Design Days Dubai returns in 2015 with expanded global participation

DUBAI, 26th February, 2015 (WAM) -- The international design fair, Design Days Dubai, returns to the UAE for its fourth year with an extensive showcase of conceptual works and limited-edition design from an expanded representation of international and regional designers. The 2015 edition of the Middle East and South Asia’s only collectable design fair welcomes a globally diverse line-up of 44 exhibitors from 20 countries from 16th - 20th March. Returning to the prestigious location of The Venue, next to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, in Downtown Dubai, Design Days Dubai has the continued generous support of returning sponsors, including French high-jewellery maison Van Cleef and Arpels, Emaar, Audi, and the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, working in collaboration to provide visitors with an opportunity to engage with pieces from new-comers and well-established designers. Presenting purchasable and highly desirable works of modern and contemporary design, the 2015 edition of Design Days Dubai will host 22 returning exhibitors, such as Carpenters Workshop Gallery (Paris/London), Southern Guild (Cape Town), Artfactum (Beirut), and Broached Commissions (Melbourne). In addition, 11 first-time participants will travel to Dubai in March, including the regional premiere for David Gill Galleries (London) and Gallery FUMI (London), as well as Gallery ALL (Beijing/Los Angeles), Chamber (New York), Galerie Silbereis (Paris), and designer and personality Fiona Barratt-Campbell’s Prive Collection (London). Showcasing the fair’s diversity and global reach, the highest number of exhibitors seen at Design Days Dubai to date will see participation from Australia, China, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Netherlands, South Africa, and Taiwan, as well as Europe, and the Americas. Design Days Dubai will present the world premiere of ‘Cloud’, by Commonplace Studio (Netherlands) and showcased by Victor Hunt Design Art Dealer (Brussels). The large-scale installation conveys the form and feel of a cloud through twenty-eight suspended pendant lamps, which have moving images projected on to their inner surfaces. The unveiling of a series of 10 large-scale sculptural works, up to four metres high, will also be a key highlight from the fair’s diverse international representation. Created for Dubai by designer Andreas von Zadora-Gerlof (Canada) - who is known for his work in the ancient carved craft of glyptics - the large scale sculptures are inspired by the work of the renowned Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher. Adding to a wealth of pieces using light as their medium in 2015, the design brand, Zumtobel (Austria), will showcase three of its key masterpieces by designers Zaha Hadid, Hani Rashid, and Olafur Eliasson. Preciosa (Prague) will also exhibit collaborative works with the respected glass artist Rene Roubicek, which utilise a blend of traditional and modern craftsmanship. The 2015 edition of the design fair will also see strengthened participation from leading international design organisations, including the World Design Capital – Taipei 2016 (Taiwan) and Beijing Design Week (China), which demonstrates the growing importance of reaching a global audience through the platform of Dubai’s international design fair. ? Design Days Dubai also continues its role in helping to support the growth and maturity of the design landscape in the Middle East through exhibiting a record number of 16 design studios, galleries, and design professionals based in the Emirates and wider GCC. Design collectors and enthusiasts seeking to experience and further explore regional design will be able to view works from first-time participants, 1971 (Sharjah), and 19th Century Antiques (Dubai), as well as the launch of Aljoud Lootah first collection (Dubai) and Arty by AMN (Ajman). Other highlights from regional designers within the 2015 programme include a 10th anniversary celebration of respected Lebanese designer Nada Debs; the regional opening for a new series of vases presented by Wiener Silber Manufactur, by eminent Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, who also has distinct ‘liquid’ table works shown by David Gill Galleries (London). Additional Middle Eastern representation can be seen through the participation of Authentique Art Gallery (Dubai), Cities (Dubai & Riyadh), Iwan Maktabi (Beirut), Naqsh Design House (Amman) and Nakkash Gallery (Dubai), together with Tashkeel (Dubai), Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (Dubai & Abu Dhabi), Faddi Sarriedine (Dubai), and jewellery from Shamsa Alabbar (Dubai). – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395277111751.html