Al Fahidi murals face the heat in Dubai's fluctuating weather

Dubai - The piece aimed to reflect the city's oldest residential areas using modern means and colourful geometrical patterns.

The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority removed a prominent mural from Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood after it was impacted by fluctuating weather conditions, Khaleej Times has learned.
The colourful mural, painted by Spanish urban artist Ruben Sanchez, decorated a wall at Al Bastakiya since 2013. It featured a man relaxing to showcase people's lives 100 years back, when Al Bastakiya was the residence for expatriate families.
The piece aimed to reflect the city's oldest residential areas using modern means and colourful geometrical patterns, juxtaposed with black and white freehand style.
Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, told Khaleej Times the mural was part of SIKKA Art Fair 2013.
"Ruben Sanchez was commissioned to be part of a previous edition of SIKKA where he presented his designs and received immense appreciation over the years which cemented his presence."
Al Nabouda added, "This piece has beautified the space and offered multiple photo opportunities due to its elaborate design."
However, Al Nabouda said that the piece, along with a few other murals, has experienced fluctuating weather conditions over the years that caused it to depreciate in its visual appeal.
However, the number of murals removed was not clear.
"Visitors can soon expect more," he added.
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority organises several initiatives focused on identifying creative talent in the city.
SIKKA Art Fair, the Authority's flagship initiative, supports emerging UAE and GCC-based artists who are commissioned to work either individually or in collaboration to produce site-specific work, showcased across many of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood's houses and open-air spaces.
The urban artist Sanchez was commissioned by the contemporary art organization Tashkeel to transform plain streets into colourful platforms.
The mural removed was part of his first solo exhibition in the UAE, The B Side, which he created while in residence as Tashkeel's second guest artist in 2013.
Sanchez had other works across UAE including a giant graffiti decorating an entire wall in Jumeirah Beach Road, featuring a part-human-part-animal figure riding a bicycle. The artist has such murals at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

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