March 14–24, 2013
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Dubai
Produced by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture)
SIKKA is a major exhibition of new works by UAE-based artists commissioned especially for the historic creekside district of Dubai. In 2013, this unique artist-led fair-cum-festival expands dramatically to include 85 commissions, featuring filmmakers, musicians and performing artists, alongside visual artists, who have created site-specific works that respond to the neighbourhood’s network of traditional windtower houses and sikkas (alleyways). Multidisciplinary collectives working across different media have taken a lead in programming spaces devoted to design, animation, multimedia, and talks, workshops and community events. Over fifteen commissioned musicians are developing an experimental album, under the direction of artist and producer Kamal Musallam.
SIKKA is part of Art Week, the umbrella arts initiative that includes Art Dubai, Design Days Dubai, and Gallery Nights, a coordinated evening of new exhibition openings and events across the Emirate and beyond. Now in its third year, SIKKA is produced by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture).
Committed to being an incubator of ideas, following the overwhelming response to SIKKA’s Open Call and an intensive selection process, individual mentorship was offered to emerging artists throughout the production period. The fair’s mandate is aligned with the development of the non-commercial arts sector in Dubai; this year’s programme features a very diverse roster of established and emerging artists, many of whom are experimenting with both new concepts and new media. The ten days of exhibitions and events is free and open to all, and actively seeks to engage families and new audiences.
SIKKA 2013 commissioned artists include Reem Abdulwahid / Amal Al Agroobi / Aaesha Ahmed / Amal Alkhaja / Shamma Al Amri / Hania Ansari / Layan Attari / Ahmed Bouholaigah / Caravan + Studio 7 / Amartey Cousland-Golding / Paul D / Karee Dahl / Khawla Darwish / Nourhan Darwish / Vikram Divecha / Rami Farook / Rabi Georges / Abdul Azim Al Ghussein / Darwin Guevarra / Sara Al Haddad / Talin Hazbar / Tulip Hazbar / Imagyne / Gilda Jabbari / Nouf Al Jahdhami / Rania Jishi / Mohammed Jumairy / Arwa Al Jundi / Alia H. Lootah / Cristiano Luchetti / Hazem Mahdy / Zara Mahmood / Camille Mallat / Cristiana De Marchi / Miqi Laoshu / Mohammed Al Marzooqi / Mouza Al Matrooshi / Shaikha Al Mazrou / Khalid Mezaina / Möbius Design Studio / Rashid Al Mulla / Nadine Nour El Din Ezzat / Noush Like Sploosh / Mia O / Mark Pilkington / pointCOUNTERpoint: Sid Siva-Jamal H Iqbal / Farah Al-Qasimi / Saba Qizilbash / Salma El Shami / Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi / STAR TOO / Noor Al Suwaidi / Sinisa Vlajković / Walid Al Wawi / Nada Al Yafaei / Zahra Jewanjee & Simon Coates.
Expanding SIKKA’s interactive impact, a diverse selection of UAE-based initiatives also have a presence at the fair; these include Brusselssprout, Drawdeck, Global Youth Empowering Movement (GYEM), iloveuae, LOCI architecture+design, Möbius Design Studio, quint, tasmena, The Animation Chamber, The Book Shelter, The Culturist, The Nomad Box Project, The Poeticians and The State.
In addition to producing an experiential album, locally based bands and musicians—including As per Casper, Beatbox Ray, Nada Dada, Fables of Cantt, Sach Holden, Jabbar, Gayathri, Layla Lacole, Liminal Roots, Regal Beats, Harrison Rice, Shay, Valentin Spasov, Swerte and “THEM”—are set to perform every evening throughout the ten-day fair.