Iraqi designer of Dubai Design Week’s Abwab pavilion builds safe space for socialising
The prestigious annual Abwab exhibition at Dubai Design Week typically features several pavilions from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, offering an insight into the region’s rich design scene.
This year, however, only one pavilion was commissioned, with the job falling to Iraqi designer Hozan Zangana, who created it entirely under quarantine conditions.
Naturally, the pandemic defined the piece he ultimately produced. Fata Morgana is an open-plan seating arrangement around a central point. The installation is meant to represent the framework of a modern-day city in a way that adapts to today’s requirements for physical distancing. It consists of seven pillars representing the seven emirates of the UAE, and its construction is inspired by Middle Eastern techniques.
Here, Zangana explains more about his approach for the concept.
Q What did it mean to be awarded the 2020 Abwab commission?
A It was an honour, and an experience shared with an amazing team at Generous Studio and Woodcast Design. To have finished the Fata Morgana installation in its intended place at Dubai Design District, and see people experience it for the first time, made the long hours and hard work worth it.
The pandemic has been a challenging time for everybody in the world. In the early days, it was clear that a lack of interaction would have a great impact on society. The concept aims to amplify the necessity of crossing each other’s paths by presenting a pivotal intersection, demanding interaction between people and reactivating the connection with each other on a social level in a safe environment.
Tell us more about the historical Middle Eastern construction techniques used for ‘Fata Morgana’
It was important to us that Fata Morgana would be relevant both in its location and for its time. The rammed earth technique [whereby materials such as gravel, sand, silt and clay are forced in between panels] was used to build the different elements of the pavilion and symbolises the
Earth, which is the foundation of culture and heritage. The installation, with its different height levels, can be seen as a skyline with the seven pillars in the middle and the smaller ones around them. The table and circular seating is inspired by the traditional way people meet and come together.
What are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s Dubai Design Week?
It’s always an exciting time to meet new artists and find new voices that inspire. I’m looking forward to seeing some of the beautiful works from local designers, especially the works at Tashkeel, because this is the new generation of designers. I admire the work Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum [founder of Tashkeel] is doing for the design community. She is someone who – within our culture – is investing her time and energy to protect beauty and heritage.
What project will you be working on next?
My next project will be revisiting one I had started before the pandemic, which would have been featured during Milan Design Week.
Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, plans changed. In the new year, I hope to complete and show the installation Arbela: A Visual Guide made in collaboration with Generous Studio. It will be an interactive experience including projection mapping, interactive soundscapes and a short film. Before a physical exhibition, we plan to launch the short film and a virtual reality event.
Dubai Design Week concludes on Saturday. More information is at www.dubaidesignweek.ae