dubai design week
Rippling Shadows by Faissal El-Malak Palestinian multidisciplinary designer Faissal El-Malak’s ‘Rippling Shadows’ is inspired by the Renaissance Shawls produced in workshops across Europe as a response to the original, highly sought-after cashmere shawls of 19th-century France. These new shawls had motifs that were relative to their new environments, depicting more of a narrative approach than their original counterparts, while retaining the same style. ‘Rippling Shadows’ is part of the Fashcultivate exhibition, co-curated by Emirati fashion designer/curator Khulood bin Thani and Fatma Al Mahmoud, head of 1971 – Design Space in Sharjah, to celebrate date palms and their importance throughout the history of human civilisation, and their significance in the cultural, economic and historical identity of the Gulf region. ‘Rippling Shadows’ was first exhibited in 2019, after seven Gulf-based designers were comissioned to create works ranging from textile design to contemporary couture, while exploring the theme of date palms.
‘Rippling Shadows’ depicts a man navigating through a sea of shadows, supported by a palm tree. Safifa weaving surrounds him while diamondshaped structures representing cardinal directions of a compass light his journey to the unknown. “This all comes together to paint a surrealist vision of the palm tree through its use in different settings, from architecture to boatmaking, taking place in all parts of traditional life in the UAE,” El-Malak explains. Exploring identity and narratives across the Middle East is central to El-Malak’s practice – be it fashion or product design. “My practice is closely linked to my identity and my research on navigating a Middle Eastern narrative that is in parallel to my personal history. I have lived in different places across the world and have always been fascinated by the conversations and creations that arise when differences are confronted with one another. As a result, exploring craft preservation and reinterpretation has become my driving force and area of interest.”
THE CULTURE ISSUE
45