As part of the UAE’s efforts to showcase the stunning arts and culture the country has to offer, artists from the country are showcasing their creations at the Révélations International Biennial of Crafts and Creation in France.
The event, which is held every two years, is an ode to creatives from France and across the world. The Biennial, which opened on June 9 and will run until 12 at the Temporary Grand Palais and is one of the most influential of its kind.
Révélations International Biennial of Crafts and Creation is the brainchild of Ateliers d'Art de France, which is an organisation that represents 281 French fine crafts. Additionally, the event provides major economic support to the industry through the platform.
For starters, Gasah Studio from the UAE, which is displaying its creations, collaborates with local artisans “to develop a light object inspired by the build of fossil dune formations present in the UAE landscapes. Both clay and Al Safeefa are reinterpreted to create an organic light concept with grounded craft roots.”
Then, there is Jawaher Al-khayyal an interior and product designer who explores traditional craftsmanship and what is described as stories from the past. Her work has a strong sense of nostalgia, which she employs to conjure up unconventional and engaging user experiences.
Finally, UAE’s Ayesha Hadir, who is also at the event, believes that oral history needs to be preserved. She champions the cause of the UAE’s traditional stories of hardships during the times of pearl diving and fishing – the only source of income before the nation found prosperity.
Aude Tahon, President of Ateliers d’Art de France, President of Révélations commented on the website: “We imagined an event that would celebrate the strength and the creative vitality of material artists around the world. With this unique event, we wanted to transcend craftsmanship, reveal contemporary creation and inspire the talents of tomorrow. Material artists express a vision of society that makes decisions for its future, offering a different way of life: creating, passing along, and lasting!”
