Ithra Art Prize announces its 5-member jury panel

The winner will receive up to $100,000. (SPA)
Updated 11 September 2019
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Ithra Art Prize announces its 5-member jury panel

DUBAI: The Ithra Art Prize announced its five jurors who will pick the best works to exhibit at 2020’s Art Dubai this week.

Nada Shabout, a professor of art history and coordinator of the Contemporary Arab and Muslim Culture Studies Initiative (CAMCSI) in Texas, has been announced as a jury member, while independent curator and architect Tarek Abou El-Fetouh will also take a seat.

Eiman Elgibreen, an artist and assistant professor of art history at the Princess Nourah University in Saudi Arabia, is the third name on the list.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

أعلنت جائزة #إثراء للفنون عن أعضاء اللجنة التحكيمية لنسخة 2020 من الجائزة حيث ستضم اللجنة خمسة أعضاء: • الدكتورة ندى شبوط – أستاذة تاريخ الفن ومسؤولة تنسيق مبادرة الدراسات العربية والإسلامية المعاصرة في جامعة نورث تكساس. • طارق أبو الفتوح – مهندس معماري وقيّم فني مستقل. • إيمان الجبرين – فنانة تشكيلية وأستاذ مساعد لمادة تاريخ الفن في جامعة الأميرة نورة. • ريم فضة – مديرة المجمع الثقافي في أبوظبي. • مايا الخليل – قيّمة فنية مستقلة ومديرة سابقة في معرض “أثر” بمدينة جدة. باب التقديم مفتوح لجميع الفنانين السعوديين والمقيمين في السعودية. يحصل الفنان الفائز على تفويض فني بقيمة تصل إلى 100,000 دولار أمريكي ليعرض العمل الفائز في #آرت_دبي 2020 -أولاً- قبل ضم العمل إلى المجموعة الدائمة لمركز إثراء. آخر موعد لقبول المشاركات هو 3 أكتوبر 2019 – يرجى زيارة موقع الجائزة الالكتروني للتعرف على التفاصيل. The high-profile jury for the 2020 edition of the Ithra Art Prize has been announced. The five jurors are: • Dr. Nada Shabout, Professor of Art History and Coordinator of the Contemporary Arab and Muslim Culture Studies Initiative (CAMCSI) in Texas. • Tarek Abou El Fetouh, Independent curator and architect. • Eiman Elgibreen, artist and Assistant Professor of Art History at the Princess Nourah University. • Reem Fadda, Director of the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi • Maya El Khalil, Independent Curator and former Director at Athr Gallery in Jeddah. Applications are now open to all Saudi and Saudi-based artists. The winner will receive up to $100,000 to go towards realizing a major piece at #ArtDubai2020, which will then become a part of Ithra's permanent collection. Applications are due by October 3

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Next in line is Reem Fadda, the director of Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation.

 

Maya El-Khalil, an independent curator and a former director at the Athr Gallery in Jeddah, rounds out the list.

The winner will receive up to $100,000 and their work will become a part of Ithra’s permanent collection.

Applications are now open to all Saudi and Saudi Arabia-based artists. The deadline for applications is Oct. 3. 


Amina Muaddi spotted at Paris Fashion Week as Amira Al-Zuhair hits the runway

Updated 24 min 59 sec ago
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Amina Muaddi spotted at Paris Fashion Week as Amira Al-Zuhair hits the runway

DUBAI: Romanian Jordanian designer Amina Muaddi, founder of the eponymous luxury brand, turned heads at the Dior show at Paris Fashion Week, while part-Saudi model Amira Al-Zuhair graced the runway for Danish fashion label Ganni.

Muaddi, who is a regular at Dior fashion shows, opted for a classic white button-down shirt and a sleek black satin pencil skirt. Her look was accessorized with a pair of dark, round sunglasses and a small, textured blue Dior handbag.

The Dior collection, by Maria Grazia Chiuri, took a sporty turn, blending athletic prowess with an urban menace. The designs evoked a 1960s sci-fi aesthetic, reminiscent of “Star Trek,” but with an edge — daring, asymmetrical shapes paired with knee-high boots that flirted with danger.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Chiuri’s intent was clear from the start: A nod to the power and autonomy of the female form. With a clear reference to Christian Dior’s iconic Amazone dress from the early 1950s, Chiuri reinterpreted the silhouette with sleek, athletic lines, the Associated Press reported.

It echoed the spirit of the recent Paris Olympics, as models walked in skin-tight black tops with geometric cut-outs, circular cutaway patterns, and lace-up boot sneakers. There was a dynamic tension between freedom of movement and structured control — a recurring theme in Chiuri’s work, which often explores the balance between comfort and couture.

Metallic accents, from shimmering embroidery to butterfly motifs, punctuated the otherwise severe palette, adding a touch of delicacy to the sharpness of the designs, according to AP.

Al-Zuhair walked the runway for Ganni in a dark grey, structured blazer styled over similarly colored tailored pants. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Al-Zuhair, whose mother is French, walked the runway for Ganni in a dark grey, structured blazer styled over similarly colored tailored pants. Adding an artistic touch, the model also wore a large, ruffled pale blue scarf around her neck, which contrasted with the dark tones of the outfit. 

On Wednesday, Al-Zuhair also shared images of the Missoni show she participated in during Milan Fashion Week on Instagram.

She wore a dynamic, eye-catching ensemble featuring bold, wavy stripes in black, white and yellow. The outfit included an asymmetrical top adorned with exaggerated ruffled detailing that cascaded down one side, paired with a high-waisted bikini bottom. Completing the look were matching high-heeled sandals in vibrant yellow, adding an extra pop of color.


Saudi-backed Johnny Depp film gets standing ovation at San Sebastian

Updated 46 min 4 sec ago
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Saudi-backed Johnny Depp film gets standing ovation at San Sebastian

DUBAI: The cast of Johnny Depp-helmed “Modi – Three Days on the Wing of Madness” took to the San Sebastian Film Festival red carpet in Spain on Tuesday night to usher in the star’s second directorial feature.

The film was supported by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Foundation through its Red Sea International Film Financing initiative. 

Red Sea Film Foundation Managing Director Shivani Pandya, Saudi film producer Mohammed Al-Turki — who was previously the CEO of the Red Sea Film Festival — Depp, and stars Riccardo Scamarcio, Antonia Desplat, Bruno Gouery, Ryan McParland and Luisa Ranieri attended the premiere.

The period flick debuted out of competition in San Sebastian where it earned a long standing ovation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Modi” is Depp’s second directorial effort and comes 27 years after “The Brave,” his debut film as a director. Described as a “seventy-two-hour whirlwind in the life of bohemian artist Amedeo Modigliani,” the film follows the artist through a chaotic series of events through the streets of war-time Paris in 1916. 

At the press conference ahead of the screening, Depp revealed that co-star Al Pacino advised him to helm the movie. “I got a very strange phone call from Al Pacino who said ‘Do remember this Modigliani project?’ and he said I should direct it,” Depp said, according to Deadline.

“For some reason, Al saw me driving this strange machine. And when Pacino speaks, you listen, so I ran with it. But I had no idea what it would be until the pieces of the puzzle came together.” 


Aseel Omran, Mona Zaki take part in star-studded L’Oreal Paris show

Updated 24 September 2024
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Aseel Omran, Mona Zaki take part in star-studded L’Oreal Paris show

DUBAI: Saudi actress and presenter Aseel Omran and Egyptian actress Mona Zaki were among the celebrities that walked the seventh edition of L’Oréal Paris’ star-studded Le Défilé Walk Your Worth event during Paris Fashion Week on Monday.

Aseel Omran. (Instagram)

Omran wore a form-fitting velvet black dress with a contrasting white detail at the bust. Meanwhile, Zaki donned a glitzy gold gown with large sequins that create a reflective surface. The dress had a fitted silhouette and a V-neckline.

Mona Zaki. (Instagram)

Omran and Zaki, who are ambassadors for the brand, were joined by other A-list stars including Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Jane Fonda, and Eva Longoria. 

The theme for this year’s event was “Walk Your Worth,” which celebrated “women’s empowerment, inclusion and sisterhood.”


Egyptian actress Huda Al-Mufti named Dolce&Gabbana’s regional ambassador 

Updated 24 September 2024
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Egyptian actress Huda Al-Mufti named Dolce&Gabbana’s regional ambassador 

DUBAI: Egyptian actress Huda Al-Mufti announced on Tuesday that she was named Dolce&Gabbana’s first regional ambassador in the Middle East. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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“I aim to showcase the brand’s essence through fashion and beauty that reflects my passion and the region’s culture,” she wrote to her 3.4 million followers on Instagram. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Last year, Al-Mufti was also named a brand ambassador for Italian luxury label Bulgari.


Restauranteur Carole Moawad on bringing Japanese flavors to the Middle East

Updated 24 September 2024
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Restauranteur Carole Moawad on bringing Japanese flavors to the Middle East

DUBAI: It began as a niche offering, but Japanese cuisine has become a captivating choice for food enthusiasts in the Gulf.

Carole Moawad, Dubai-based founder of restaurant Uchi in the UAE and dessert ice cream spot M’oishi in Saudi Arabia, has been at the forefront of its growth.

Carole Moawad is a Dubai-based founder of restaurant Uchi in the UAE and dessert ice cream spot M’oishi in Saudi Arabia. (Supplied)

With a passion for both Japanese cuisine and hospitality, Moawad has helped introduce the country’s delicate flavors to a new audience.

Reflecting on the evolution of the region’s appetite for Japanese food, Moawad told Arab News: “Initially, it was a niche market primarily appealing to expatriates and adventurous locals. However, as curiosity about diverse culinary experiences grew, Japanese food gained widespread popularity.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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She believes Japanese cuisine resonates with people in the region due to its emphasis on freshness, quality and presentation. “The growing health consciousness among consumers also plays a significant role, as many Japanese dishes are lighter and focus on natural flavors,” she said.

M’oishi, her Saudi Arabian venture, has been met with enthusiastic demand: “We’ve opened three M’oishi shops in Riyadh, and the mango and coconut mochi ice cream flavors have become our bestsellers,” she said.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The brand has also tapped into a craving for on-trend drinks, with bubble tea becoming a customer favorite.

Importing fresh ingredients from Japan is particularly important.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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“For Uchi, for example, we make sure to import fresh ingredients from Japan weekly, especially the seafood,” she told Arab News. “For M’oishi, we import the mochi rice powder, matcha powder, yuzu, etc. on a quarterly basis which make it easier to manage.”

The restauranteur emphasized the importance of adaptability and strong team building, which have been key during her journey.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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“The restaurant industry is constantly evolving, and being open to change has allowed us to innovate and grow,” she said.

“The response to mochi ice cream has been overwhelmingly positive, and we see potential for growth through partnerships and different locations within the Kingdom.”