EXHALE HOUSEWARMING: WHAT TO EXPECT
From 4pm onwards, guests can enjoy a jam session by regional artists Ibby VK, Khalid, Michele and Hadi.
“It’s not a set schedule — they get to jam and do their thing, all the while providing music for the whole community,” says Al Masri. “People can also bring instruments, if they play, and jam with everyone there. It’s a community collaboration.”
Wordsmith Suhaib will be running a poetry performance.
“Poetry and quotes mean a lot to us, because words get you through. We want people to understand that poetry is part of our journey — not only art as in drawing or painting, but also artists who write,” says Al Masri.
You can buy small canvases or re-usable Exhale water bottles and create your own art.
“Reham Shaheen will be guiding the art session for expression on bottles. Then, Rabab Tantawy will be using canvases [in a session] called ‘The Heart That Sees’; Rabab will be guiding you to understand a journey within yourself, to draw your heart, or how it would look like,” explains Al Masri.
You will have the chance to explore the ‘Rock Your Ugly’ photo exhibition by Waleed Shah (as well as a creative session with the photographer himself).
“As soon as you finish your art, even if you don’t want to do art, you can still take a photo with Waleed. But the concept is to bring colour,” says Al Masri.
At 7pm, you can join in on a ‘cosy talk’ with Al Masri, Shah, Mika Ashraf, Anushka Abraham and more.
“[It’s open to] anyone who wants to join and share their story. We will be at least leading it, because it’s not always [the case] that people are feeling comfortable to talk about their experiences,” says Al Masri. “Cosy talk is just an open-up session for people to see and understand that there is a community here called the Exhaler community, where we talk about our emotions, our anxiety, our depression. We have a Facebook group, too; we are the ones who accept people, not out of, ‘Oh, you don’t belong here.’ But just out of making sure no one bullies or judges anyone, so we have it controlled. We want people to feel comfortable to express themselves, because I feel they don’t have that platform in the Middle East.”
Take a moment to self-reflect before you leave.
“The concept and the theme is all clouds, sky, nature and the ocean. So it’s very Exhale-y, very calming, relaxing. By the very end of the event, we will just have like a five-minute lie-down, where everyone will be lying in the centre of the place, we shut down all the lights, and we just have a small sound journey, where we all self-reflect,” says Al Masri.