Friday, June 24, 2011

Summer time

So I'm packing my too-small-to-fit-everything-but-damn-this-is-one-heavy suitcase, and I thought I needed a break from all that folding and rolling, so I decided to pop in a bit for a post. Yes, summer is here and that only means one thing. Travelling. My other love besides eating, daydreaming, designing, sleeping...

So on the subject of travelling, here are some typographic logotypes for the destinations I will be jetting off to in 24 hours. Have a great summer.

Fine dining and extremely fine shopping.. in New York, New York!


All ready to hit Miami, the Carribean & Florida with my sunblock & sunnies


Cambridge is close to London yeah? I was never good at Geography




And Part 2 of last post's story will be coming up after the break :)

Images via: www.albinholmqvist.com


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Art in the City

I held off writing about this until everything was in picture perfect place. And now that I'm sitting here with my legs perfectly cosied up on the worktable and my sleeping patterns in tact, it's time to unveil what I have been designing, planning and cooped up in my studio for endless hours on this last month. May certainly did take its time to pass, but I'm not complaining, when you have a deadline you always beg for a few extra hours in the day.

There are two parts to this story (sounds intriguing, doesn't it :P). Ok, let me just get on with it then. As a graphic designer, I have always still loved to produce artworks. Get that canvas out and start splashing wildly away. I wish. I'm more of a detailed person, very micro in my works. While in university, I had taken a printmaking course, and I had started working on creating artworks on a theme around the old area of Dubai, Bastakiya, where my grandparents had lived. Back then, with no AC's (and living in a desert you can imagine how hot it can get), I was fascinated about how they used to live; in summer time when it would get hot, they would hoist up their mattresses and sleep on the rooftops. Their windtower houses, a funcionally built architecture that would capture the wind through the narrow slits in the box-like structure, and drive it within, cooling the interior and its inhabitants.

After university, I had always wanted to continue working on this theme, and I saw my chance when The Ara Gallery posted a call for an Emirati artist exhibition representing the UAE from their perspective. And here I am now, 2 weeks after the launch of the exhibition, breathing a sigh of relief and delight as my artworks have finally come to life on paper.


"Once upon a time" a reflection of Bastakiya's Windtower houses


a detailed look; the arabic type inteprets to 'once upon a time'


"Across the times" their means of living, on board Dhows and Abra's

"Endless Strides" their means of transport, across the harsh sandy dunes

"A moment" a blurred memory, captured to be preserved



Another Emirati artist exhibiting her artworks was Aljoud Lootah, the designer behind the successful fashion brand Niftee (www.niftee.ae). I really loved her works, depicting elements from the Emirati traditional gold jewellery blended with Arabic calligraphy to create a piece of art.





Wednesday, June 08, 2011

Hollywood in Pearls

So I started this post 2 months ago and then I seriously don't know what happened, and how we are now two months later. But I'm back and you can all rest assured I'm here to stay, sorry for giving you a fright there :P And on to my much delayed post:

Pearls, crystals and more bling. Last month, was pretty much packed with events, galleries and art weeks. I have just downloaded the images from my pathetic camera so I can finally blog about what I have been up to in March (other than munching on delicious finger foods to tea parties may I add, they suddenly sprung up out of nowhere and I've been stuffing myself with macarons, salmon rolls and biscuits).

Leila Marashi, owner of fashion label Sugar Vintage, recently collaborated with S*uce boutique to unveil her first artwork collection "The turathi-pop collection". Inspired by Hollywood sirens and famous faces, Leila added a whole new bling makeover plus an Arabian touch to these icons, leaving me starry-eyed with all those crystal encrusted artworks.

 Pearl encrusted Chanel perfume

 Arabic jewellery adorning the ever classic Audrey Hepburn


In detail


Beyonce in a traditional Burqa worn by old women and henna


Dihn Ood; small Arabic perfume bottles


the queen dressed in pearls


another perfume bottle dressed to impress


Miss Mona Lisa