Dubai Mall is being taken over by MEGAs - 125 20-centimetre customisable figures designed by UAE national Mohammed Abedin in 2008.
They can be drawn on and painted, and their arms, head, ears and back rocket can be adjusted or removed. The figures have been customised by 125 UAE-based artists for the second Project: MEGA, the Middle East's largest designer toy exhibition, says Abedin, the founder of Foo Dog.
The exhibition, supported by Dubai Culture and in association with Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC) and Extra Cake PR, sees the debut of more than 60 artists and the return of 50 established talents such as Jalal Luqman, Sumayyah Al Suwaidi Mattar Bin Lahej and Khalil Abdulwahid.
Abedin says that having seen the idea for such designer toys gain worldwide momentum, he decided to introduce the concept here.
"The UAE has incredible raw talent and I wanted to bring that together. Project: MEGA is a massive exhibition providing an opportunity for exposure and acting as a creative platform," he says. "Some of these artists have no exposure. This is a great new light that provides them with recognition."
It is also a great collaboration, says Somaya Soeryadiredja, the MEFCC project manager. "For artists it provides inspiration, and for visitors a chance to see the kind of art we have in the region."
For Lahej, the opportunity to appeal to a new generation of creatives is not to be missed. "I've seen a lot of new names on the exhibitor list which shows it's getting bigger," she says. "Visitors will see different views and perspectives."
Not all the exhibitors are artists. Some are musicians, photographers, bakers and even a surgeon. "The idea is to gather creative minds. I'm extremely excited about what will happen after the event," says Abedin.
Dubai Mall until July 8. On July 10 it moves to FN Design Studios at Alserkal Avenue, and between July 12 and 14 the MEGAs will be auctioned. At the first event, Jalal Luqman's piece was auctioned for Dh50,000. Visit www.foo-dog.com
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%C2%A0profile
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
