Artist Jyo John Mulloor’s creativity continues to lead to stunning creations. After wowing viewers last month with his images that showed Dubai and its attractions covered in snow as part of his series #LetItSnowDubai, he has returned with another project that is equally as mesmerising.
Called #LetItBloomDubai, the new project has Mulloor reimagining the emirate full of greenery, a stark contrast from the vast desert scenes usually associated with it and the rest of the country.
While the snow in Dubai series came from a dream, Mulloor describes the greenery as more of a vision.
“My big idea behind #LetItBloomDubai is a pledge to plant,” says Mulloor. “I am planning to do some challenges on social media and anyone can join me.”
He says his idea for the project will involve several initiatives, including partnering with a supplier who can plant a tree in the emirate for supporters of the project.
“The supplier will plant a tree in Dubai and send your Google co-ordinates so even if you are outside the UAE you can still see the tree growing from satellite,” he says.
Another initiative involves making filters on apps such as Instagram to help spread awareness.
In my childhood, when I played outside, I still remember butterflies and birds
Jyo John Mulloor
It’s his concern over global warming that really drives him to create the images. “Only with trees can we reduce the temperature here,” he says.
He says he hopes he can get the municipality to partake in the project, too.
Mulloor, who is from Kerala in India, lives in Dubai with his wife and seven-year-old daughter. He says he likes how the area he resides in stays cooler because of its greenery.
“I’m staying in Remraam community. If you know the place, even the summer temperature is not that bad. It’s not fully green, but 30 per cent green, and it’s full of birds and parrots.”
He compares this to India. He says a return trip home also inspired his series.
“In my childhood, when I played outside, I still remember butterflies and birds. In the morning, I’d always wake up with their sound only,” he says.
“Last time I was in India, I could hear the sounds of motors, and no butterflies or birds at all. I told my daughter, ‘We had a time like that, but I don’t think you will in your future.’”
He believes the UAE can be different and credits the country's visionary approach to nature, such as creating artificial ponds and improving facilities such as parks and open spaces.
Last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, set forward a plan to overhaul the emirate's urban landscape by 2040. Part of those plans include vast swathes of green areas in the city, with 60 per cent of Dubai to be dedicated to nature reserves.
“In India we had that naturally and we destroyed it. I am sure my second home can get back what I lost in first home.”
So far, Mulloor has unveiled images that show everything from Hatta to the Dubai Frame and the Dubai skyline to Atlantis, The Palm, surrounded by lush greenery.
While the images don’t take long to create, he says the first two or three were the most time-consuming because they needed 3D imagery to fix the land from the same angle and lighting. He also admits that it was harder to add the greenery than it was to add the snow.
Mulloor says he has no plans to sell the digital creations, but rather he simply enjoys the positive feedback he has received about his works.
“Negative comments also come sometimes, but I take only the positive vibes when I visualise something.”
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Sanju
Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani
Rating: 3.5 stars
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Racecard
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
The National selections
6.30pm: Chaddad
7.05pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.40pm: Mass Media
8.15pm: Rafal
8.50pm: Yulong Warrior
9.25pm: Chiefdom
Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
The years Ramadan fell in May
Inside%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EKelsey%20Mann%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Amy%20Poehler%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%2C%20Ayo%20Edebiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Oppenheimer
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EChristopher%20Nolan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECillian%20Murphy%2C%20Emily%20Blunt%2C%20Robert%20Downey%20Jr%2C%20Florence%20Pugh%2C%20Matt%20Damon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E5%2F5%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
