81 Designs, a social company in the United Arab Emirates, will begin working with Studio Lél, an artist collective based in Pakistan, at the 16th Abu Dhabi Art Fair (November 20–24). Interconnected: Two sculptures in the Beacon of Light Collection resemble enormous misbahs, and a string of beads is used in Islamic prayer with social and cultural significance. The collection, which was made by fusing traditional patterns and techniques from the UAE, Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Italy, can be viewed as a cultural link between South Asian, Middle Eastern, and European crafts. It also aims to honour these areas’ rich traditions and talented craftspeople. 81 Designs is collaborating with a South Asian artist association for the first time.
The two sculptures, which are over 13.5 feet (411 cm) long, each have 33 big beads, some of which are embellished with traditional Palestinian tatreez embroidery designs (which include images of palm trees and olive branches) and Emirati khoos patterns (which depict woven palm leaves). Olive branches and palms are both representations of peace. Pakistan provided excellent materials to create the pieces. The first piece, called “Nakhl” (Palm Tree), was made from carved wooden spheres that were embellished with beaded designs.
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