Deira Market Murals 2019: Theme, winners & more

Dubai is not just a destination with a world-renowned, dramatic skyline and towering skyscrapers. Look closely and you will find the city to be a giant canvas with murals, graffiti and artwork of all kinds. Today we shall discover more about the newest Deira Market murals, which is a result of an enterprising competition organised in the city to promote art and aesthetics in the area.

DEIRA MARKET MURALS: HARMONY THROUGH ART

If you haven’t visited Deira for a while, you are in for a pleasant surprise. The Deira Waterfront Market in Dubai has recently received two striking art installations.

The first one is designed with steel pipe depicting the word ‘Allah’, while the other is a mural depicting a young Emirati boy as he learns the history of his country.

The two artworks were the winning entries of a competition which the Waterfront Market Dubai organised in association with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. This was the second murals and art competition hosted by the Deira Market. The underlying aim of the competition was community-building as well as providing a creative impetus for local artists.

The Waterfront Market is located in the heart of the old city. It is the largest fresh food market in Dubai. Just like its predecessor (Deira Fish Market), the market represents the traditions of the Emirates and projects the multicultural vibe of the city.

The theme of this Waterfront Market mural competition coincided with the Year of Tolerance. 2019 was declared as the Year of Tolerance by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The aim was to showcase the country’s prominence as a major global leader for acceptance and coexistence.

One of the ‘pillars of tolerance’ was culture and art, which plays an important part in unifying the community with creative expressions.

The theme of the Deira Market murals 2017 competition was ‘Leave Your Mark’ and the award went to Shahul Hameed, an Indian artist based in the UAE.

DEIRA TOLERANCE MURALS 2019

The mural of the Emirati boy immersed in the history of the UAE won the first prize, bagging its creator John Paul Faderogao a cash prize of AED 15,000. The Filipino artist is no stranger to wall art. He chose to create his award-winning mural with the realisation that the rich culture and heritage of the UAE is an integral part of its fabric. That is why he painted a boy in the national dress, reading about his country’s heritage.

Foderogao also wanted the youth to understand how important it is to have a good knowledge of their culture.

On the other hand, the steel pipe art installation, which also won its creator the AED 15,000 prize was made by Spencer James Hogg. The artist hails from the UK and currently resides in Abu Dhabi. Using symmetrical steel pipes, he has depicted the name of ‘Allah’ in Kufic calligraphy. Five pipes have been used by the artist, a symbol of the five pillars of Islam.

As you look at installation from different angles, it appears in different shapes and forms. Hogg wants to convey the message of equality of all people before God through his art creation.

These were the various concepts that tolerance murals at last year’s competition.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEIRA MARKET MURALS COMPETITION

The Waterfront Market mural competition has been going on since 2017. Interested artists can participate in subsequent competitions by submitting their artwork on the Waterfront Market’s official website. They can even edit and resubmit their work in a two-month period leading to the deadline.

An experienced panel of judges will evaluate the submissions based on style, creativity and relevance to the competition’s theme. Once they shortlist the submissions, the artists begin live wall paintings. In other words, visitors to the market can watch the winning mural in progress.

The Waterfront Market Dubai is located at the intersection of Al Khaleej Road and Abu Hail streets in Dubai. For submission of sculptures and murals, Waterfront Market website is thewaterfrontmarket.ae.

OTHER MURALS IN DUBAI

Of course, Deira is not the only place in Dubai where you can enjoy street art. Al Karama is another area in old Dubai where one can find lots of street art. Real estate developers Wasl Properties initiated the makeover of the Karama Souk in 2016 and made it one of the most popular areas for graffiti art.

Street in Karama by Wasl — Murals in Al Karama by Wasl

Thanks to the ‘Rediscovering Karama’ project, the commercial buildings in the community have become a visual experience with bright colours and depictions of sharks, falcons and lions.

You can also find murals at City Walk by Meraas. Here you will see the popular “I love DXB” graffiti art that became a sensation on social media. Murals in the area are the creations of some of the top names in street art. These include the likes of Lady Aiko and Ron English. You can immerse yourself in the innovative creations as you shop and dine at City Walk.

These are just some of the many places to find street art in Dubai. Along with public art, you can also visit some of the best art galleries in Dubai. And you can always head to places like Zabeel Park, JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence), Dubai Design District and Al Quoz to check out pop-up exhibitions throughout the year.