Dubai Culture celebrates UNESCO registration of traditional Emirati thali craft

Dubai: The 11th edition of Sikka Art and Design Festival, the flagship event of Dubai Arts and Culture Authority (Dubai Culture), through Talli House, highlights four innovative artworks by five Emirati female artists inspired by the traditional craft of Al Talli Craft , to celebrate the UAE’s successful inscription of the Al Talli craft on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List last December.

In one of the rooms of the house, artist Sara Alkhayyal illuminates her project “Textile Tales – Talli Currency”, which documents the history of Emirati women and how they came to power. By combining textile motifs and motifs, the artist aims to bring the traditional jalabiyah up-to-date and inspire the younger generation’s interest in the lesser-known stories of the culture. The resulting Textile Tales – Talli Currency project showcases these designs and encourages people to discover more about their heritage. In collaboration with Mirzam, Alkhayyal’s project also inspired a limited-edition chocolate wrapper featuring a Talli-inspired design.

“Thoub Khediya” by Hajer Altenaiji is a poignant tapestry design commemorating her mother’s death when she was young, depicting her mother’s traditional Emirati thoub in heaven. In ‘The O-Collection – Sikka Edition’, artists Feryal Al Bastaki and Munira Almulla explore the fusion of contemporary furniture design with traditional craftsmanship such as Al Talli and Khoos; their furniture installations are a stunning showcase of this fusion.

Commissioned by NAFS Culture, artist Noora Taher is presenting “Van Gogh Thoub”: two dresses inspired by Vincent Van Goh’s idiosyncratic style and Bu Tilla’s unmistakable stippling pattern, with Al Talli instead of paintbrush and silk instead of canvas.

At Talli House, Dubai Culture hosted a series of interactive workshops and live art performances featuring Al Talli artisans. The aim is to give visitors the opportunity to understand the intricate details of traditional Talli craftsmanship and production. The initiative is in line with Dubai Culture’s commitment to supporting the city’s cultural and creative industries as key contributors to its thriving creative economy.

The theme of the 11th film festival is “New Creativity”. Same Path’, which showcases various artworks by 188 artists. As part of Art Dubai, the festival takes place in the Al Fahidi Historic District and hosts a range of artistic and creative events celebrating the richness of the local cultural scene.