Meraas Launches Dubai Walls Initiative in the Middle East

Thursday 31 March 2016

Dubai - MENA Herald: Marking a new chapter in the unstoppable rise of street art, Meraas - a Dubai-based holding company - has announced the launch of Dubai Walls, a ground-breaking initiative that aims to bring the world’s most exciting art movement to the Middle East.
City Walk will be the first to host the creative works of 15 of the world’s top street artists who, with their large permanent murals, will transform Dubai’s latest urban living destination into a unique art hub. Those same artists have already left their creative imprints in global destinations like New York, Paris and London.
Dubai Walls aims to provide an attractive platform for global admirers of street art and encourage them to visit the region throughout the year. This art form evolved in late 20th century and beginning of 21st century to become one of the most followed artistic expressions in the world. The initiative also attempts to transform public spaces into permanent street art exhibitions that perfectly align with Dubai’s modern landscape and offer an opportunity to visitors and residents to enjoy the beautiful artistic creations.
Commenting on this initiative, His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman of Meraas, said: “As part of our commitment to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into an open-air museum that dazzles the world and showcases the unique human experiences behind many of the emirate’s successes, Dubai Walls will attract visual art lovers from across the globe.”
He added: “This initiative will definitely make the region even more attractive through the amazing works of street art by an acclaimed list of international artists. Such initiatives help stimulate the tourism sector and reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading global art capital. Dubai Walls will cooperate with all related parties to achieve its goals.”
Artists taking part in the first Dubai Walls project at City Walk include the French ‘Godfather’ of stencil art Blek le Rat, the creator of pop surrealism Ron English (a contemporary of Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, Ron was immortalised in an episode of The Simpsons), as well as two of the world's leading female street artists - Aiko from Japan, whose design was chosen by Louis Vuitton to be included in one of their scarf collections and whose artworks are shown at the W Hotel in New York, and US star Magda Sayeg, founder of the global 'yarn-bombing' movement and who will be transforming palm trees, fire hydrants and balconies with her playful textured art.
The UK’s edgy street art movement is represented by superstar EINE - whose signature artwork was gifted to the White House by David Cameron -, alongside D*FACE, Nick Walker and The London Police, whose works are shown alongside supersize portrait muralist RONE from Australia, and a visually arresting 3D street art masterpiece from US rising stat Beau Stanton. In-demand Polish art duo ETAM CRU have added the largest mural ever seen in the Middle East, a groundbreaking, six-storey fine art portrait that will no doubt become the social media sensation of Dubai.
As if all of this wasn't enough, pushing the boundaries within the Middle East will be Iranian brothers Icy and Sot. Now based in the US, the exiled art duo returned to the Middle East to create their first mural in the region since leaving their home to seek asylum in the US.
The full list of artists taking in the first Dubai Walls project are:
Aiko (Japan) Blek le Rat (France) D-Face (UK) Eelus (UK) Eine (UK) Ron English (US) Etam Cru (Poland) Icy & Sot (Iran) ROA (Belgium) Rone (Australia) Magda Sayeg (US) Beau Stanton (US) The London Police (UK) Nick Walker (UK)
Street art lovers can now start enjoying Dubai Walls’ offerings at City Walk Dubai.

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