracted high-profile global corporations.
“d3 is truly like no other creative community
in the world, housing global corporations,
growing SMEs, disruptive start-ups,
and visionary entrepreneurs in a shared
address,” states Khadija AlBastaki, the
Executive Director of d3.
The Dubai Opera, located on the
city’s waterfront, is an impressive
multi-use performing arts space and
Dubai’s vibrant center for culture and
the arts. Dubai Opera is a renowned
international destination for performing
connection to local communities and
audiences and its critical acknowledgment
and representation of earlier artistic
histories within the Emirates and the region.
Over the last two decades, the cultural
landscape of the Arab Gulf States has
undergone a seismic shift and has
contributed significantly to supporting its Art
science. The cultural scene has benefited
from the UAE’s unique federal political
system, as individual semi-autonomous
cities compete for cultural leadership
status in tandem with efforts by the Federal
Ministry of Culture to position the UAE as a
leading country in that field.
Today, there is no doubt that the UAE
is widely regarded as one of the region’s
premier Art and cultural destinations.
-editorial@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
19

CELEBRATING EMIRATI ARTIST
Celebrating Emirati Artistry
On December 2, 1971, the rulers of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah decided to unite
under one nation, with Ras Al Khaimah joining a year later. The United Arab Emirates marks its 51st National Day on
December 2, a joyous celebration of the unification of seven emirates and a marvelous annual spectacle across the
Emirates. The late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE’s Founding Father, led the efforts to unite the
emirates and became the first president. From parades and massive ceremonies to spectacular firework displays, the
annual occurrence is when Emiratis and expatriates join together to celebrate.
To commemorate the occasion, we would like to shed light on the brilliance of eight seasoned and upcoming artists native
to the land and commend their achievements.
Mattar Bin Lahej
An accomplished Emirati painter, sculptor,
and photographer, Mattar is the founder
of Marsam Mattar - the first gallery in the
UAE managed by an artist. Mattar was also
the calligrapher behind the unique facade
of the Museum of the Future. The Artist’s
most recent piece, Encyclopedia, will be on
display in The Dubai Mall’s Waterfall Atrium
until July 31.
Khalil Abdul Wahid
Khalil, an Emirati artist, born in the UAE, had his first creative training from
the late Hassan Sharif. He has participated in both regional and global group
exhibitions. Abdul Wahid took part in “Portrait of a Nation,” one of the most
significant UAE contemporary art exhibitions to date, in 2016 as part of the
Abu Dhabi Festival.
20 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

CELEBRATING EMIRATI ARTIST
Faisal Abdulqader
A self-taught Emirati artist who emphasizes
the more traditional side of the city through
his oil paintings, Faisal fell in love with art
in his childhood. He nurtured this hobby
by reading art-related books, meeting with
and learning from different artists across
the globe, and visiting international art
museums.
Abdul Qader Al Rais
The Emirati Artist is considered one of the country’s most iconic painters. Abdul Qader
explores the landscapes and traditions of his homeland. Retrospectives of Abdul Qader’s
extensive artistic career have been held at the Sharjah Art Museum and the Institut du
Monde Arabe. The Artist’s landscape was recenlty seen as the backdrop of President
Sheikh Mohamed’s address to the nation.
Fatma Lootah
A unique name in the art world, the UAE native,
excels in abstract art as well as performance art.
A household name in the world of art especially
hailed for minimizing the gap between the West
and the East by portraying her culture in her
artwork.
www.magzoid.com December 2022
21

CELEBRATING EMIRATI ARTIST
Maisoon Al Saleh
Born in 1988, Emirati artist and entrepreneur Maisoon Al Saleh works
actively as an artist in Dubai and internationally.
She has had 7 solo shows and has participated in around 100 art
exhibitions in 20 countries, including the Emirati Expression at Emirates
Palace in Abu Dhabi, ‘ART NOMADS: MADE IN THE EMIRATES’
exhibition presented by Etihad Modern Art Gallery, and several other in
Europe and the United States. Maisoon will publishing her first memoir
book with a publisher based in New York by the end of December 2022.
Shaima Al Awadhi
An emerging Emirati artist born in 1990, she is a flexible
artist whose strength lies in using mixed media, realistic
portraits, landscapes, abstract pieces, and digital painting.
She participated in Allianze Francais in Dubai and in Paris.
Moosa Sultan Al Halyan
An incredible artist, Moosa is specialized in drawing Official pictures of Sheikhs, Logo
designing for many reputed governmental organizations such as the Department of Land
and Property in UAE.
He has contributed to promoting and preserving Arabic calligraphy by designing new
fonts for institutions. Over the years, Moosa has received many awards and accolades for
his work.
22 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

ART NEWS
Nigeria’s electrical crisis is addressed
artistically by Akeem Adelake
The exhibition of paintings titled
“Light Resolutions” by Akeem
Adeleke, which addresses Nigeria’s
hydra-headed electricity supply
problem, could not have come at a better
time. The exhibition held at the public
opening at Legacy Empire Gallery began
on November 20, 2022, and continued
through November 24, 2022.
Curator Mathew Oyedele writes
beautifully about the theme that strikes at
the heart of Nigeria’s problem, ‘Darkness.’
The Darkness that was originated in
people’s minds and resulted physically in
the failure of the electricity supply.
“Nigeria may be Africa’s colossus, but
one of its most serious problems is erratic
power supply,” writes Oyedele. “This lack
of power has paralyzed economic activity
and hampered economic development.
Adeleke’s exploration of the theme of power
outages continues after the artist’s journey
to investigate Nigeria’s electricity problem.”
In this body of work, he explores the
themes of epileptic electricity, resolution,
class struggle, and human relationships.
The first section is divided into two parts.
It delves into Nigeria’s history, with the
artist metaphorically highlighting the failure
of the electricity sector and its impact on
the average citizen’s daily life through the
confrontation of light and Darkness.
Each piece in this section explains
how the struggle for electricity affects the
masses and the country’s overall economic
development. Adeleke is interested in how
we can solve problems as a country and
what can serve as a catalyst for the energy
sector’s future.
In the third section, the artist investigates
horses as metaphors for strength, forward
movement, progress, and power. The
audience is invited to enter the space and
share stories about social issues, solutions,
human relationships, and psychology.
When asked about his career as an artist,
his theme, and what inspires him, exhibiting
artist Akeem Adeleke says, “I want people
to see beyond the images I paint. I can’t
see past the horizon. Only the supreme God
has the ability to see beyond the horizon.”
“I trained both as an apprentice in 1992
and in school,” Adeleke says. He studied
fine art with a double major at the Federal
College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun
State, graduating in 2004. Philosophizing
his career, Adeleke says, “Artists express
themselves in many ways – talking, writing,
poetry, singing, etc. I express myself
through painting.”
Akeem also says that he found that
artists choose themes as objects of their
thought and work, like the oceans, animals,
or aspects of life. “I chose to make the
problems of Nigeria my country my theme
– the problem of electricity.” The electricity
problem in Nigeria, the artist says, “is a big
problem I want to be a thing of the past. I
am prophesying with my painting that the
problem of Darkness shall come to pass in
Nigeria.”
Akeem Adeleke, known for his meticulous
depictions of Nigerian landscapes, is a
futuristic artist with a vision and direction.
His luminous and detailed landscapes
express his vision for his country, even if
they contradict Nigerian reality.
- news@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
23

ARTIST STORIES | INSPIRE & EMPOWER
The Garden of Forking
Paths
By Lo Chang Peng
24 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

Leading with
Reflections of Heart
“The meaning of layer does not only signify
the issue of time, but also issues such as faith,
culture, gender, race, and nationality,” says Lo.
- Exclusive to Magzoid
In 1983, Lo Chang Peng was born to
his parents in the small town of Chiayi,
Taiwan. After graduating from the
Chinese Culture University and National
Taiwan Normal University with an MFA
in Western Painting, he became known
worldwide as a master of realism. He has
received plenty of awards and accolades,
such as the Art Renewal Centre People’s
Choice Awards (2020), Purchase Aware,
Honorable Mention, The Chi-mei cultivation
Awards (2007), and the Kaohsiung Award
(2008).
Lo has been working as an artist in
worldwide institutions such as ARC Salon,
Sotheby’s NY (2021), European museum
of modern art, Barcelona, Spain (2021),
and Berlin (2021). He completed his Artist
Residency in Berlin, Germany (2011), and
El Segundo Museum of Arts in LA, USA
(2013).
Lo paints in layers which is a traditional
oil painting method. A technique used
by Jan van Eyck, a great artist from the
Netherlands who lived in the fifteenth
century. To elaborate, painting with
numerous layers is referred to as “painting
in layers.” Here, the term “many layers”
refers to multiple layers of oil paint on the
canvas rather than a large number of color
gradations. Transparent and opaque areas
between layers produce optical dyeing
colors and light reflection, two distinct
effects of light. He sees this trait as a potent
allegory for the passage of time. The color
layer resembles a rock formation that took
years to build. Lo explains that “a long
period of time has been congealed in one
second as soon as the viewer looks at the
painting.”
One of the biggest challenges he faces
is ‘time’ itself. The process of his artwork
always consumes a lot of time; usually, it
takes him months to complete. He has the
impression that everyone else is moving
ahead while he remains stagnant. He sees
the world advancing through the window,
giving him the belief that he is on a fast
train. Only when he is reading or traveling
does this feeling go away. Other than that,
he has a distinct sense of time.
“The concept of Life and Death also
shows in my works,” expresses Lo. A body
with two sides, life and death- one lives but
endures constant tribulations while dying
with boundless inner force. He believes
that life’s force is revealed by death,
but life continually moves toward death.
Lumiére stands for his revised perception
of the nature of life and death. Amid
“The concept of
Life and Death also
shows in my works,”
expresses Lo
those distinctions are all of his inventions.
Before our lives come to an end, they
are a mystery game. After the untimely
passing of his ex-wife, it took him some soul
searching before he started painting again
as he wanted to share it with people—his
redemption is Lumiére.
“From now on, life and death, chaos and
order, piousness and sacrilege, release and
imprisonment, the incomprehensible gap
exist between here and this shore and the
other, all those differences are now merging
into a single. All my creations are in the
middle of those differences. They are a
mysterious game before we reach the end
of our lives,” says Lo
The horrifying anecdote of how our
ideas are constructed from layers of “social
notion.” An unintentionally seen news image
served as the inspiration for Children of
Syria. The image of the lifeless bodies of
Syrian children stacked up like a small hill
stunned him. The sense of melancholy
emanates from the photographs. Although
their lives have been cut short, he could
still sense power of life. Through his art,
he demonstrates his concern for those
deceased children. “The meaning of layer
does not only signify the issue of time, but
also issues such as faith, culture, gender,
race, and nationality,” says Lo.
Lo’s recent exhibitions include ‘From
hyperrealism to reality - Lo Chang Peng
Solo Exhibition’ (Taipei, 2020). He has
also attended International Art Fairs held
worldwide, such as in London, Tokyo,
Osaka, Busan, Seoul, Moscow, Singapore,
Taipei, etc. Galleries, museums, and
collectors worldwide have acquired his
paintings, such as ESMoA, the National
Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Chi-met
Museum, and Union Culture Foundation.
-feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
25

EVENT COVERAGE
From October 12 to October 15,
2022, Abu Dhabi hosted the Abu
Dhabi International Boat Show
which showcased the news of the
companies’ in uae and internationals related
to sectors of Motor boats, Boats, and such,
moving Abu Dhabi further into the spotlight
as an excellent yachting destination along
with the aid of the show’s strategic partner,
Abu Dhabi Maritime.
The fourth edition of ADIBS was
conducted in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition
Centre’s (ADNEC) marina extended to the
new waterfront Marina Hall. The cuttingedge
location is one of the few venues
that can simultaneously accommodate
indoor, outdoor, and maritime events. The
majority of the marina will be taken up by
the exhibition, and 40% more vessels will
be in attendance than in previous years.
The event has already earned a reputation
as a beautiful day out for boat enthusiasts
and their families, cultivating a welcoming
environment where marine enthusiasts
can see and learn about the most recent
products in the boating, fishing, and water
sports industries over an area measuring
more than 40,000 square meters.
Leading companies with various exciting
new debuts, including Sunreef Yachts
and Falcon Tenders, were the exhibitors
for the 2022 event. The occasion was a
fantastic opportunity to highlight the area’s
boat manufacturers and their most recent
releases. E.V.O. Yachts unveiled their E.V.O.
Yacht R4, and other yachts included Gulf
Craft, I Marine, and Gulf Master, the three
prominent UAE-based manufacturers.
Mayla Yachts and S.A.Y. Carbon Yachts of
Germany were also presented with in-water
demonstrations.
Magzoid Magazine was delighted
to support ADIBS 2022 as the Creative
Magazine Partner for the event. Magzoid
added more vibrancy to the phenomenal
event with multiple strategic activations. One
of the most prominent was the art installation,
a 6 meters deep Tank. The tank was painted
within 12 hours by Sally Moustafa, an acrylic
abstract artist, who revealed that it was her
first time painting a giant canvas, making
it the largest fish tank to be painted in the
26
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

EVENT COVERAGE
U.A.E. The tank was then filled with water
and 40 live fish provided by Emirates
international agricultural advanced
company.
Along with the tank, there were other
unique activations by artists Alena
Burakova, Natalia Lukomskaya, and Dr.
Seema Bhatia. They jointly painted a
29-meter canvas wall, one of the most
extensive walls painted at an exhibition in
U.A.E.
The Navigation Hub, a 700 sqm area,
activated by Magzoid Magazine, displayed
art from across the region with 28+ artists
showcasing different works of art and
styles. The V.I.P.s entrance of the navigation
hub was beautifully conceptualized and
designed by Iryna Barsuk, Eiman Mohamed
AlQubati, and Mona Moheb. The pillars
showcased the story of Abu Dhabi with the
oceans on two pillars, the importance of the
desert, and the roots of the city on another.
The fourth pillar embraced the pride, and
patriotic love one feels when one sees the
colors of U.A.E. soaring high in the sky.
Additionally, a significant number of art
pieces were showcased across the hub.
Each piece was designed carefully to
showcase love, armor, calmness, life, and
everything that resonates with Abu Dhabi
and its waters, including a royal artwork
of Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, created with
7000 crystals from Swarovski by Nadia
Adamenko.
-events@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
27

EVENT COVERAGE
28
December 2022
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EVENT COVERAGE
www.magzoid.com December 2022
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EVENT COVERAGE
30
December 2022
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EVENT COVERAGE
www.magzoid.com December 2022
31

EVENT COVERAGE
32
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

www.magzoid.com December 2022
33

WAREHOUSE421 ARTIST
34
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

Meet
Mohamed Khalid
WAREHOUSE421 ARTIST
Khalid’s topic is the hunt for connection, or more specifically,
knowledge of the systems that come together to generate
communication, from handwriting to social media algorithms
to scraps of paper.
Mohamed Khalid probes the
metaphorical possibilities
of commonplace items’
materiality. He explores the
ironies in his daily life by forging invoices,
playing with stray kittens, creating fictitious
journeys, and taking business pens. A
random flânerie that initially addresses
philosophical and phenomenological issues
turns into a methodical formula that reveals
the spatial, poetic linkages between his
topics and their frangible correlation to
people.
Khalid has previously participated
in group exhibitions at Art Dubai,
Warehouse421, and Yorkshire Sculpture
Park. He is a graduate of the Salama bint
Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship
(SEAF) and Campus Art Dubai 7.0
programmes.
He got the inspiration for his first
institutional solo show from actual instances
of missed communication, including a note
left on his windshield, letters he never sent
to his second-grade teacher, and an email
exchange in which he tries to find missing
items on a budget European bus.
Khalid’s topic is the hunt for connection,
or more specifically, knowledge of the
systems that come together to generate
communication, from handwriting to social
media algorithms to scraps of paper. Then
he painstakingly captures these moments
with manual labor, as if reclaiming the work
or transferring it from the instantaneous,
instantaneous realm of digital code or the
anonymous communication of those in the
city into the analog, visible realm.
Khalid uses modest motions that are
inspired by discovered objects while
working in a conceptual register. Despite
his proficiency with post-1960s techniques,
he started his undergraduate training
in architecture rather than painting. His
artwork and projects focus on his built
environment and surroundings, which he
sees as being full of connections that could
be made. The sun behind him is used to
imprint words on cyanotype paper; the
streets are full of stray cats that he holds
in his hands, and the windshield that is
glinting in the sun serves as a noticeboard
for communication.
Because of the gig economy and the
uprooting of some forms of labor, many
of these problems of disconnection
have economic foundations. During his
employment, Khalid created several
cyanotype prints, which are photographs
that change color when exposed to
sunlight. An encounter in which Khalid
was left behind on an inexpensive inter-
European bus inspired the lengthy
composition Flixbus. He sought to retrieve
the materials for months, but since the
drivers had temporary employment, there
needed to be a central database that
indicated who was traveling which route.
Algorithmic flaws, or instances of
everyday life that trip up the systems that
have been developed to make sense of it,
are also ready for exposure. In Replica of a
Shadow, he recreated Instagram pictures
that a friend had seen of shadows of people
who appeared to be him and had shortish,
“For those who take
the time to see the
world through his
eyes, it’s a beautiful
representation,”
says Mohamed Khalid
bushy hair. He watched the sun rise and set
to determine the best time of day to take
photos that would show the original and
performed versions side by side.
Although filled with regrettably lost
chances and system flaws, the show
is unexpectedly upbeat—almost like a
fantasy come true. Time is repurposed
from the monetary, quantifiable method
of accounting for labor—Khalid clocking
off during his lunch break; the Flixbus
driver, paid hourly with no benefits—and
transformed into non-alienated labor,
produced with the hands or in a social
field. For those who take the time to see
the world through his eyes, it’s a beautiful
representation.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
35

WAREHOUSE421 ARTIST
36 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

Meet
Paola Sakr
Paola is a strong
proponent of ongoing
innovation and simplicity
and is passionate
about research and
experimentation.
Designer Paola Sakr is a multitalented
native of Lebanon.
She earned a Product Design
bachelor’s degree with honors
from the Académie Libanaise des Beaux-
Arts and opened Studio Paola Sakr in Beirut
in 2016. She moved to Dubai in October
2020, where she continues her work.
Paola is a strong proponent of ongoing
innovation and simplicity and is passionate
about research and experimentation. Her
consistent use of material innovation and
experimentation in her projects frequently
makes the medium the message.
Her works were displayed across
galleries in the Middle East and Europe.
She also received Maison & Objet’s “Rising
Talents Award” in September 2018. In
addition to being a finalist for the Créateurs
Design Awards’ “Best Collaboration”
category alongside Virgil Abloh x Baccarat
and Workshop/APD x Arteriors, her most
recent public collection, “Sundays” for
Kvadrat, was longlisted in the Dezeen
Awards’ best homeware category.
Her debut exhibition, Harvest Feast, is an
informative and artistic work that addresses
a pressing issue in the UAE rather than
being a functional product.
She recently unveiled a brand-new line
of meditative blankets and throws, a project
close to her heart. She exhibited Pipe
Dreams, her most recent vase collection,
at Dubai Design Week with the Italian
design platform Isola. She is also primarily
concentrating on new furniture lines that
will be released before the end of the year.
Paola is also enthusiastic about the “On
Foraging” exhibition because it marks her
debut as a featured artist.
Despite, if not precisely because of,
the UAE’s arid environment, Paola Sakr’s
sculptures explore the paradoxes of nonseasonal
food consumption and highlight
the kinds of seasonal produce that are
possible and readily available there. The
sculpture, made up of about 100 colorful
ceramic fruits and vegetables, functions as
a physical infographic. Sakr uses authentic
produce to create plaster molds for casting
the ceramic copies that will preserve each
piece’s distinctive shape and intricate
texture. White, brown, green, and pink
are the four pastel colors of all ceramic
products, and they each signify the season
in which they were harvested.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
37

WAREHOUSE421 ARTIST
38 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

WAREHOUSE421 ARTIST
Meet Auguste Nomeikaite
Auguste uses visual media to depict psychologically complex situations that are
challenging to describe verbally and are frequently disregarded by the judicial
system.
Auguste Nomeikaite was born and
brought up in Kauna, Lithuania.
She came to the UAE in 2018 to
study film at New York University
Abu Dhabi. Her artistic works frequently
address intimate abuse, collective
identities, and sustainability. Auguste is a
participant in the 2022 Jameel Arts Center
Youth Assembly.
She is an occasional writer, filmmaker,
and photographer in Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates. At 8, she took out her
father’s point-and-shoot camera; ten years
later, she relocated to the UAE to enroll
in New York University Abu Dhabi’s B.A.
programme in film and new media.
Since then, she has become even
more passionate about affective media,
non-linear story structures, and abstract
emotions. The feminine gaze’s fascination
weaves together her artwork with disease,
violent kinds of affection, and ecology.
Projects on domestic violence, emotional
abuse in romantic relationships, and
other emotionally charged topics have
resulted from her unwavering interest in
interpersonal violence (IPV). To depict
psychologically complex situations that
are challenging to describe verbally and
are frequently disregarded by the judicial
system, Auguste uses visual media.
From the Field, a picture series, offers
striking looks into agriculture’s evolving
nature in arid areas and the UAE.
Nomeikaite introduces the audience to
surprising strategies used at farms in dry
environments that illustrate the nuanced
relationship between technology and
culture. These strategies are drawn from
the insights and experiences gathered over
many research trips.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
39

ART TALK
A look into Art World’s
conscious shifts towards
an inclusive market
The art world is a dynamic
ecosystem that always remains in
flux. Ideas and inspirations come
and go, sometimes defined by time
or events. The environment and the society
in which the artist finds themselves defines
the art they create. This rise and fall of the
trends in the art world have seen some
radical changes post-pandemic, which
has led to a vital movement that has begun
redefining the world of art - Inclusivity, and
Diversity.
Change is often the result of a new push
and a new generation. According to 2021
figures from Christie’s, a third of recent
buyers were millennials. Inspiring collectors
to think from a new perspective, which
evolved into supporting local businesses
through art and collecting those that have a
distinct social impact in their communities.
The onset of the digital marketplace and
exhibitions have encouraged collectors
to pursue their interests from the safety
of their homes. This facility enables
the participation of the broader public,
who otherwise would have been unable
to partake in such communities. The
technology has removed barriers to entry
and provided a way for the market to
become more transparent and accessible.
An inclusive market translates to diverse
communities of people having access to
avenues and people appreciating their
approach to art. Museums and other
institutions are in a position to enable the
entrance of new creatives who wish to share
their perspectives with the larger audience
that these institutions can provide.
Auction house Christie’s, for example,
strengthened its efforts to increase
Diversity and representation in 2021 by
appointing more women (including BIPOC)
to executive roles and establishing a 50/50
gender balance of auctioneers.
Tricia Heuring, curator and coordinator
of the Minneapolis-based art collection for
RBC Wealth Management–U.S., says she’s
seen “more openness” in the art world
40 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

ART TALK
than ever. “The art world has always been
a very exclusionary place,” says Heuring.
However, societal shifts over the past few
years have helped change that. “In trying to
dismantle structures and systems that have
been oppressive—by really breaking open
the art world in that way—these shifts are
creating new markets, communities, and
rules of engagement.”
Nothing plays a more significant role in
ensuring an inclusive market than social
media. Artists can now share their work
directly with their audience—a community
with a specific interest in owning the
artwork and an artist to meet this demand.
“There are artists who really don’t need
gallery representation anymore because
they have 50,000 followers on Instagram
and have a built-in audience of their own,”
says Heuring. “They share their process
throughout the year, then offer their artwork
when it’s available—and their own audience
just purchases it directly from them.”
Millennials have already begun
permanently impacting the art world;
galleries, auction houses, and art dealers
must be aware of the shifting expectations
within this demographic.
Institutions are preparing to embrace
the digital transformation of the art sphere
and provide new and immersive ways for
younger audiences to view and buy art
online, whether through more significant
investment in social media channels or
online viewing rooms.
A direct and active connection with the
art world through online platforms and a
greater demand for new ways to view and
purchase art have significantly heralded
the shift of artwork to a more inclusive and
active ecosystem.
- editorial@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
41

ARTIST IN FOCUS
Multidisciplinary Art
Breathing Life into
Notions with Art
“What’s important to me as an artist is capturing the histories and nuances of
my context and share my connection to the land with my audience,” says Hashel.
Emirati painter and multidisciplinary
artist Hashel Al Lamki’s art unpacks the
relationship between humankind and their
habitat, the wild and constructed.
Born in the shadow of the monumental
Jebel Hafeet Mountain in Al Ain, Hashel
bore witness to the complex social and
spatial dynamics that followed exponential
development in the Gulf. Al Ain’s
Bedouin culture, distinct social values,
archaeological sites, and rugged terrain
starkly contrasted with the rapid industrial
and architectural growth that Hashel
observed in the neighboring Emirates.
In 2011 Hashel received his BFA from
Parsons School of Design, the New School,
New York City. He contributed to several
philanthropic collaborative projects in
Central and North America. Al Lamki
worked in disaster-stricken Guatemala and
Haiti and in low-income communities in the
US. A focus on sustainable practices and
social cohesion united his cultural projects.
Upon returning to Abu Dhabi in 2014,
Hashel was awarded the Salama bint
Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship. Postfellowship,
in 2018, he joined forces with
artists in the UAE that shared a common
cause. Together, they established a
community centered around contemporary
art in the Emirates, Bait 15. The artistrun
gallery space allowed local artists to
engage in critical dialogue.
Hashel Al Lamki has had the pleasure of
participating in two international events in
the last three months. The Lyon Biennale’s
Manifesto of Fragility allowed him to
broaden his practice. The challenge for
Hashel was to create work in situ at Lyon’s
Museum Guimet. Using new mediums such
as painting, textile installation, sculpture,
audio, and video added a new level of
sophistication to the task. Rodinia was an
opportunity for him to think through and
synthesize the connections he sees as an
artist between the earth, its ecosystems,
and humanity.
The Emirati artist’s love of travel and
immersion has been a constant source of
inspiration for him. Hashel’s goal as an artist
is to capture the histories and nuances of
the land through his lenses and context to
establish a connection with his audience.
Hashel applies this principle to his work by
using natural pigments indigenous to the
MENA region.
“Being an Emirati artist is no different
from being an artist from any other place in
the world. We are human, and we all share
experiences, and much of my output is
engaged with universal human connections
and experiences,”says Hashel.
As artists, they go through critical
reflection, attempt to understand and
expand the technical aspects of art-making,
and share their outcomes with the public.
“What’s important to me as an artist is
capturing the histories and nuances of my
context and share my connection to the
land with my audience,” says Hashel.
“Having a critical
dialogue between
what I produce
and the responses it
generates is at the
core of my studio
practice,” says Hashel.
This is expressed in Hashel’s use of
natural pigments that are indigenous to the
MENA region.
“Having a critical dialogue between what
I produce and the responses it generates
is at the core of my studio practice,” says
Hashel.
- feature@magzoid.com
42 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

ARTIST IN FOCUS
The World
Through Her Lens
“Expressing myself through my Emarati culture,
many of my paintings depict patriotic themes and
the Emirati experience through a female lens,” says
Roudhah.
Abu Dhabi-based Emirati visual artist
Roudhah Al Mazrouei was born in Al Ain in
2003. From her younger years, Roudhah
had an immense interest in art. Since 2016,
she began honing her skills as a painter.
Roudhah specializes in the medium of oil,
incorporating surrealistic methodologies.
“Expressing myself through my Emarati
culture, many of my paintings depict
patriotic themes and the Emirati experience
through a female lens,” says Roudhah.
She explains that her studio work is
influenced by many things surrounding
and inspiring her. It draws strongly on the
complexity of the deeply rooted culture
referenced through her memories and
endeavors.
“I picture myself, an entity, a visual
being, passing through these experiences,
surveying and depicting what my eyes
witness,” expresses Roudhah.
‘Ambience’ has always been at the
forefront of her visual understanding,
whether or not it was in her conscious mind.
Her culture, the Emirati Culture’s history of
civilization, nature, and ethics, inspires her
to look into how our identities have been
created, constructed, and transmitted
through her angle of femininity and her
understanding’s reiteration.
Roudhah was featured on Vogue Arabia,
The National, Emirates TV, and many other
local media channels for her work. She is a
2020 Bilingual International Baccalaureate
Diploma graduate, where she specialized in
Visual Arts at the Higher Level. As of 2022,
she is a junior studying Visual Arts and Art
History at New York University Abu Dhabi.
“Being an Emirati artist is an opportunity
to portray my presence and perspective of
the young female Emirati experience from a
creative context,” expresses Roudhah.
- feature@magzoid.com
“I picture myself, an
entity, a visual being,
passing through
these experiences,
surveying and
depicting what my
eyes witness,” says
Roudhah.
www.magzoid.com December 2022
43

SPECIAL DAY
Christmas Day
On December 25th of every year,
people across the globe observe
the celebration of Christmas.
A day to spend with our loved
ones cherishing their roles.
Many believe the annual celebration
commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ,
the spiritual leader of Christianity, and
celebrates it religiously and culturally
across the planet. Christmas is celebrated
under different names in different cultures,
but its principle remains the same - a day
to remember the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
The term “Christmas” is derived from the
Old English word “Cristes maesse,” (Christ’s
Mass), which alludes to the Catholic custom
of performing a particular mass service to
commemorate Jesus.
Santa Claus, a legendary character who
traditionally serves as Christmas’s patron
saint in the United States and other nations,
brings presents to kids across the world
in his reindeer sleigh. But only the kids on
the nice list; as the famous Christmas carol
goes, “he’s gonna find out who’s naughty
or nice.” His well-known image is based
on customs related to Saint Nicholas, a
Christian saint from the fourth century. In
several European nations, Father Christmas
serves in this capacity.
Santa Claus isn’t the only widely
practiced Christmas custom; many people
also enjoy the holiday season by watching
Christmas movies, singing Christmas
carols, decorating Christmas trees,
exchanging gifts, decorating their homes,
and indulging in popular Christmas foods.
It is indeed the most beautiful time of the
year, and Dubai is one of the best cities for
merry-making with your loved ones. The
day also reminds us to appreciate the world
we live in, for being grateful for what you
have is the greatest form of appreciation for
your loved ones.
44
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

ART NEWS
Lagos Art Fair Encourages Climate
Change Awareness with Local Talent
More than 120 musicians from
40 different African nations
were invited to ART X in Lagos,
the thriving commercial hub of
Nigeria. The mission of ART X is to learn
from the African people. The fair’s theme,
“Who Will Gather Under the Baobab Tree?”
sought to draw on African knowledge to
solve political upheaval and climate change
issues.
For our spectacular seventh edition art
fair, 31 leading international galleries were
brought together from around the world to
showcase over 120 bold and daring artists
from Africa and its Diaspora. It was held
at The Federal Palace for a weekend of
contemplation and celebration.
The founder, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig,
stated, “We wanted to harness the arts and
creativity to address all the difficulties that
we noticed in our society.”
One such issue is climate change
since flooding has left ruins far beyond
the borders of the fair. Desertification has
intensified violence in Nigeria’s middle belt,
which is rich in agriculture. The drought
has exacerbated food insecurity throughout
Africa.
By identifying answers that support the
African way of thinking, art now has the
opportunity to reinvent cultural identity. The
seventh edition of the fair was held from
November 4–6, 2022. Afterward, world
leaders from Africa and other continents
gathered in Egypt for two weeks of UN
negotiations to forge a global accord on
combating climate change.
- news@magzoid.com
“We wanted
to harness
the arts and
creativity to
address all
the difficulties
that we
noticed in our
society.”
www.magzoid.com December 2022
45

ARTIST STORIES | INSPIRE & EMPOWER
Our Mother Home
By Lupo Sole
46
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

Upside-Down World by Artist Lupo Sole
- Exclusive to Magzoid
“It would be wonderful if art had more relevance in the educational system and in the training
of children, perhaps this would awaken sensitivities, creativity, and another way of approaching
life. From that perspective, I think the future could be a little more hopeful,” says Lupo.
Afigurative painter who depicts life
scenes, memories, contradictions,
and thoughts in his work,
Lupo Sol was born in 1973 in
Barakaldo, Vizcaya. He (Lupo) enjoys
expressionism, and his style incorporates a
variety of influences.
Residing in Alicante, Lupo grew
up reading comic books and drawing
characters. His first encounter with oil
paint was when he was ten years old, but
the experience was short-lived. He soon
left the academy where he was enrolled
after painting some copies of traditional
landscapes.
Lupo later devoted himself to music,
fanzines, and surreal poetry. Until he moved
to Madrid to work as a graphic and web
designer, he only occasionally painted a
few pastel drawings.
He moved to Alicante to live with his
partner, Vida, after a decade as a formal
employee. There, he could resurrect his
pictorial vein and survive the dominant
“normalcy,” devoting himself to his art more
than ever.
In 2015, he had the opportunity to
participate in his first exhibition as part of
an Asturias festival. His participation in
his exhibitions has been relatively limited
since then, with him making himself
more known through social networks.
Lupo identifies with the Stuckists, a
movement that advocates for the
purest painting and art, and has
participated in some of the group’s
collective exhibitions.
His fixation and clear pictorial
influence have been among the
expressionists of the twentieth
century, particularly Kirchner,
Chagall, Munch, and Ensor, to name a
few. Still, he is constantly surprised by the
masters of the baroque, whose colors he
attempts to investigate.
The sarcastic tone evident in many of
his works or drawings is derived from other
sources, perhaps closer to Robert Crumb
than to Otto Dix, George Grosz, and other
artists who painted on social issues.
With all of this, he gradually built a career
and a way of life for himself. He knows
it’s complicated, but he wants to burn his
cartridges and exhaust the possibilities,
learning and adding color to an otherwise
gray world.
Some exhibition projects in Siberia were
abandoned due to the arrival of the global
pandemic, which turned everything upside
down. Since then, none of his works have
been
exhibited, except
for a
small painting
in a
London gallery,
courtesy of
members of
the Stuckism
collective.
On the other
hand, one of his
works served
as the
“I enjoy expressionism,
and my style
incorporates a variety
of influences,” says
Lupo.
cover for the debut book of a young Iranian
writer, and he has recently collaborated on
the book of a Basque musician, which will
be released in December.
“I don’t believe in art as a tool for social
change, at least in these times we live in,”
says Lupo. However, he believes art may
enrich you and make you a better person
on an individual level.
“It would be wonderful if art had more
relevance in the educational system and
in the training of children, perhaps this
would awaken sensitivities, creativity, and
another way of approaching life. From that
perspective, I think the future could be a
little more hopeful,” concludes Lupo.
Lupo, who only signs with the word ‘Sol’,
does not lavish much on exhibitions or
shows beyond the Internet, although he is
still open to other stimuli. He thinks that he
still has a lot to tell and to shout, sometimes
with anger, others with love, but never with
indifference.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com 47

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHS
4
5
6
4
@gibsterg
@khd_uae
@m_aljassmii
5
@mat_gec
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@pixtarami
6
@sakipix_
@sebastien.nagy
@sidharthvithaldas
48 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

Middle
Eastern Health
& Beauty
Stamegna Retail Management, one
of the leading FMCG conference
organizers for buyers and suppliers
catering to the Food/Beverages
and Health & Beauty sectors, held its most
successful event in Dubai, the Grand
Millennium, from November 6–7, 2022. The
event marked the end of a series of events
successfully arranged throughout the year,
keeping the Middle East market trends in
mind.
The Stamegna team managed to host
both events simultaneously in a span of
2 days. The diverse events hosted up to
45 buyers from the top Middle Eastern
retail groups and almost 25 suppliers from
Europe, South America, Asia, and the
Middle East.
Buyers such as Carrefour, Life
Pharmacy, LuLu Group, and Sharjah Coop
have attended the events since their advent
in the UAE in 2018. Every year, the list gets
extended to accommodate the needs of the
suppliers.
Stamegna Retail Management has been
connecting buyers with suppliers to support
the roll-out of exciting new consumer
products in the market. The unique aspect
of the event lies in the ideology that buyers
and suppliers get together for customized
and prearranged face-to-face meetings
based on product category matches, which
provide scope for productive discussions.
Accommodation and networking are also
taken care of by Stamegna. Suppliers
-events@magzoid.com
EVENT COVERAGE
and buyers attend knowing their business
requirements will be taken care of, making
it seamless and hassle-free. The meeting
attendees leave feeling content with the
outcome of the meetings as Stamegna
ensures they deliver what they had
promised.
Once again, Stamegna ends the year
on a high note by announcing that they will
return next year, in May 2023, with a bigger
and better event.
www.magzoid.com December 2022
49

Artist Spotlight
50
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

Artist Spotlight
In his words: With the Indian pop-music artist
Armaan Malik
On the eve of his sold-out show
at The Agenda for Winter
Music Fest on November 25th,
Magzoid sat down with the
Prince of Pop, Armaan Malik, on a breezy
afternoon. With the beautiful scenery of
Dubai’s Al Seef creek behind, and the soft
sun rays peaking out of the clouds, the
heartthrob sat in his comfy casual wear with
a Dior mini saddle bag hanging to his left
shoulder. Although on a rigorous schedule
from his Next 2 You India Tour, the ‘You’
singer seemed cheery as usual..
Q. Was there any moment when you
felt like this was what you were meant
to do? Did you always think that
you were capable of everything you
accomplished?
I always felt that I was capable of doing
it. Everything happened at an age when I
probably thought it wouldn’t occur. I always
knew this was what I was meant to do. But
I didn’t expect it to transpire so quickly and
so early on in my career. I always pray that I
am prepared for everything coming my way.
Q. You are trained in classical Indian
music, and you also produce your
music. So when you go through the
process, does this impact or have a huge
influence? Do you impart elements of it
to your production?
Not necessarily. For me, Indian classical
music is the base of singing. The vocal
training that I have is in classical music, but
I only use it in my songs if I see the need for
it. However, while singing, the training that
I have done in Indian classical has always
helped me become a better singer.
Q. It’s evident you have a crazy schedule,
so what inspires you to keep grinding?
It is the love of my fans, the Armaanians,
and my love for music that keeps me
going. Otherwise, I don’t think I could
make it every day. Every day is super tiring
and exhausting. When I have music in
my life and the people I love around me,
especially my fans-Armaanians whom I
keep meeting either online or offline, it gives
me so much hope for life, enthusiasm, and
encouragement to keep going on.
Q. What is the craziest moment you have
experienced as an Artist?
I think the craziest experience or the
most life-changing experience that I had
was the moment a few months ago when
I met Ed Sheeran at a concert backstage
in Copenhagen. We had also collaborated
on a song called ‘2 step’. To meet him
in person and to be able to have a
conversation with him was most definitely
a dream come true moment for me as an
artist.
Q. You won MTV Europe Music Awards
for the second time in a row, a fantastic
moment for you and your fellow citizens.
Do you believe Indian Music is gaining
more global recognition? Are you
consciously putting effort into getting
Indian music out there?
Since I was a kid, I have always dreamed
of taking Indian artists and Indian music
globally. Such wins as the MTV EMA
awards for my songs ‘Control’ and ‘You’
give me more and more hope. It instills in
me the faith that this is achievable. Since
people are positively responding to my
music and me as a singer outside of India,
it could mean that there is a potential for
Indian artists to break through globally and
become household names outside of India
and outside of the Indian diaspora. So, yes,
it is something I am conscious of, and it is a
dream of mine to see more and more Indian
artists gain exposure on a global scale.
Q. Art, no matter its medium, helps
unlock emotions and alter one’s mood,
trigger memories, and act as a source of
comfort and inspiration. What kind of an
Artist would you like to be known as in
the future?
I would love to be remembered as a
person who spreads love, happiness, and
positivity. As an artist, defining my artistry is
going to be very difficult for me because I
sing in so many different languages, many
different emotions, and genres. Therefore,
defining my art would truly feel unfair to
my heart because it is not definable. It is
something that is an intangible emotion,
something that makes people feel
something without actually knowing what
it is.
Q. We have a fun question for you, what
was your last google search?
It was Germany versus Japan, as I’m
a big German football fan. I mean, it’s
impressive to see all the underdogs killing
it right now, but I was a little sad to see
Germany lose because it’s such a strong
team otherwise.
Q. What quote resonates with you the
most?
I write a lot of my quotes. There was this
one quote I’d written when I was bullied in
school, “yes, you did beat me in school but
I beat you in life.”
Q. Lastly, what would you like to tell
our readers, your fans- to anyone who
aspires to be an artist?
I want to tell all my Armaanians, and
all the upcoming artists who aspire to be
musicians, artists, and singers please
work on your art with all that you have.
Give your 100% at anything you desire to
do. Make sure if you aspire to be a singer,
then learn singing, practice, and become
nearly perfect. While no one can become
perfect, be the closest you can get to
perfection. Make sure you do your absolute
best when you’re asked to sing and create.
Obviously, it is vital to put your art out there,
put yourself out there by posting videos to
promote yourself. There is nothing wrong
with doing that, and it’s imperative in today’s
time. Nevertheless, the core aspect is to
work on your craft and art and hone it to
perfection because there’s no place for
mediocrity in this world.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
51

ARTIST STORIES | INSPIRE & EMPOWER
Pop Art
By Matt Gondek
52 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

Deconstructive Pop Art
- Exclusive to Magzoid
“My work is in response to what I consider our “modern day
gods” (Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, and other huge corporate
characters), paired with my love of Punk Rock and the ethos
behind that such as anti-conformity and the tearing down of
those false deities,” says Matt.
Matt Gondek is a Deconstructive
Pop Artist, whose work is
possessed with a punk rock
spirit, celebrating rebellion
and destruction. With a visceral pop
color palette and a disarmingly playful
tone, he tears down cartoon idols, akin to
slaughtering our modern-day gods. Born in
1982, his creative voice is rooted in the 90s;
as a true conduit of his generation and their
potentially pointless search for meaning
and purpose amidst a cruel life in a flawed
world. He boasts sold-out exhibitions in
his home of Los Angeles as well as in New
York, Paris, and Hong Kong.
“My work is in response to what I
consider our “modern day gods” (Mickey
Mouse, Bugs Bunny, and other huge
corporate characters), paired with my love
of Punk Rock and the ethos behind that
such as anti-conformity and the tearing
down of those false deities,” says Matt.
His most recent successes include
the Tokyo Exhibition’s “Missing Person”
exhibit, featuring 15 new acrylic works from
November 12 to December 2, together with
drawings and screen prints. 300 uniquely
“One of the many
roles of the artist is
to use their work to
document current
situations and culture,”
Matt expresses.
handmade Fight Club Baseball bats with
spikes specially constructed and combined
with an NFT component released in
conjunction with MakersPlace.
Matt also has his own podcast, Clean
Break, revitalizing my Art and Business
which is relaunching in January 2023 where
he also interviews artists, galleries, and art
collectors across the world.
With all the voices across the globe
demanding for changes, he also advocates
and believes art can be used as a tool to
inspire others to take action or to teach.
“I think one of the many roles of the artist
is to use their work to document current
situations and culture,” Matt expresses.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
53

ART ADVICE
54 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

ART ADVICE
A Case of the
Night Owls
Atale as old as time, human beings
begin their days as the sun rises
and end them as the moon rises.
The concept of being social
and productive by carrying out one’s
responsibilities and duties in the morning
rather than at night is ingrained in our
animal tendencies, which are governed by
the availability of sunlight. A fact we never
questioned before; now, in the twentyfirst
century, it is all the more important
when the most significant concern that
many millennials express is a lack of time
to accomplish what they have set out to
achieve.
Despite the fact that we have 24 hours
to complete our tasks, some of us function
best in the morning, while others perform
best at night—the early birds and the night
owls.
Generally, early birds tend to go to bed
early, wake up early, feel their best as the
day begins, have less energy as time goes
by, and have a hard time functioning at
night. In contrast, night owls tend to stay
up late, enjoy sleeping in, feel their best
later in the day, have more energy at night,
feel tired after waking up early, and have
difficulty staying alert during the day.
But the world functions only during the
daytime rather than at night. Since most
of society is structured around a daytime
schedule—9 to 5 workdays or daytime
school and college classes—late risers
might have a more challenging time holding
a traditional job. Young night owls might
even have trouble adjusting to a fixed
school schedule.
Hence, one needs to understand a
particular question about night owls.
Have we, as a society, adapted to what
works best for artists, writers, and other
creative professionals as well? Instead of
acclimating them to a structure that does
not benefit them or their creative process?
Research suggests that one’s sleep
schedule is defined by their genetics.
Researchers at the University of Liege in
Belgium monitored 15 extreme night owls
and 16 extreme early birds in a lab. The
volunteers had their brain activity measured
an hour and a half after waking up and
again 10.5 hours later. In the morning
test, the early birds and the night owls
performed nearly the same regarding their
responsiveness. But after 10.5 hours, the
night owls showed faster reaction times and
were more alert than the early birds.
Interestingly, it sheds light on the fact
that, with time, the night owls’ routine began
to benefit them. Jumping on the same
bandwagon, we can even entertain the idea
that night owls are more productive at night,
similar to early birds during the day.
So, does working late at night help
people find creative solutions?
Researchers at the Catholic University
of the Sacred Heart in Miami found
that evening-oriented people are
more creative than their morning and
intermediate counterparts. As Professor
Marina Giampietro explains, being in a
nocturnal environment “may encourage the
development of a non-conventional spirit
and of the ability to find alternative and
original solutions.”
Evening types tend to be more
innovative, and their unusual habits enable
them to find creative, non-conventional
solutions.
We are not alluding to the fact that night
owls are better since it’s not a skill that
can be learned. But we must accept that
it’s genetic, and learn how to find better
solutions to accommodate these skills
when it matters. In this age, we must work
towards letting ourselves create according
to our energy levels instead of mindlessly
following age-old practices.
We urge all creatives to pay attention to
how their energy levels deplete or restore
throughout the day and adopt a schedule
that makes them present their best selves.
Regardless of where you fit in the box, at
the end of the day, it matters most that you
get the right amount of sleep to maintain
good health and produce conscious output.
Only then can we proactively and mindfully
progress.
- editorial@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
55

SPECIAL FEATURE
Exciting Glamping Spots in UAE
Starlight Camp
The elegant and spacious 30 square meter bubble tent used for Starlight Camping can accommodate two
adults and comes equipped with a queen-size bed, a soft duvet, and other comforts. Additionally, it has a
semi-transparent crystal roof, giving you the impression that you are resting right beneath the stars. Little ones
are also accommodated at the camp.
Location: Starlight Camping, Dubai Desert, Dubai
RAK Glamping
The RAK Glamping offers a variety of possibilities, including places to pitch a tent. The classic Bedouin tents,
which are essentially carpeted rooms with a refrigerator, bathrooms, and other amenities, are another option.
Since the motel is owned and operated by animal lovers, pets are welcome.
Location: Al Dahaisa Stables, Ras Al Khaimah
56
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

SPECIAL FEATURE
Terra Solis
The exclusive oasis glamping site is launched by the renowned Tomorrowland music festival team. With a
selection of restaurants, high-octane music programming, luxurious housing, and access to the pool, Terra Solis
promises to enhance the desert glamping experience this winter.
Location: Dubai Heritage Vision, Dubai
Hatta Dome Park
Hatta Dome Park offers an intriguing glamping experience to try with 15 dome-shaped, permanent luxury tents
boasting panoramic windows that provide breathtaking views of the Hatta mountain range. The tents include a
full complement of amenities, such as a mini-fridge, television, a private BBQ, and a fire pit on a sizable patio,
among others. Trampoline jumping, ziplining, wall climbing, paragliding, and other pursuits can keep you
occupied.
Location: Hatta Wadi Hub, Hatta
Pura Eco Resort
At Jubail Mangrove Park, Pura Eco Resort offers a sizable boardwalk through real mangroves as well as
kayaking, wildlife viewing, and other activities. It includes a spa, waterfront dining, and a roaming green space
for lengthy walks, kayaking excursions, or yoga sessions in the early morning light. The large domes feature a
plush bed, locally made art, and other sourced and sourced items.
Location: Jubail Mangrove Park, Al Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
www.magzoid.com December 2022
57

INDIAN ARTIST
The Heart Wants
What It Wants
By Bala Nivetha
58 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

“To teach art has been a newfound passion - for the
past couple of years, and it feels even more joyful
to transform the magic I know to others as well.
To see someone, enjoy the same thing that I do is a
blessing,” says Bala
- Exclusive to Magzoid
The Artist Bala Nivetha was born and
brought up in Tamil Nadu, India.
Ever since childhood, she has been
interested in arts and crafts, which
made her choose fashion design as her
major in college, and she later graduated
with her master’s in fashion design. Bala
knew she always wanted to do something
creative. But life got in the way when
she took a break once she began busily
supporting her husband’s business.
“Taking art as a profession started during
my post-graduation days when I used to
market and sell my handcrafted products,
like personalized gifts and jewelry, via
Facebook,” says Bala.
The 2020 COVID-19 outbreak and the
following quarantine period gave her the
moment to reflect, which reignited her
passion for her art career, and then the
Instagram platform allowed her to do just
that.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Bala
became an art educator, teaching
her students art styles such as acrylic
paintings, mandalas, and resin. Her current
interest in sculpture painting techniques led
her to include them in her sessions.
“To teach art has been a newfound
passion - for the past couple of years,
and it feels even more joyful to transform
the magic I know to others as well. To see
someone, enjoy the same thing that I do is
a blessing. Interacting with new people and
exchanging ideas and perspectives on art
is something beautiful,” says Bala.
She proudly states that her students
range in age and country, with an
estimated 2000+ pupils taught in
her offline and online classes.
“I also custom make decor
pieces like Clocks, name boards,
and mirrors with sculpture
painting, resin & other mixed
media,” says Bala.
Bala strongly believes that “art is
the freedom to explore.”
Art is more about being not
restricted, doing what we feel is best
on the canvas, irrespective of worrying
“Art is the
freedom to
explore.”
says Bala
about the results. Bala enjoys creating new
pieces and revamping old ones to give
them a new look. A day never ends for her
without making or thinking about creating
something new. Art completes her day,
making it merrier and giving her a feeling of
contentment.
Bala hopes to create more art and impart
her knowledge and experience in art to
more people.
-feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
59

PICTURE STORY
PHOTO BY ALEKSANDAR PASARIC ON PEXELS
60
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

EVENT COVERAGE
14th DIFC Art Nights highlights
sustainability, artistic expression, and
creativity
The Habroush Art Foundation served
as the advisor for the 14th DIFC
Art Nights, themed ‘Sustainability:
Art for a Better World’ held on
November 10th and 11th, 2022. The event
gave business executives and art lovers a
chance to participate in the conversation
about sustainability in the art world, which
will continue until next year when the UAE
hosts COP28.
It featured artwork by local and
international artists showcasing their artistic
expressions. DIFC prioritizes maintaining
Dubai’s status as a major regional art hub
and assisting the city’s artistic community.
Panelists Meagan Kelly Horsman,
Managing Director for Christie’s Middle
East and North Africa, Gilles Dylan, CEO
& President of Opera Gallery Group, and
Sylvain P. Gaillard, Director of Opera
Gallery, conducted a lively discussion on
‘Art as an Investment’ at DIFC Art Nights.
The panel stressed the consistent returns
on investment (ROI) seen in art investments
during the discussion, pointing out that if
the correct art is bought at the right price,
the investment is likely to produce more
reliable returns than the S&P 500. To reflect
the young population of the Emirates, the
panel also explored investment trends for
the UAE to invest in ultra-contemporary art.
Visitors to DIFC Art Nights were exposed
to various artistic mediums, from Deniz
Sagdic’s mixed-media artwork made with
recycled jeans and bottle caps to the
Metaverse where one can experience being
transformed into works of art.
An exhibition by Claude and François-
Xavier Lalanne was conducted by Christie’s
during DIFC Art Nights. Opera Gallery
featured museum-quality artwork and gave
visitors’ gallery tours under the theme of
‘exceptional works from modern masters
and contemporary art.’
- events@magzoid.com
Scan barcode to view the video
www.magzoid.com December 2022
61

Artist Spotlight
Giulio Cappellini,
an emblematic figure in the international design panorama.
Giulio Cappellini, the Milan-based
architect is the founder of the
Cappellini design studio, one of
the world’s leading trendsetters.
He is frequently sought out to serve as the
art director for several significant design
brands and to give lectures all over the
world since he has a spirit and goals that
are constantly evolving.
Collaborations with his brand have given
rise to several well-known names, including
Jasper Morrison, Marc Newson, Marcel
Wanders, the Bouroullec brothers, and
the Nendo brothers, to name a few. The
work of Giulio Cappellini encompasses a
wide range of furniture components. The
recognizable Bong and Gong tables, the
Break table series, and the Luxor cabinet
units are among the most cherished.
How has the concept of design changed
over the years according to you?
Design changed a lot over the years: in
the past, you were asked to create a single
product, and now you must build a family of
products that have to live well together and
in different architectural environments.
Another big change is the market
you work for, if expanded from a local to
an international scale, you must create
products that you can also sell all over the
world.
Could you share your experience
and motivation behind your project -
Cappellini Love?
I think that we can find interesting raw
materials everywhere from around the
world, it’s not true that to do a good design
you have to use rich materials. Cappellini
Love is about that, we started by doing
some prototypes in Africa using local raw
or waste materials that you can find on the
street.
Another concept of Cappellini Love is
to use the local craftmanship and artisanal
way of working in some fragile countries
(Perú, for example).
As a seasoned talent scout, what do you
look for in a creative person?
62 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

Artist Spotlight
There is not one right way to discover
new talent, but I can say that in my opinion,
the most important thing is to look at the
sensibility and the approach towards the
design of these people. It’s also important
to respect the individuality of each designer
because the approach to design is
absolutely subjective; sometimes we start a
collaboration, and sometimes we don’t.
When I say the word design, which
emotions do you relate to it?
Well, design is my life. I think it’s not
something for a few people, you can find
it everywhere and in everything. The job
of the designer is to create something that
gives beauty and makes people’s lives
better.
What is the future of design? What
aspects of the design can future
designers focus on to equip themselves
better? Can you paint a bigger picture?
I consider that the biggest difference
from the past is that now you must create
something thinking more globally, you can’t
just design a chair, a table or whatever,
you have to consider also what is going
on outside and give answers to people’s
needs.
For example, today we want a cozier
space, but in the past, we had mostly
square objects, white strong lights and so
on. Now we have more rounded and soft
objects, and warm lights, not only in our
homes but in our offices too.
You have always collaborated with the
Istituto Marangoni, as Ambassador and
Art Director of the Design Campus, and
now as a mentor for the Dubai school.
What was your first impression after
seeing projects from students of Interior
Design, Product Design and Visual
Design during your first mentoring
experience?
My first experience with Marangoni’s
Dubai campus was very interesting, I was
surprised by the quality of the projects that
I saw, especially when I think that they are
students at the beginning of their careers.
High quality not only in terms of products
but also in terms of concept., I always say
that we don’t need new products on the
market, we need new ideas, and I was
genuinely surprised by the ideas and the
way of working that Marangoni’s Dubai
students showed in our first meeting.
What does it mean for you to be
appointed as Mentor for the Design
Courses at Istituto Marangoni Dubai?
What is the secret to creating Future
Designers?
To be a mentor means to try to give my
experience to the students and to guide
them appropriately because to make a
good project you must know well what has
already been done.
Another important aspect of my work is to
ensure that young designers are passionate
and professional, they must learn about the
theory behind design and also how to relate
with a company.
In your perspective, how much ‘beauty’ is
the most crucial facet of creativity?
Well, there is no creativity without beauty
but we can’t live without it. Living in a
beautiful place makes your life so much
better than living in a horrible place.
After many years of experience, where
would you lean in the Quantity versus
Quality debate?
I think Quality is more important. Every
month you see thousands of projects
and products but after a while, you will
remember only a few of them.
How do you balance Style and Comfort in
your designs?
Comfort in design is essential, you must
find a balance between comfort and style.
You can create the most beautiful chair in
the world but if it’s uncomfortable it makes
no sense.
Please help us settle a debate. Is Design
Art, or is Art, Design?
I think that the contamination between
the two is very strong, in terms of shape,
colors and so on. Surely when we think of
art, we think mostly of unique pieces, and
when we think of design we think mainly
of mass-production products. That said, a
design product can be beautiful and get
closer to a piece of art but, on the other
side, a piece of art could be inspired by a
design product.
The important thing is to try to
understand the difference between a
unique piece and a product that we
produce in quantity because we can’t
replicate the spirit and the uniqueness in
mass-production products.
www.magzoid.com December 2022
63

PICTURE STORY
PHOTO BY AHMED ALDAIE ON UNSPLASH
64
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

ART NEWS
Intermix, the Art and Fashion showcase,
highlights industry change in sustainability
The Intermix residency program’s
open studio exhibition at JAX,
the art district in Riyadh, featured
various works by regional and
international multidisciplinary and textile
artists who are redefining ideas of art and
fashion. The Visual Arts Commission and
Fashion Commission’s first multidisciplinary
residency, Intermix, aims to provide
opportunities for designers and visual
artists to exchange creative experiences
and practices throughout a three-month
program through innovation, transformation,
and sustainability lenses.
A total of 13 artists, including Chakir
Hani, Elham Dawsari, Huda Beydoun, Malik
Thomas Jalil Kydd, Mashail Faqeeh, Sara
Abdu, Shaima Saleh, and Anthony “Qwan”
Liguer Laubhouet, have pieces on display
during the exhibition, which runs from
November 9 to 10.
To generate new memories and
understandings of identity and belonging,
street artist Noor Ebrahim converted an
empty vessel into a “SPACECRAFT” inside
the confines of a studio space. Her work
questions the notion of heterotopia by
It aims to
provide
opportunities
for designers
and visual
artists to
exchange
creative
experiences
and practices
giving it new significance through varied
colored yarn hues. The artwork stands on
its own and invites viewers to interact with it
by standing inside it and exploring the area
beneath its sculptural form.
“My entire body of work uses psychedelic
hues. This was intended to inspire joy or
happiness: When you enter this bubble or
pocket, all you feel is happiness. These
colors convey it to me,” Ebrahim said.
The audience is greeted by sand streaks,
remnants of another Hana AlMilli piece, as
they enter the main showcase room, along
with an audio performance selected by
resident Sara Abdu. The diamond shape
that appears in most weaving patterns from
her diverse background is incorporated
into the textile art of Saudi textile artist
AlMilli. The textile object is buried in soil
from the JAX neighborhood and blended
with hibiscus, lavender, and other herbs.
As the mixture gradually dyes the cloth in
the coming days, it will rise into the fabric’s
creases.
- news@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
65

ARTIST STORIES | INSPIRE & EMPOWER
66
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

Colors from the heart
embroiled in emotions
- Exclusive to Magzoid
“Every painting of mine has a story, and it aims to
trigger feelings, emotions, and memories deep inside
the heart and mind of the viewer,” says Dr. Dodi.
Dr. Dodi Mossafer, in his words,
is a proud Egyptian American
artist, a painter who considers
himself a self-taught artist. Born
in Egypt, he came to the U.S. on his own
at the young age of 19 to attend college.
After completing his college education, he
pursued a business and academic career
and stayed in the U.S. for almost 20 years.
Dr. Dodi never imagined he would be a
painter when he was younger. The teacher
of the only art class he took in college failed
him— with the lowest grade he had ever
received. He remembers that the professor
was very critical of him, telling him he had
no tolerance or appreciation for Art. Dr.
Dodi surprised himself ten years later when
he began painting, as he initially agreed
with the professor.
“I create most of my artwork from pure
imagination that is free of limitations or
constraints, “ says Dodi.
After finishing his first abstract
expressionism painting in 2012, he never
halted. Since then, four hundred fifty
artworks have been produced by him in
different styles and techniques using oil,
acrylic, markers, and pastels on canvas,
linen, and paper.
“Every painting of mine has a story, and
it aims to trigger feelings, emotions, and
memories deep inside the heart and mind
of the viewer,” says Dr. Dodi.
During the early years of his journey as
an artist, Dr. Dodi was hesitant to display
or share his artwork. He struggled with the
idea that perhaps it wasn’t worth sharing
and only painted to express his emotions
and feelings. Plunging into an unknown
world that he gets to create and shape
without any rules or limitations. Nearing
2018, he gradually began sharing some
early paintings with friends and family.
“I was quite surprised that many of them
liked my work and appreciated it. I got more
encouraged and created a social media
profile on Instagram a year later,” says Dr.
Dodi.
He began sharing his old and ongoing
artwork on his social media profile. Dr.
Dodi recollects it as an overwhelming
experience, as he witnessed that many from
across the world admired his work.
As a painter, he appreciates nature and
traditional artwork, although he tends to
feel limited by its style and techniques.
“I also appreciate the beauty of human
figures. Therefore, sometimes I make
a conscious choice to be free of any
restrictions whenever I need to,” says Dr.
Dodi. His artwork is highly influenced by
nature, environment, and/or outside triggers
then he takes it through a personal journey
of deep imagination and reflection while
building an emotional connection with the
painting to show the world. Every time he
paints, he confesses that he too patiently
waits for what materializes on his canvas.
“I usually do not know what my painting
looks like or what it will be till after I am
done with it,” explains Dr. Dodi.
The painting process is like a journey in
which he does not know the destination until
he gets there. Usually, it takes him more
than one session to paint, as he needs time
to reflect and feel his painting while building
a deep connection to my work. He works
on multiple paintings simultaneously to
allow his creative process and emotions to
harmonize with the painting.
He truly feels that every painting was
meant to be created in a certain way, while
he is only a tool to bring it to life and into our
universe. It isn’t uncommon for him to be
so immersed in his paintings that he could
spend an entire weekend painting day and
night in isolation.
Dr. Dodi gets asked many times what his
paintings means, but he refrains from giving
his opinion. He believes that the viewer
should draw their own conclusions; and
also tends to avoid sketching his paintings
in advance if needed, so lines and
boundaries can’t limit his artistry. He also
admits that getting paid to paint something
specific is difficult. “I need to paint what I
feel then if it is sold that is great and if not
then I will wait till it has the appropriate
person to appreciate it,” explains Dr Dodi.
“Art is a journey of emotional creativity,”
says Dr. Dodi.
- feature@magzoid.com
“Art is a journey of
emotional creativity,”
says Dr. Dodi.
www.magzoid.com December 2022
67

EVENT COVERAGE
Powered by Danube, Celebrated
Motherhood and Honoured Brands with
a Spectacular Award Night at The Ritz-
Carlton, DIFC
While the world was
enthusiastically watching the
opening ceremony of the FIFA
World Cup on Sunday, Dubai
was up for a different game as it celebrated
motherhood in a spectacular evening that
paid tribute to all the mothers through their
‘Wonder Mom Awards 2022’ night. The
remarkable event was organized by Gulf
Time Media LLC (GTM) and powered by
Danube. It was held in The Ritz-Carlton,
DIFC, and was attended by 450+ people
from diverse backgrounds across the UAE.
Joe Mohan hosted the event and kept
the audience intrigued throughout the
event. This award night was one of a kind,
empowering mothers from all walks of life.
The eminent personalities who graced
the occasion were Sheikh Majid Rashid
Al Mualla, CEO of Majestic Investments,
Dr. Kabir, COO of Majestic Investments,
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Khalifa Al
Khalifa, Princess of Bahrain, H.E. Juma
Madani, H.E. Munira Alblooshi, Kanika
Kapoor, Bollywood Singing Sensation,
Dipika Kakkar Ibrahim, an Indian Actress,
Ms. Shabnam Kassam, Director of Danube
Welfare and Ms. Sameera Sajan.
The award night was a humble attempt
by Gulf Time Media LLC (GTM) to recognize
68
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

EVENT COVERAGE
the painstaking efforts taken by mothers in
nurturing their tiny tots and bring together
various brands that have made parenting
easy—thanks to their innovative products
and services! It celebrated and empowered
mothers in the UAE who have achieved
remarkable milestones on the professional
front while effortlessly pulling off the role
of being a mother. It gave them the due
recognition they earnestly deserved.
The magnificent award night added a
feather to the organizers’ cap as they set
the ‘Lincoln World Record’ for presenting
the most awards in one night. There were
35+ motherhood categories from different
spheres of life, and a winner was selected
from every type. For brands, there were
more than 30+ categories from which
winners were selected.
Apart from honoring mothers from various
categories, it also presented an opportunity
for mothers to walk the ramp irrespective
of their age. There were two fashion ramp
walks, one on Ethnic Wear by ‘The Old
Story,’ and the other on Modern Wear by
‘PriyaFashions.’
Wonder Mom Magazine is a leading
Motherhood magazine in the UAE with its
headquarters in Dubai and has celebrities,
influencers, and mompreneurs as its
cover face. With its premium engaging
content, expert inputs, and latest news,
the magazine focuses on all the pre & post
motherhood and parenting issues that help
the present as well as aspiring mothers.
- news@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
69

Digital Artist
70
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

Finding your rhythm in the fast-paced
world as a Designer
- Exclusive to Magzoid
“You’ll love your work and others will appreciate
it because you found your niche, developed a
distinctive style, and stick to it,” says Stephanie
Designer Stephanie has always
been interested in alternate
realities. She became a digital
designer since she has always
had a preference for using unconventional
technologies.; pencils instead of paint
brushes. Her drawings tend to have pink
skies, flaming orange hair, purple eyes, and
greenish skin tones. She enjoys bringing
out the inner child, who likes to paint the
sky white, the clouds blue, and the walls
colorful. She enjoys pushing limits and
motivating not only her clients but also
established and aspiring artists to draw
from their souls—to connect with their
emotions and the things that give them
energy and let those things show in their
work. Since most of us look far and wide
for inspiration, in reality, it may be found
within the grounded version of oneself,
it’s crucial to be able to discover that
motivation.
“You’ll love your work and others
will appreciate it because you found
your niche, developed a distinctive
style, and stick to it. It involves
getting back up, doing new things,
always learning, and making sure
your community is safe, confident,
and close-knit. Having a strong group
of artistic or creatively oriented pals can
help you go somewhere, and you’ll also
find yourself through assisting others in
doing the same,” says Stephanie.
She also emphasizes
social issues, mental
health awareness,
and environmentally
friendly lifestyle.
By feeling their
sentiments,
she inspires
everyone around
her to fight
for a better,
physically,
emotionally,
and cognitively healthy living. If words are
inadequate, applying crayon to canvas is a
lovely way to find a small space in your soul
that will care for you.
Her world has always revolved around
animation. In real life, she is a highly
energetic person. She’s funny and
vivacious, and a lot of her energy comes
from my profession. She usually leads an
unfiltered, open, and free life. Adults in suits
are more intrigued by animation.
Never stop learning is her one piece
of advice to everyone, artist or not. She
explains that it’s not all that we know. We
will always find a method to solve problems,
so we won’t fall behind. If such were the
case, traditional artists would no longer be
in vogue, but they now use
their skills to paint live
at events, weddings,
and other occasions.
“Utilize every chance to
establish a community
and bring it up along
with you,” Stephanie
explains. This includes
pricing guidelines,
quotations, providing
“Utilize every
chance to establish
a community and
bring it up along
with you,”
says Stephanie
and receiving feedback, and most
importantly, having each other’s backs.
She believes that artists, whether they are
independent contractors or employed on
a regular basis, need to establish a set of
rules to better safeguard their rights to fair
treatment. They should not be compared
if someone else does it for a lower price
because that is cheap, disrespectful, and
most importantly, it reveals the client’s
character. They also deserve to be paid on
time and at a fair rate.
One of the hardest occupations out
there is being a designer because they
are responsible for all aspects of the job,
including ideation, marketing, payroll, and
delivery. But Stephanie is content with it.
- feature@magzoid.com
www.magzoid.com December 2022
71

SPECIAL FEATURE
Best places to enjoy your
Christmas, and New Years in Dubai
Toshi
Enjoy this holiday season with a private Christmas Eve dinner at Toshi, live entertainment, children’s gift-giving,
and the opportunity to see Santa Claus. Make this season special while taking in Palm Jumeirah’s atmosphere
and breathtaking sights.
Location: Grand Millennium Dubai, Barsha Heights
Fogueira Restaurants & Lounge
With the unrivalled views of Ain Dubai, JBR, and Marina, the Christmas Eve dinner served at Fogueira are for
those looking for an exciting Christmas Eve filled with delectable food, atmosphere, and entertainment.
Location: Delta Hotels by Marriott Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina
72
December 2022
www.magzoid.com

SPECIAL FEATURE
Cordelia
Dine at Cordelia with loved ones and friends on the eve of Christmas. Enjoy a wide selection of holiday
favourites from the venue’s outstanding buffet, including classic roast turkey dinners delivered with the right
sides and a beautiful array of decadent, sweet treats.
Location: St. Regis Dubai, The Palm, Palm Jumeirah
Raia
At Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, enjoy a festive buffet in Palm Kitchen to commemorate a fantastic day. Raia offers
a splendid Christmas Eve dinner in a chic setting with a lively Arabesque ambience. A family supper in the chic
and energetic lounge will be one you won’t soon forget.
Location: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, the Palm, Palm Jumeirah
Sloane’s
Start the Christmas Eve festivities off right with a fantastic holiday dinner buffet at Sloane’s. Together, indulge,
drink, and rejoice as the live culinary stations sate everyone’s appetites, foot-tapping music was provided by a
live DJ, and Santa’s grotto was not to be missed.
Location: Grosvenor House, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai, Dubai Marina
www.magzoid.com December 2022
73

ARTIST STORIES | INSPIRE & EMPOWER
74 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

Expressionism
“My paintings do not stem from a specific idea or theme; I consciously avoid
focusing on specific questions or particular answers, and instead, I create new
pictures which generate unknown questions,” says Nikolas.
- Exclusive to Magzoid
In 1988, the artist Nikolas Antoniou was
born in the quaint town of Larnaca,
Cyprus. Nikolas obtained his degree in
2012 from the Department of Fine and
Applied Arts at the University of Western
Macedonia in Greece. While studying there,
he closely collaborated with professors and
artists Harris Kondosphyris and Manolis
Polymeri.
If you were to look through Nikolas’s
compositions, the human figure is
prominent in majority of his pieces. Figures
and portraits appear and disappear in the
canvas at various areas. The works by
the artist attempt to discuss the spiritual
realm of man and the different existential
concerns he has with strong lines, vibrant
colors, and emotionally charged figures.
In his most recent pieces, Antoniou
briefly disengages from the person in
order to focus, reconsider, and explore
the significance of the background. In
actuality, the dynamic and emotional charge
generated by the abstract painted surface
made the figure the work’s hero. This
interaction and dependence are now up to
the viewer to manage since the figure is no
longer there.
“My paintings do not stem from a specific
idea or theme; I consciously avoid focusing
on specific questions or particular answers,
and instead, I create new pictures which
generate unknown questions,” says Nikolas.
Thus, without giving it much thought,
a painter creates hazy spaces, objects
that seem out of place in time and
space, alongside other things that seem
disconnected and figures that are lost in a
highly detailed environment.
“Objects and figures, lost in an intensely
painterly environment, coexist and interact,
giving meaning to their existence,” explains
Antoniou.
In the end, these elements coexist and
interact, giving each object a purpose,
telling a tale, and expressing a sentiment.
- feature@magzoid.com
“Objects and figures,
lost in an intensely
painterly environment,
coexist and interact,
giving meaning to their
existence,”
says Nikolas.
www.magzoid.com December 2022 75

ART NEWS
Abu Dhabi Art 2022 purchases signal the
comeback of the U.A.E Art Market
The fair hosted its largest edition,
welcoming a maturing crop of
local collectors. Even before the
pandemic hit art fair attendance,
the halls at Abu Dhabi Art were sparsely
populated with visitors, leaving many
dealers to wonder if the market in the UAE
capital had dried up.
However, at the 14th edition of the fair
this year, crowds of visitors from the region
and beyond crowded the fairgrounds on all
days. “It’s the best edition in a long time!”
exclaimed Sunny Rahbar, a longtime Dubaibased
dealer.
The fair, which returned to Manarat
Al Saadiyat from November 16 to 20,
became a bridge to international collectors
for gallerists from nearby countries
experiencing socioeconomic and political
upheaval.
This year’s fair, organized once again by
the Department of Culture and Tourism—
Abu Dhabi, featured 80 galleries from 28
countries, including 33 new galleries from
Colombia, France, Tunisia, Italy, Nigeria,
South Korea, Italy, Morocco, Turkey, and the
UAE.
Turkish galleries increased their presence
in response to the challenging market
conditions in their home country. In October
2022, the Turkish lira’s inflation rate reached
83 percent, a 24-year high. Dirimart, an
Istanbul-based 20-year-old gallery, said
they haven’t had to adjust their prices due
to inflation but admit that some Turkish
collectors are hesitant to buy. “The UAE is a
good place to develop right now,” director
Levent Ozmen said.
A work by prominent Turkish artist
Fahrelnissa Zeid was sold by the gallery to
an Abu Dhabi-based collector for more than
$100,000.
Prices ranged from $3,000 in the Emerge
section to $5 million to $8 million at Galeria
La Cometa for a museum-quality painting
by Cuban master Wilfredo Lam.
“At this fair, people take their time; it is
not a fair where people are buying with their
ears and trying to get the next thing that
will make them money,” echoed fair director
Dyala Nusseibeh.
Abu Dhabi is a transformed city,
brimming with world-class museums such
as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, newcomers such
as the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Zayed
National Museum, teamLab Phenomena
Abu Dhabi, and the interfaith Abrahamic
Family House. The presence of institutions,
art galleries, and fairs, as well as regular
exposure to such pivotal works of art at new
museums, has inspired younger residents
to appreciate and collect art.
“They grew up with museums, art fairs,
and galleries and are now eager to buy,”
Nusseibeh said, stressing how the boutique
fair is ultimately for the benefit of the
“community and the wider public.” And the
royal family supports such aims. “They are
very supportive of galleries,” Nusseibeh
added. “For them, it matters that they have
come and invested in Abu Dhabi.”
For a fair that started in 2009 with a
handful of blue-chip galleries like Gagosian
and David Zwirner eager to sell to Abu
Dhabi’s Nahyan royal family, Abu Dhabi Art
has evolved into a distinctly regional event
focusing on artists and galleries from the
Gulf and broader Middle East.
However, the fair has included a more
diverse mix of galleries and artists over the
last two years. This year’s fair is incredibly
multicultural, with an increased showcase
of art from North and Sub-Saharan Africa,
Turkey, and Iran.
- news@magzoid.com
76 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

EVENT COVERAGE
Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2022 ends on a
high note
The 10th edition of the Abu Dhabi
Air Expo’s successful conclusion
strengthened the Emirate of Abu
Dhabi’s position as a significant
regional hub for aviation. Twenty thousand
attendees, including owners, operators,
suppliers, and media members from
domestic and international aerospace firms,
attended the exciting conference panels
and browsed the exhibition throughout the
three-day event.
The official airline sponsor, Etihad,
welcomed visitors to its chalet, where it
presented an Airbus A321 aircraft on static
and its sustainability initiatives, charter
services, and medical evacuation skills.
Panelists from Etihad significantly
contributed to the conference agenda
by discussing sustainability, workforce
concerns, and the post-pandemic aviation
picture.
Eminent figures from the aviation
community, including Joscha Kremers,
Chief Aviation Transportation & Logistics
Section - United Nations, Mr Badr Al Olama,
Executive Director of Mubadala, who
moderated the panel on the future growth
and developments in aviation, and Mr
Kashish Kohli, Group Chief Financial Officer
- SANAD, joined Etihad at the premier
conference. The first day’s seminars, which
supported diversity in the sector, focused
on the potential for women in aviation and
welcomed Ms. Merhat Sultan, the Middle
Eastern Women in Aviation president.
The United Arab Emirates Air Force’s
aerobatics demonstration team, Al Fursan,
and local skydivers who dropped in on
National UAE Flag Day and displayed the
Emirates’ red, white, and green on their silks
provided breathtaking air displays for the
audience.
Magzoid Magazine, as one of the official
media partners , organized an art exhibition
in the venue with artists Naeel Arhaj and
Hajar Mohammed.
The Abu Dhabi Air Expo intends to
promote Abu Dhabi’s growth as an aviation
center. The following exhibition and
conference are planned for March 2–4,
2024.
- news@magzoid.com
Scan barcode to view the video
www.magzoid.com December 2022
77

ARTIST STORIES | INSPIRE & EMPOWER
Visual
Emotionism
By Simona
78 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

“Since women represent the highest, purest level of feeling, they have always
interested me when I paint them,” says Simona.
- Exclusive to Magzoid
Simona Constantin is a formally
trained dental medicine doctor
and former orthodontist. Growing
up with a natural talent for painting
and winning several art competitions in
her childhood, she used her drawing skills
in anatomy courses during her medical
training, always being inclined to showcase
her natural talents. Whatever she pursued,
she always returned to her first love and
passion. After years of practicing Art in
another form in the orthodontics field, she
decided to pursue her art career, becoming
a portrait artist living and working between
Germany and Spain.
Taking Instagram by storm and growing a
remarkable following in a short time allowed
Simona to share her inspiration and works
with a vast community of artists across the
globe and reach prominent collectors who
were fascinated with her artworks.
She was always intrigued by faces
and the emotions behind them, creating
portraits in her signature style. Her body
of work revolves around energy and
inner introspection, and she portrays and
explores that through the women she
paints. Her large-scale canvases express
emotions, and she manages to capture
the viewer’s sight through her unique style,
making him emerge in another world.
“Painting women has always fascinated
me because they are the highest, purest
level of emotion. My canvases have
become a spiritual playground and my
current goal is to focus on investigating
the deepest inner levels of our beings
and channelling them through all of these
women, animals, objects and entities that
are juxtaposed, creating immersive stories
for the observer and therefore challenging
them to a deeper introspection.”
Simona exhibited in Vienna, Monaco,
Madrid, and Qatar, to name a few, and
her works have been published in several
international art magazines. She is currently
working on future exhibitions in Europe
and collaborations with galleries and the
luxury goods industry. Her commission
with the late Sheikh Ahmed Mohammed
Al Ashmawi and his beloved mother, Mrs.
Elly Al Ashmawi is currently in their private
collection in Marbella, where she had the
pleasure to install it herself.
Additionally, in the USA, her portraits
are part of the private collections of The
Ackerberg Group and the award-winning
author and film producer Deirdre Allen
Timmons. Simona’s works are to be found
in permanent private collections across the
USA and Europe.
Simona is working on her new collection,
which will be available to collectors through
direct commission and selected galleries.
- feature@magzoid.com
“My canvases
have become
a spiritual
playground,”
says Simona
www.magzoid.com December 2022
79

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SETUP IN THE UAE
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80 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

ART NEWS
Middle Eastern Art high in demand,
signaled by Christie’s sales surpassing $3 million
According to Christie’s, a live
auction and online sale of
contemporary and modern art
from the MENA region generated
more than $3 million last week, with several
sales exceeding initial projections by a
significant margin, indicating the demand
for artwork from the Middle East is on the
rise. The online auction ran for three weeks,
with the live auction taking place last
Wednesday in London.
The 1948 seascape Les falaises-la baie,
a Marsa Matrouh (esquisse), which the artist
gifted to his niece Queen Farida in the late
1940s, was one of two pieces by Egyptian
painter Mahmoud Said that was up for bid
at the live auction. The picture sold for more
than $180,000, although its estimated value
ranges from $80,000 to $115,000.
Le Nil a Louxor (Chadouf), a 1919 piece
by Said, earned close to $70,000.
Ali Banisadr’s Broken Land, the auction’s
top lot, went for $477,000 as opposed to
the low estimate of $286,000. The sale of
Angelus II-I by Kamal Boullata for about
$29,000 set a new auction record for the
Palestinian artist.
The collection also contained pieces by
Egyptian-Armenian artist Chant Avedissian,
Iraqi artist Hayv Kahraman, and Saudi
artist Ahmed Mater. Many of these pieces
were displayed in September at a Christie’s
Dubai exhibition while a carefully chosen
assortment were displayed during Christie’s
London Frieze Week.
The winning bidders included private
collectors and institutions from 15 countries,
including the UAE, the US, the UK, and
France. The exhibitions are likely to
have helped the works gain international
exposure and boost auction results.
According to Christie’s, 25% of those
participating in the auction were brand-new
customers.
The autumn auction has been held for
six years; this is the first live event since
2019. According to Sikorski, the numerous
sales from this year’s lot exceeded original
projections, which shows a continually
increasing interest in more contemporary
and modern regional art.
“This year, Christie’s showcased
a quality of artwork representing the
diversity and originality of the Middle
East,” said Dr. Ridha Moumni, deputy
chairman of Christie’s Middle East. “We
are delighted with the success of the
sale and the acquisitions by private
collectors and institutions from the
curated selection that included significant
works from Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi
Arabia, and the Maghreb. We will ensure
significant upcoming sales of modern and
contemporary artworks and develop the
category to meet the growing interest in the
region’s art regionally and internationally.”
- news@magzoid.com
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PICTURE STORY
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ART NEWS
Dubai’s Museum of the Future
to extend the hours of operation
Due to the overwhelming interest in
tickets for the Sheikh Zayed Road
landmark, the Museum of the
Future is expanding its operating
hours. From November 30th, the website
has begun to offer more visitation times,
available until 7:30 p.m. In the past, the final
time slot was at 4.30.
The Museum of the Future, an
architectural wonder, has swiftly gained
popularity among tourists. The Vice
President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid, had his poetry,
written in Arabic calligraphy by Emirati artist
Mattar bin Lahej, carved onto the building’s
distinctive facade. The museum’s interior
combines a deep sense of heritage with
a forward-looking vision in its spaces and
exhibitions.
MOTF has several exhibitions in the
museum that combine various components,
such as an immersive theatre and themed
attractions. Each exhibition is built to look
like an interactive set from a future movie.
The displays must be seen in a specified
order over a predetermined time.
Visitors may check out exhibitions like
Tomorrow Today, a dynamic showcase for
the most forward-thinking inventors of today,
and Future Heroes, a magical playground
where kids can explore, play, and learn
via three major activities called Imagine,
Design, and Build.
- news@magzoid.com
MOTF has several
exhibitions in
the museum that
combine various
components, such
as an immersive
theatre and themed
attractions.
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83

ART EVENTS
Art Exhibitions
and Events to look out for
Perrotin Gallery
DIFC welcomed the first Perrotin gallery in the Middle East with a celebratory gallery tour. Perrotin gallery is showcasing the works of some
of the world’s most iconic and renowned artists, including Japanese contemporary artist, Takashi Murakami and Canadian sculptor and
painter, Jason Boyd Kinsella Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Donna Huanca, Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara and Lee Ufan, among others.
When: Until 28th January 2022
Where: DIFC, Dubai
Dwelling in the Gap by
Shaikha Al Mazrou
Dwelling in the Gap is Al Mazrou second solo
at the gallery after her stint at Frieze Sculpture
2022 in Regent’s Park, London, with her
major new artwork Red Stack. The exhibition
represents seven new steel sculptures that
are partially inspired by the properties and
possibilities of folded and creased paper,
transmuted into stainless steel.
When: Until 5th January 2023
Where: Lawrie Shabibi, Dubai
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Impressionism: Pathways
to Modernity
Featuring pioneering works by Manet, Degas, and
Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, and Cézanne, the exhibition
brings together more than 150 masterpieces alongside
etchings, costumes, film and photography making it
one of the most significant Impressionist exhibitions
ever to be held outside France.
Dates: Until February 5, 2023
Venue: Louvre Abu Dhabi
ART EVENTS
Pop South Asia: Artistic
Explorations in the Popular
This exhibition, a collaboration between the Sharjah Art Foundation and
New Delhi’s Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, includes over 100 works by
artists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
and the diaspora.
Dates: Until December 11, 2022
Venue: Sharjah Art Foundation
Quoz Arts Fest
An annual event that transforms Al Quoz’s industrial
district into a vibrant celebration of the arts and
creativity of the neighborhood, with Alserkal Avenue
serving as its focal point. Combining modern art,
performance, live music, and food to inspire and
engage.
Dates: 28th and 29th Jan, 2023
Venue: Louvre Abu Dhabi
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85

ART FACTS
Bob Ross encouraged the young
viewer by painting only in gray for
an entire episode after a fan once
approached the artist and said that
due to his disability, he could not
be a painter.
The Statue of David was
originally commissioned
in 1464 by the Opera del
Duomo to Agostino di Duccio
predating Michelangelo.
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ART FACTS
New Jersey features a spoon museum that
houses over 5,400 spoons from all over the world.
Each spoon commemorates a unique occasion.
Art competitions were once part of the
Olympics. Medals were awarded for
painting, sculpting, music, architecture,
and literature between 1912 and 1948.
Fauvism movement only lasted 6 years Th early
20th century movement, favored bright colors
and brushstrokes over realism in traditional
impressionist work.
In Vincent Van Gogh ‘Olive Trees;
(1889), the artist did not hide a
drawing of a bug between the
trees, but the grasshopper was
real and stuck in the paint for 128
years.
In 2020, Artemisia Gentileschi was
identified as the actual creator of the
magnificent painting called “David
and Goliath”. During restoration,
it was discovered that she hid her
name on the hilt of David’s sword
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87

FEATURED ARTWORKS ARTWORKS
Alia Patrizia Amin Gallo
Asma Anitha Ghani Praveen
Alifiya
Assem
Mustafa Ezzy
Daghustani
Daniela
Arkhangelskaya
Nafisa Hunar
Mahboobeh Hassanpour
Edcel Cabalan
Emel Cevikan
To get featured send your artworks to
artworks@magzoid.com
Mahpara Rehan
88
70
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FEATURED FEATURED ARTWORKS
kids kids
Hana Fathima
Grade:8
School: New Indian
Model School
Sharjah
Ashley Ashley Colaco Colaco
Grade Grade 11 11
St. St. Mary’s Mary’s Catholic Catholic High High
school, school, Muhaisnah Muhaisnah
Noor Elakhdar
Home Schooled
Mariam Mariam Abu Abu Eida Eida
First First Year Year
University University of Petre of Petre
Andrei, Andrei, Romania Romania
Ece Ece Eris Eris
Class Class of 2023 of 2023
Menlo Menlo Atherton Atherton
High High School, School,
California California
Hamdan Hamdan Shehzad Shehzad
Grade Grade 3 3
Australian Australian International International
School, School, Sharjah Sharjah
Mariam Sharif
Keyuri Keyuri Buranpur Grade Buranpur 9
Class Class 10School: Our Own
Indian Indian School English School High School
Sohar, Sohar, Oman Oman
To get To get featured featured send send your your artworks artworks to to
kids@magzoid.com
Vaishnavi Satheeshkuma
Bachelor’s Student
School: Manipal
University R. Prajanniya R. Prajanniya Dubai
Grade Grade 12 12
BT.ST.Cecilia’s Girl’s Girl’s
College, College, Sri Sri Lanka Lanka
October 71
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The
Designer's
Corner
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ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS
The National Library,
Minsk, Belarus
The National Library of Belarus, situated in the nation’s capital of
Minsk, is the official copyright library in the Republic of Belarus. The
primary structure, finished in January 2006, has an unusual shape
called a rhombicuboctahedron, an Archimedean solid with eight
triangular and eighteen square sides. The 22-story structure, which
contains a meeting room with 500 seats, was created by architects
Mihail Vinogradov and Viktor Kramarenko. It has a capacity for
2,000 readers. Integrate with the façade; there are 4646 RGB colorchanging
LED fixtures, 1349 controllers, 54 splitters, a channel
splitter, a converter, and a computer that directs the light shows with
the aid of custom-designed software.
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ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS
The new museum, devoted to Qatar’s history, was designed to
symbolize the fluidity and eternal dimension of the desert. The team
created a 350-meter-long structure with a succession of massive,
inward-curving disks, using the desert rose as inspiration. The disks
cut through one another to create a structure formed of intricate
geometrical gaps.
High-performance glass fiber-reinforced concrete serves as the
building’s exterior skin and is the same sand color inside and out.
With 11 galleries, the museum offers a singular experience for
viewing art and moving between exhibition rooms. The museum’s
permanent exhibitions will concentrate on Qatar’s environmental,
cultural, and political history.
National Museum of
Qatar
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93

JEWELLERY
BVLGARI
The DIVAS’ DREAM 18 karat
rose gold ring with malachite
inserts and pavé diamonds
pays homage to the most
fascinating divas with Roman
character sophistication.
www.bulgari.com
Bilarabi
Bil Arabi’s “Hob/ Love” Heart
pendant necklace is set on a
delicate 18-karat yellow gold
chain with a heart-shaped gold
pendant spells out “Love” in
Arabic with a bright enamel
finish.
www.bilarabi.ae
Boucheron
The Boucheron Serpent
Bohème Malachite Ring has
been crafted with 18kt yellow
gold. It features two citrine
stones encrusted in a motif and
a textured band.
www.boucheron.com
Dior
Victoire de Castellane reinterprets
Monsieur Dior’s lucky star in the
form of a wind rose with an eightpointed
star design with the Rose
Des Vents Bracelet.
www.dior.com
Sylvia Toledano
The Sylvia Toledano Cascade
Drop Earrings have been crafted
from gold plated brass and pale
onyx, pink quartz, green onyx
featuring a modern design.
www.sylviatoledano.com
Anabela Chan
The Paraiba Opal Ocean Rings is a 18k white
gold and rhodium vermeil, laboratory-grown and
created gemstones including opals, sky blue
spinels, paraiba tourmalines, royal blue sapphires
and simulated white diamonds
www.anabelachan.com
94 December 2022 www.magzoid.com

Chaumet
Jeux de Liens Harmony large
model pendant in rose gold, is
set with malachite and brilliantcut
diamonds. A universal symbol
of unity and perfection, the circle
is an expression of eternity.
www.chaumet.com
JEWELLERY
Marli
Cleo Jazz Diamond Statement
Necklace in 18 Karat Yellow
Gold fuses innovative and
revolutionary design featuring
graphic lines, enriching color
and brilliant diamonds reflecting
New York City’s architecture.
www.marlinewyork.com
Buccellati
The Opera Tulle sautoir
is composed of 7 double
layered logo elements
where each logo element
has a green enamel
background topped with
radial tulle and centering a
yellow gold rosette set with
a diamond.
www.buccellati.com
Harry Winston
The Cathedral Emerald and Diamond
Necklace is a 5 pear-shaped Colombian
emeralds, baguette, and marquise set
in platinum and 18K yellow gold.
www.harrywinston.com
Veschetti
Anima is a 18 karat yellow Gold
Necklace featuring Zambian Emerald
with a cabochon cut Zambian Emeralds
and Brilliant-cut Diamonds.
www.veschetti-jewels.com
Valentino
The Vlogo Signature
earrings are created with
metal in 18K gold tone
finish, and Swarovski
crystals, and has a
butterfly fastening.
www.valentino.com
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95

WATCHES IN FOCUS
TAG HEUER
The 600-piece limited edition TAG Heuer
Carrera Red Dial Limited is a show-stopper
with a sunray-brushed red dial that really
stands out against the steel case. It exhibits
great fortitude in its 39mm steel case,
domed sapphire crystal, printed Heuer
insignia, and Carrera model designation on
a black alligator strap.
www.tagheuer.com
TISSOT
For classic watches, CARSON
PREMIUM LADY offers a unique fusion of
understatement and elegance. The dial is
plain and has a recess in the centre. The
interaction between the inner spiral finish
and the outward satinated sunray finish
creates a sense of depth.
www.tissotwatches.com
BVLGARI
With a mechanical manufacture movement,
automatic winding, chronograph, 40
mm aluminum case, black rubber bezel
engraved with BVLGARI BVLGARI, red dial,
and black rubber band, Bulgari Aluminium
Ducati Special Edition withstands water up
to 100 meters.
www.bulgari.com
CIRCULA
The SuperSport, the compressor dive
watch, dazzles with its distinctive style,
authentic super compressor functionality,
premium hardware, and flawless finishing.
The intricately hand-brushed stainless steel
case and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
enclose the multi-layer dial and accurate
Swiss movement.
www.circulawatches.com
LOUIS MOINET
The MEMORIS SUPERLIGHT is unique in
that the chronograph is separate from the
automated mechanism making it a visual
treat. The grade 5 titanium case is polished
and non-corrosive with a satin-effect finish,
making it particularly comfortable on the
wrist.
www.louismoinet.com
VAN CLEEF & ARPELS
Lady Arpels Féerie Rouge watch’s
retrograde mechanism makes reading the
time a delight. With fairy’s magic wand, she
draws the hours, while one of her graceful
wings points out the minutes as she
watches over the passage of time.
www.vancleefarpels.com
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VERSACE
The Medusa Infinite Watch is a classy
timepiece with a two-hands system and
a three-dimensional Medusa set between
two crystals. The inner dial has a lug
Greca pattern, and the case is framed
by engraved Versace letters at the ring.
A leather wristband with croc embossing
completes the feminine ensemble.
www.versace.com
MICHAEL KORS
The silicone strap and red-tone bezel
of the Oversized Lennox Red-Tone
Silicone watch provide long-lasting
comfort while also creating a stylish
contrast. The tachymeter and
chronograph mechanism comes
in handy for measuring time over
distance.
www.michaelkors.global
MB&F
WATCHES IN FOCUS
The HM6 Sapphire Vision appears to be
from outer space, as it provides insight into
the mechanical workings of the watch. It
rests on your wrist like a little spacecraft,
dominated by a one-minute flying tourbillon
in the center, and has one of the most
intricate and insane sapphire crystals yet
produced.
www.mbandf.com
Roger Dubuis
Roger Dubuis’s VELVET PINK GOLD
has a pink gold case with bezel
and lugs set with round diamonds
Sapphire crystal with antireflective
coating Pink gold open case back
along with sapphire crystal and
Gubelin metalization.
www.rogerdubuis.com
William Wood Watches
From its valiant collection’s Bronze Ruby
is an automatic diving watch fitted with a
Seiko mechanical movement and a choice
of upcycled fire material straps. With
brushed bronze case, it has an aluminium
rotating bezel, laser engraved caseback
ring and open exhibition glass caseback.
www.williamwoodwatches.com
Cartier
The Santos-Dumont watch is a small model
and high autonomy quartz movement
made in an 18K rose gold case, bezel set
with 44 brilliant-cut diamonds and beaded
crown set with one brilliant-cut diamond.
It has a silver satin-brushed dial with a
sunray effect, with shiny alligator leather in
Burgundy.
www.cartier.com
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FASHION & LIFESTYLE
BVLGARI
The Serpentine mini tote bag is made
of durable yet supple ivory opal
Metropolitan calf leather and features
a very structured vertical body with
jewelry-inspired accents that evoke the
serpent’s serpentine movements.
www.bulgari.com
Gentle Monster
The Bandoneon.S WC6 sunglasses
from Gentle Monster’s BOLD collection,
a collection inspired by the stars in the
galaxy, feature the signature BOLD
symbol on the temples is a delicate,
eye-catching detail that showcases
Gentle Monster’s unique aesthetic.
www.gentlemonster.com
Versace
A sophisticated gift idea, the Medusa
Gold snow globe is crafted from
exceptional porcelain, the gold-tone
base boasts a matte motif of the
mythical woman framed with a Barocco
border.
www.versace.com
Dior
Macrocannage Zipped Cardigan
showcases the iconic Macrocannage
motif. Crafted in white technical wool
and cashmere knit, it boasts a zipped
silhouette completed by a ribbed high
collar, cuffs and hem.www.santabrands.com
Dior
The D-Bobby bucket hat is crafted in
a white and gold-tone cotton blend, it
is enhanced by a tonal embroidered
band featuring the ‘CHRISTIAN DIOR
PARIS’ signature.
www.dior.com
Dior
Maria Grazia Chiuri brings a fresh update to the
iconic Saddle Bag with the Cornely-effect Dior
Jardin d’Hiver motif enhanced by a gold-tone
metallic thread.
www.dior.com
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FASHION & LIFESTYLE
Gucci
Gucci’s first Haute Perfumery line, The
Alchemist’s Garden unfolds within an
imagined laboratory filled with curious
jars and mesmerizing scents.
www.gucci.com
Emporia Armani
Made from technical fabric, the long
technical-fabric puffer jacket is defined by
enveloping volumes and a unique, heatsealed,
quilted motif for added depth.
www.armani.com
Burberry
Sports-inspired sneakers elevated in
Italian-tanned quilted leather – a modern
interpretation of our Burberry Check.
The streamlined style is detailed with
concealed lace loops and our logo at
the heel.
www.burberry.com
Agonist
No 10 White Oud by Agonist is a Woody
Floral Musk fragrance for men and women
that is described as a fragrance where the
dark meets the white.
www.agonistperfumes.com
Elie Saab
The Bead Embroidered Midi Dress is a
capricious silk and tulle midi dress in optic
white, which plays with depth and lucidity.
www.eliesaab.com
Louis Vuitton
Standing Collar Jacket twists tailoring
conventions with a standing collar and a lapel
that is pinned onto the opposite chest with an
LV crystal button.
www.louisvuitton.com
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BRAND LOGO
Abu Dhabi Airports, part of the
holding company ADQ, has
unveiled a new corporate brand
identity. It plays a significant
role in Abu Dhabi’s economic vision by
managing five vital airports in the Emirate
of Abu Dhabi and the ancillary businesses
that support them. Established in 2006,
it leads the development of the Emirate’s
aviation infrastructure. ADAirports operates
five Emirate airports, including Abu Dhabi
and Al Ain international airports, Al Bateen
Executive Airport, Sir Bani Yas, and Delma
Island airports.
The three components of the brandmark
inspiration are People & Partners (the
Human Element) at the bottom and Future
Growth (the Sky’s the Limit) at the top. The
stroke in between, which also denotes the
takeoff and landing, is inspired by form and
flow. Together, they culminate into a strong
unit.
The new corporate identity supports the
airport operator’s future expansion goals.
As ADAirports gears up for its next phase
of expansion, the redesigned brand is
supported by a dedication to offering a
world-class airport ecosystem to customers
and partners. This commitment is driven by
an ambitious mission to define the future of
airport experiences.
The company said that it was inspired
by Abu Dhabi’s innovative leadership,
economic foresight, and status as one of
the most popular tourist destinations in the
world.
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