“From Cairo with Love” is an exhibition where art and fashion collide. It made its debut in Dubai last week and will be on display there through October 13 at Gallery Vibes, Mall of the Emirates.
The Dubai Debut collection by Cairo-based Egyptian fashion designer Rasha Pasha was unveiled alongside internationally famous Arabic calligrapher and Italian mixed-media marbling artist Antonella Leoni, who has also been residing in Cairo since 2015.
Two never-before-seen events, “From Cairo with Love” and “From the Light of the Stars to Letters of Light,” were held on Friday and Saturday at the gallery and at the Egyptian embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
The creator and managing partner of Labeled Dubai, which brought the artists to the city, is the Lebanese art curator Zeina Saidi, currently residing in Cairo.
“Our goal is to accept, improve, and merge traditional handicrafts and arts into contemporary global design. People are turning back to the traditional styles and cultural norms that helped shape who we are today. Saidi, who has been visiting Dubai for more than 20 years and refers to the city as her “home-away-from-home,” said, “We want to encourage people to understand better and appreciate the importance and artistry of Arabic culture, design, and creativity.”
The Arab and international audiences in Dubai are tuned into the newest current fashion, supported by a profound appreciation for authenticity, therefore we believed there was no better place to launch this passionate goal,” she continued.
On October 1, 2015, she traveled to Abu Dhabi to see American musician Jon Bon Jovi perform at DU Arena on Yas Island.
“All my life, I aspired to become a designer. My mother was a television personality who traveled the nation in search of ancient Egyptian tales, folklore, customs, real clothing, and—most importantly—the heroes who skillfully created them. El Gammal, a student of Islamic and African history, said, “I made the decision to pour my work into reintroducing these artisans to the world.”
Leoni, like El Gammal, values his Egyptian heritage. Leoni was born in the northern Italian village of Roccabianca, close to Parma. There are 38 items of Zof Leoni’s magnificent masterpieces, including papyrus, papyrus marbling, and Islamic and spiritual iconography. Her works are a sophisticated fusion of art and culture. Her passion is Islamic art. Their visual concepts combine sofia, or culture, knowledge, wisdom, and spirituality.
On Saturday night, Dalya Al Bedewi, the wife of the Egyptian ambassador to the UAE, stopped by Gallery Vibes.
