Dubai Design District (d3) will host a special exhibition entitled ‘Self’ that highlights the works of 12 female Emirati artists to mark Emirati Women’s Day.

Set to run from 28 August to 11 September in Building 7’s atrium, the two-week-long event will see several arts and cultural entities collaborate. Tribe, the region’s only magazine dedicated to Arab photography, expertly curated the exhibition through studying the works of local female artists and carefully selecting pieces that embodied the notions of self while echoing the close relations of the artists to the UAE. The three other collaborators include Tashkeel, a centre that supports the growth of art and design practice in the UAE.   1X1 Art Gallery, based in Alserkal Avenue, that offers an important platform for established and emerging artists alike and  lastly, Cuadro Fine Art Gallery, a platform for contemporary art in Dubai.

Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director of d3, said: “Emirati Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate the great women of the UAE and draw attention to the pivotal role they play in society. d3 has always supported Emirati women active in the creative fields, and our community provides an ideal location to showcase their talents.”

Featured artists:    

Maitha Demithan works in a variety of media and is famous for her use of scanography to create portraits. She will display a portrait that explores the relationship between animals and humans, inspired by a poem by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Alaa Edris uses photography, film and performance to enact experimental mappings and manipulations of her social and urban environment. She will showcase a piece entitled ‘Reem dream X’.

Ebtisam Abdulaziz is a multidisciplinary artist and writer incorporating her unique perspective on mathematics and the structures of systems. Her piece on display is called ‘Islamophobia’, which explores issues of identity and culture.

Mahra Almehairi is an interactive photographer, whose photos represent her visual diary to the world. She will display a collection of images of the Shehhi tribe, showing some of its unique traditions, such as the nadba.

Amani AlShaali is a conceptual and portrait photographer.

Lateefa bint Maktoum, Founder and Director of Tashkeel, whose works can be found in private collections in the UAE and abroad, will showcase two pieces from her Limited-Edition series.

Ola Alouz specialises in street and fashion photography and will showcase her piece entitled ‘Nostalgia’.

Fatima Albudoor is an artist and traveller, whose work is based in printmaking, photography and drawing, and revolves around her transient experiences in life and relationships, she will showcase her piece entitled ‘I Elude You’.

Maitha Hamdan and Nora Al Rumaithi will present a series of three photographs taken by Nora with Maitha as the subject that seeks to pay homage to Maitha’s grandmother’s strong sense of duty and responsibility as well as the struggles she endured and her joy of life.

Dhabiya Al Remeithi likes to explore things that are related to her and her surroundings, focusing on subjects that concern the human mind, emotions, ways of communication and expression. Her piece ‘Refuge’ which looks at the journey of birth.

Zeinab Al Hashemi is a conceptual artist and designer specialising in site-specific installation and special art. Her piece ‘Merged Coast’ is created from composite images using satellite shots of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.