MENASA – Emirati Design Platform is a core element of the Arts & Culture Programme of Expo 2020 Dubai, running from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. The collective approach of MENASA, which means ‘platform’ in Arabic, is inspired by the theme and spirit of Expo 2020 Dubai, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.
MENASA is a new addition to the Emirati cultural scene, creating a unified platform for Emirati crafts and design on the global stage offered by Expo 2020 Dubai.
MENASA aims to ignite a new appreciation of Emirati crafts as a contemporary and living expression of Emirati cultural identity, locally and globally.
Presented by the Arts & Culture Programme of Expo 2020 Dubai, MENASA – Emirati Design Platform will tell the stories of the UAE of today through exclusive curated design collections by over 40 local and international designers. Visitors will explore and experience traditional Emirati crafts through a contemporary lens with seven
exciting design collaborations between local and international artisans and designers under the title of Crafts.
Stories, while Designer of the Week will showcase 24 designers and organisations from across the UAE, illustrating the breadth and vibrancy of the country’s contemporary design scene. All collections and design pieces will be exhibited and available for sale within the MENASA space in a prime location at the heart of Expo 2020 Dubai.
MENASA is Curated by Samer Yamani, The Director of the Design and Craft Programme at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The curated selection of artisans, designers and crafts organisations at MENASA – Emirati Design Platform is drawn from 11 countries across 4 continents. UAE designers and organisations include Al Ghadeer UAE Crafts, Alia Bin Omair, Ammar Kalo, Bil Arabi, Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council, Khalid Shafar, and Tashkeel.
International designers and design brands include Alfredo Häberli (Switzerland), BD Barcelona Design (Spain), Chris Schwagga (Rwanda), Edouard Cabay (Belgium), Estudio Campana (Brazil), Iwan Maktabi (Lebanon), Klove (India), Nicolas Jebran (Lebanon) and Todomuta Studio (Spain).
Flowing Crafts, a dramatic 13-metre window display that merges 3D printing with local crafts, designed by Carmelo Zapulla (Italy) and Rami Al Ali (Syria/UAE) will capture the attention of visitors as they approach the MENASA design space at the heart of the Expo 2020 Dubai site.
Flowing Crafts, a dramatic 13-metre window display that merges 3D printing with local crafts, designed by Carmelo Zapulla (Italy) and Rami Al Ali (Syria/UAE) will capture the attention of visitors as they approach the MENASA design space at the heart of the Expo 2020 Dubai site.
Located at the ground level of The Rove Hotel, next to Al Wasl Plaza, MENASA – Emirati Design Platform will be open daily for the duration of Expo 2020 Dubai, from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
“The collective approach of MENASA is inspired by the theme and spirit of Expo 2020 Dubai, ‘Connecting Minds,
Creating the Future’. By bringing together artisans and designers from the UAE and around the world, we are nurturing a rich cultural and creative dialogue to ensure a meaningful legacy after Expo 2020 closes its doors. The content that we are bringing to Expo through MENASA is innovative and intriguing, and will surely capture the hearts and imaginations of our visitors. We are very proud of this programme and believe that it will help to ignite a new appreciation of Emirati crafts as a contemporary and living expression of our cultural identity – locally and globally.”
_ Dr Hayat Shamsuddin, Senior Vice President, Arts and Culture, Expo 2020 Dubai
“Crafts have a special, innate power to communicate a local culture, a nation and its identity. At this historic moment for the UAE, as the country celebrates its Golden Jubilee and hosts the first World Expo in the Middle East and Africa and South Asia region, MENASA is presenting the Emirati crafts and design scene of today in all its diversity and vibrancy. Taking a poetic approach, we are using craft as a communication tool and merging it with design, new technologies and materials to convey more stories of the UAE and to intensify the experience for our visitors through our exclusive design collections.”
_ Samer Yamani, Curator, MENASA – Emirati Design Platform, Expo 2020 Dubai
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