Dubai: A blend of cultures and colours from the Far East is on display at a new pavilion that has brought together flavours of different countries from the region this year at the Global Village.
The pavilion, which hosts the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea, offers visitors maximum exposure to Asian culture, history and, of course, authentic products that represent the respective countries.
The shops have been grouped in terms of each country to enhance the visitor’s shopping experience and avoid confusion about the clash of cultures.
In an attempt to provide visitors with correct information, the pavilion has designated specific people to inform guests about products, the history, and culture of the respective countries.
The pavilion hosts an exhibition area where artefacts from the four countries are being showcased. With a range as diverse as clothing to weaponry, each of the four countries’ cultures is represented.
Guests interested in the arts can enjoy the works of Yuri Nakagawa, a Japanese calligraphy teacher who has been learning the craft since she was in elementary school.
“It’s my first time in the Middle East, I had heard about Global Village from one of my friends and decided to travel to Dubai with my neighbour. I felt that coming to Global Village was a big chance for me to show people from all over the world the Japanese calligraphy. This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Nakagawa.
Her works portray Japanese calligraphy written in Kanji, which comprises adopted logographic Chinese characters.
“I started to learn Kanji when I was in elementary school, and I’ve now been teaching it for 15 years,” she added.
During December the pavilion will also be hosting an artist who creates large-scale calligraphy.
The cluster also offers an authentic shopping experience with a range of authentic and handmade products that reflect the culture of each of the participating countries.
One of the most interesting features of the pavilion is its library which allows guests to pick up a book on any of the cultures being represented to gain an insight into the region’s heritage.
