SHARJAH, 18th June, 2023 (WAM) The Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council (ICCC) has returned to Design Miami/Basel and is leading a multifaceted participation at the 17th edition of the prestigious exhibition that celebrates the best of modern collectible design, with two new collection drops that have taken the Council’s efforts to present contemporary and marketable interpretations of Emirati and Arab crafts practices to new heights. Capturing the interest and imaginations of gallerists, collectors and design enthusiasts with its presence across the show’s physical and digital programming, which runs from13th to 18th June at the Basel Messeplatz, Irthi is presenting the very best of historic and contemporary design from the UAE and the wider Arab region through their artistic collaborations with exceptionally talented and visionary designers. Irthi X Noura Alserkal: Collection drop Inspired by the ‘Mandoos’ – wooden boxes considered one of the most important ancient pieces of traditional home furniture – this collection of exquisite teak wood jewellery boxes embellished with Safeefah patterns debossed on golden brass are a product of artist Alserkal’s design practice encapsulated in materials and objects that resonate with experimentation and sharp-edged insight. These boxes can serve as luxurious storage places for other high-value items, too, also made from teak wood – the material used in the original Mandoos. Irthi X ARE: Collection Drop Featuring Emirati Talli and mother-of-pearl inlay, the Irthi x ARE collection is inspired by Syrian culture. It combines three crafts techniques to create luxury home decor pieces made from handcrafted wood, mother-of-pearl inlay and handwoven Talli braids. This collaboration has led to a collection of three pieces named Jinani II, Zuha I and Zuha II, a distinctive and artistic collection used as decorative pieces that take centre-stage in any modern living space. Within the fair, Irthi will also exhibit Traditional Methods in Modern Design. This physical research-based presentation demonstrates the ongoing effort to question and uncover ways of making and consuming within the domestic and built realms. Simultaneously, Irthi has a digital storefront on designmiami.com titled IRTHI Capsule Collections. Highlights include the Safeefah Chair, in which designers Laura Blasco, Juanmi Juarez, and Alex Estevez from Barcelona-based Mermelada Estudio and Emirati designer Ghaya Bin Mesmar have envisioned a new use for the traditional palm frond weaving technique used in ‘Areesh’ desert houses. Reem BinKaram, Director-General of Irthi, noted, “This year, we return to Design Miami/Basel as an exhibition partner as we truly respect and appreciate the exhibition’s role in leading the future of sustainable design. Irthi’s collections displayed at the fair are leading by example on how to approach collectible design from the point of view of research and re-engineering that lead us to shape new narratives that include the best aspects from our past to shape a meaningful future, not just for the world of design but for the human community at large.” Tariq Al Fahaam/ Hazem Hussein
Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)