Art takes over Boxpark streets in Dubai

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Visitors engaged with art during the ‘I’m loving Street Art’ event at Boxpark in Dubai.-Photo by Neeraj Murali
Visitors engaged with art during the 'I'm loving Street Art' event at Boxpark in Dubai.-Photo by Neeraj Murali

A graffiti artist Andra will be present at the venue all four weeks, where she will be painting a different and unique artwork every week.

By Saman Haziq

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Published: Sat 20 Oct 2018, 6:00 PM

Last updated: Sat 20 Oct 2018, 8:55 PM

Crowds were enthralled by the unique open air interactive event titled 'I'm loving Street Art' at the Dubai's hip urban outdoor destination, Boxpark, on Friday.
Over the four weekends from October 19 to November 10, the street art celebration will bring original art displays and workshops for adults and children to Boxpark on every Friday and Saturday. About eight outdoor art stations are placed outside the Bianca restaurant for adults and kids to paint, their hearts out.
Based on the premise 'art is therapy for the soul', visitors will get a chance to contribute to the art installations through expressing their creativity on the street art walls set up around the destination that include mosaic art and canvas painting. The different types of art walls include mosaic art, canvas painting and art enthusiasts could either watch live painting and graffiti sessions, or paint or draw their own works which they could then take home.
An Emirati woman Rouqaya Saeed, was driving past on the Jumeirah Road when she saw plain canvases positioned outdoors next to the road, beckoning adults and kids to paint them. "I got so excited that me and my husband changed our plan of going to the beach and instead came here to Boxpark just so that I could paint a bit. I recently visited Vienna and there was a beautiful scenery I saw there that was stuck in my head and I am now painting it," Rouqaya said, as her husband held the colour palette for her.
Indian expat Simon who was helping his daughters - Mikhaila, 12 and Melinda, 10 - and also their friend Gwen, 11, with some doodling, said: "Since the weather was good, we decided to go for a drive and stopped by Boxpark looking at the art stations. I was amazed to see the talents of my girls. This is a lovely outdoor initiative and we are spending some quality time here."
Children were seen enjoying the mosaic art wall sticking coloured papers inside the sketches done by the helpers assisting people at the art stations.
Algerian nationals Alaa and Mariam, who recently came to the UAE were painting a canvas showing the Algerian countryside. "The best part is that they have provided us the best of tools for the art work and also assistant artists. We can also take our paintings back home with us. This for us is a novel experience and we love it."

Spraying the graffiti

A graffiti artist Andra will be present at the venue all four weeks, where she will be painting a different and unique artwork every week. "I am using spray painting, air brush and graffiti techniques to paint a four-sided box today. The theme of my painting is based on food, festivities and happiness. And it is an amazing event where not only are people enjoying but even the artists are getting a chance to bring their creativity out and enjoy with all."
Boxpark is Meraas' addition to Dubai's high street retail, dining and entertainment proposition. Offering distinctive shopping experiences and quirky dining options, the offbeat destination spanning 1.2km is located on Al Wasl Road.
saman@khaleejtimes.com  
 


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