logo
‘Transience' by The Creative Cubes examines impermanence at DIAC

‘Transience' by The Creative Cubes examines impermanence at DIAC

Gulf Today3 days ago

The Creative Cubes Gallery unveiled its latest group exhibition Transience: The Flow of Being, on June 14 at Dubai International Art Centre (DIAC). Curated by Dubai-based artist and curator Swapnil Jawale and to run till June 21, the multidisciplinary exhibition brings together 24 diverse contemporary artists who explore the theme of impermanence, through varied mediums and styles.
The inaugural evening commenced with a welcome by Diyali Sen Bhalla, DIAC Chairperson, followed by the remarks of Swapnil, who introduced the exhibition's theme. 'This exhibition explores the fleeting, yet deeply beautiful nature of life – where every moment is both an ending and a beginning,' he said. 'Transience is a reminder that nothing in life is static — we grow, we evolve, we transform. Just like art, our identity flows in between form and formlessness.
'The show honours those invisible threads — of memory, culture, nature, and being — that root us in the present, while drawing from the past and dissolving into what's next.' The exhibition was officially inaugurated by Chief Guest Khurshid Vakil, Co-founder of Marina Home Interiors. Vakil's views resonated with the exhibit's theme, as he emphasised the emotional value of spaces, aesthetics, and the dynamic relationship between art and identity.
Anita Sahai's artwork depicting freedom.
The event also welcomed special guests including eminent Emirati artist Ahmad Al Awadhi Rukni, Art Senior Anjini Prakash Laitu, renowned water colourist Atul Panase, Dr. Supriya Kulkarni Sudhalker and Dr. Uday Sudhalker. Participating artists are Aakanksha Kshatriya, Anita Sahai, Asma Mehmood, Ayesha Yusuf Bhatti, Diyali Sen Bhalla, Gesere, Isabelle Alves, Kritika Iyer, Kiran Kumar, Marwa Elbadawi, Murugesh Thaigarajan, Nashwa Nagy, Pari Sagar, Ranjisha Raghavan, Ravindra Parkhi, Rooma Ejaaz, Saliha Hanif, Samishka Jawale, Sandeep Soni, Smithashree Balaji, Sonia Sahni, Srirupa Bose, Swaraj Jawale, Ulyana Okava and Vandana Arora.
Marwa Elbadawi's work Alignment radiates quiet strength; it is joined to minimalism. Rooted in Islamic metaphysics and the wabi-sabi philosophy, the Japanese aesthetic philosophy that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness, her art weaves together silence, material, and memory, embodying a sacred yet grounded presence. Murugesh Thaigarajan is an accomplished artist and educator. His work addresses the loss of humanity in a mechanised world and uses vivid colours to explore identity and emotional connection to Nature. Swapnil Jawale, who is also an artist, showcases a piece from his ongoing series Shivakala: Timeless Creations.
Marwa Elbadawi's artwork.
The work seamlessly blends Indian traditions with contemporary symbolic forms. A dedicated advocate of contemporary and traditional art, Swapnil has curated the Indigenous Artistry section at international exhibitions for several years, and continues to mentor and uplift grassroots artists. His vision for Transience brings together global voices, and staying rooted in shared cultural traditions. Ravindra Parkhi's artwork Jubilant Moments stands out for its sophistication and mature technique. Parkhi is known for his international presence and active participation in residencies and biennales, and a deep understanding of visual storytelling.
Kritika Iyer is a young, emerging talent. Her Malar series reimagines femininity through the metaphor of flowers. The work balances structure and softness, and is rooted in textile traditions and cultural symbolism. With an eye trained in architecture and a heart drawn to storytelling, she bridges structure and spirit, form and feeling. Sonia Sahni is trained in both science and art; her evocative canvases invite viewers into a layered experience of mystery, design, and vibrant expression — a reflection of her background in Ayurveda and space design.
Kritika Iyer's serial work.
Sandeep Soni is a petroleum engineer by profession and IIT graduate and a hobbyist artist who believes that art is the very essence of life. His surreal, story-driven artworks blend intellect, emotion, fantasy and philosophy. He also explores creative outlets such as music, graphic design and photography, embodying a holistic, artful existence. Isabelle Alves was born in Mauritius and is now based in Dubai. She is a mosaic artist whose pieces echo Nature's intricacies.
Her work, marked by meticulous craftsmanship fusing glass, stone and other materials, presents a harmonious, organic aesthetic. Ulyana Okava's emotionally charged works aim to awaken inner consciousness. Drawn from personal growth and spiritual reflection, Ulyana's art touches on ecological awareness and carries a message of light and healing to the world.
Samishka Jawale (left) and Swapnil Jawale.
Srirupa Bose's conceptual installation Imprints explores the integration of experiences across a lifetime. Drawing on the metaphor of tree rings, the piece invites viewers to reflect on the cumulative nature of time, insight, and self-awareness. It encourages a deeper understanding of how individual experiences layer over time to create meaningful transformation. 'Transience: The Flow of Being,' said Diyali Sen Bhalla, 'is curated by the dynamic duo of The Creative Cubes, Swapnil and Samishka Jawale. The Creative Cubes is more than just an art space - it's a movement.
They have consistently given a platform to artists in different and interesting exhibitions. This exhibition is a collection of high standard artworks from acclaimed and emerging artists and offers a compelling exploration of technique, emotion and brilliance.' Diyali is also a visual artist, illustrator and fashion designer, who celebrates life through abstracts.
DIAC Chairperson Diyali Sen Bhalla.
The Creative Cubes was founded by Samishka Jawale and is a UAE-based gallery that champions diverse artistic narratives, from indigenous art to experimental forms. With a strong presence at major events like World Art Dubai, the gallery is committed to creating cross-cultural platforms for artists worldwide. The Creative Cubes nurtures and showcases both established and emerging talent. Since 2025, it has also been expanding its digital footprint, offering global access to curated collections and artist collaborations through its online platform.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

K-Food supporters officially appointed at inaugural ceremony at Korea 360
K-Food supporters officially appointed at inaugural ceremony at Korea 360

Khaleej Times

time28 minutes ago

  • Khaleej Times

K-Food supporters officially appointed at inaugural ceremony at Korea 360

The inaugural K-Food supporter appointment ceremony 2025 captivated audiences on June 15 at KOREA 360, Dubai Festival City Mall. The event welcomed 40 K-Food supporters, poised to champion Korean culinary delights across the UAE. A major highlight was an exclusive cooking show led by acclaimed celebrity Chef Choi Hyun-seok, renowned for his appearances on Netflix's 'Culinary Class Wars.' Chef Choi shared his expertise, demonstrating the finesse and flavors that make K-Food globally beloved. The ceremony also featured the formal awarding of certificates of appointment to the K-Food supporters. This was presided over by Chef Choi Hyun-seok, Consul General Lee Beomchan, and AT Center Dubai Director, Yong Pil Jeon. The event integrated live participation with overseas supporters joining remotely from Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, via a dynamic conference call. Attendees received a comprehensive introduction to the K-Food Supporter Program, gaining insights into its mission, guidelines, and exciting future initiatives designed to promote Korean cuisine. All 40 supporters were also given official merchandise and exclusive giveaways, reinforcing their role in this vibrant culinary movement. 'This is a special day. Today, we are welcoming all of you as official K-Food Supporters. You are not only fans of Korean food, but also friends who will help us share Korean culture in the UAE,' stated Yong Pil Jeon. 'We believe that with your help, more people will discover the joy of Korean food.' This ceremony marks a significant step in strengthening cultural ties through the universal language of food.

From composer to global guitar star: Jesse Cook reflects on his unlikely journey
From composer to global guitar star: Jesse Cook reflects on his unlikely journey

Khaleej Times

timean hour ago

  • Khaleej Times

From composer to global guitar star: Jesse Cook reflects on his unlikely journey

After electrifying audiences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with back-to-back weekend concerts, genre-defying guitarist Jesse Cook sat down with Khaleej Times to reflect not just on the tour, but on the unexpected path that led him there. From childhood flamenco records in Canada to a breakout album he never expected to sell, Cook's story is as layered as the music he creates. "My earliest memories would be maybe when I was four or five in Canada," he recalled. "We had a stereo in our house and my mum had brought all these records back from France. She had these Manitas de Plata records - a flamenco guitarist from the Camargue region of France. I remember putting them on and loving them.' It was the start of what he now sees as a series of signs pointing him toward flamenco. "My mum was trying to find a guitar teacher because she knew I loved the guitar. I had a little toy guitar... The first teacher I had was a flamenco player. So the first pieces I learned were flamenco." By the time he was a teenager, fate intervened again. His father retired to Arles in the south of France, in a neighbourhood Cook described as "the gypsy area". The family's neighbour? Nicolas Reyes, lead singer of the Gipsy Kings. "It wasn't just the neighbours. Kids out in the street would be playing that gypsy style where they're pounding the guitar like a percussionist. You didn't see that in Canada. I was like, what is that?" Yet Cook's relationship with the guitar wasn't always smooth. At 13, he walked away from it altogether. "I was getting a lot of pressure to play classical guitar and to do competitions. I just wanted to play basketball. It was hard to give it up, because it was one of the few things I was really good at.' A casual moment brought him back: a friend wanted to learn the guitar, and Cook offered to help. "He didn't even know I played. I started showing him and I saw how much fun he was having. I thought, oh yeah, guitar can be fun." Years later, having trained in classical and jazz at top schools, including the Royal Conservatory and Berklee, Cook was working steadily as a composer when he wrote a piece for local television. "Every time they played it, the switchboard would light up... People were phoning, trying to find out what that music was. And I kept saying, I'm a composer, I don't do music for the public.' But the calls kept coming. By the end of that year, in 1994, he decided to record an album. He played all the instruments and mixed it himself. "I remember going to those places where you could order CDs. They asked how many I wanted. I said, what's the smallest amount? They said 500. I said, let's get 500. They said, for pennies more, you could have 1,000. I said, I'm never going to sell 1,000... they'll be in my basement for the rest of my life." Instead, Tempest sold out immediately. "I did a radio interview and a TV performance on the first day. Instantly, they were gone. Then the distributor said, we need 2,000 more. I said, I can't afford to make more. They said, we'll give you the money.' The album climbed the Billboard charts, and by that summer Cook was playing the Catalina Jazz Festival in California. "They said, you can play during the intermission at the bar. I thought, what a waste of time. But once we started playing, people came rushing in. There was a line outside. By the end of the weekend, the head of the festival asked me to play in the All-Star Jam." Before his name was even announced, he received a standing ovation. Despite three decades of touring and recording since then, Cook said his music continues to evolve. "What I play now is a little bit of everything mixed together. It's not really flamenco. It's a kind of fusion." Even the flamenco community has taken notice. "Spanish websites are starting to talk about me as an important figure in flamenco. I always feel like, who am I? I don't live in Spain... But any music, to live, has to change. Perhaps it's because I'm not from Spain and doing something different that it helps flamenco in some way. I'm part of the flamenco diaspora." The cultural crossovers have not gone unnoticed in the Middle East. One of Cook's most requested tracks in the region is his reinterpretation of the Arabic classic Qadduka Al-Mayyas, which he adapted after hearing a stripped-down version by Egyptian and Palestinian-Canadian friends. "I loved it. I started adding guitars, drums, strings... I was thinking, that could be a rumba." In 2008, Cook performed at the Dubai Jazz Festival unaware the song had found an audience here. "We didn't put it on the list. After the concert, people asked, 'Why didn't you do the song?' We said, what song? They said, the song!' The same happened during this tour. Just hours before taking the Abu Dhabi stage on Saturday night, violinist Fethi Nadjem was Googling the lyrics backstage. Despite the last-minute scramble, the performance was a standout moment of the night. As Fethi sang the Arabic lyrics and Sherine Tohamy accompanied on the oud, the crowd erupted dancing, clapping and cheering through the entire number. Cook performed alongside a five-piece band that included guitarist Matt Sellick, bassist Dan Minchom, drummer Matias Recharte, and special musical guest Sherine Tohamy on oud in Abu Dhabi. Despite his international reach, Cook remains something of an anomaly in today's music scene. "Most people listen to pop music with a singer. People ask, who's the singer in your band? And I go, there isn't one. That makes it hard to describe. But the very thing that makes it hard to define is also what makes it last.' Asked why his music resonates so strongly across the region, his largest fanbase on Instagram is in Iran, where he's never performed, he cited musical history. "The music of the Middle East is in the DNA of flamenco. When you take flamenco and play it with oud, it just works. There's some connection." Cook pointed to Ziryab, a 9th-century musician who migrated from Baghdad to Andalusia and revolutionised music in the region. "When he arrived in southern Spain, it was like the Beatles showed up. People went crazy for him. He influenced music, fashion, even hygiene. Flamenco later absorbed that Andalusian sound created under his influence.' He added that the gypsies arrived in Spain 500 years after Ziryab and picked up the Andalusian musical traditions that eventually gave birth to flamenco. "So, for me, the music of the Middle East is in flamenco's DNA. It's already there." During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Cook launched a self-directed video series, reinterpreting older compositions and creating new ones in his home studio. One of the earliest tracks he revisited became an unexpected fan favourite - and literally broke his guitar. 'I just sat down and thought, since it's just me, I won't do drums and bass and everything. I'll just play,' he said. 'And I'm having a great old time, it's sounding good… and then I look at the guitar and I realise this crack has been forming all the way down. I'd been hitting the guitar too hard.' The song, eventually titled Tormenta, made it onto his Libre album in a fully arranged version. Cook is now taking the summer off to rest and record on a private island he owns in Canada. "Not in a billionaire kind of way," he laughed. "In Canada, a regular person can own an island. I'm going to take my boat, go out there, and make some music." After 30 years on stage, that DIY spirit hasn't changed. Nor has the question: what exactly is Jesse Cook's music? Even he can't answer that. "You kind of have to hear it to know what it is. If you like it, I'm the only one doing that.' A platinum-selling artist and Juno Award winner, Cook has featured in five PBS television specials, showcasing his virtuosity and creative range. Beyond critical praise, his broad cross-cultural appeal is evident in his digital footprint, with more than 900 million streams and views across platforms—a number that continues to grow by over 85 million each year.

SBA displays cultural vision of Sharjah at Rio Book Fair
SBA displays cultural vision of Sharjah at Rio Book Fair

Gulf Today

time2 hours ago

  • Gulf Today

SBA displays cultural vision of Sharjah at Rio Book Fair

Under the directives of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the emirate of Sharjah is showcasing its rich cultural vision at the Rio International Book Fair 2025 (Bienal do Livro) in Brazil, highlighting the vibrancy of contemporary Emirati and Arab literature. The authority is also presenting a selection of Emirati works translated into Portuguese, reflecting the emirate's commitment to sharing the UAE's cultural achievements with the world. The authority's participation in the largest event of its kind in Latin America, which runs until June 22, comes as part of Brazil's celebration of World Book Capitals following the selection of Rio de Janeiro as the World Book Capital for 2025. This prestigious title, which Sharjah held in 2019, recognises the emirate's global standing in supporting culture and the publishing industry. Through its pavilion, SBA shed light on the diversity of the cultural movement in the UAE and the wider Arab world, highlighting major achievements in knowledge, literature and publishing. The authority actively engaged in panel discussions and held meetings with publishers, translators and cultural organisations, to strengthen knowledge exchange and expand opportunities for translating works to and from Arabic. As part of its efforts to build lasting partnerships, SBA invited key players in the publishing industry to take part in the emirate's leading international initiatives, including the Sharjah International Book Fair, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, the Sharjah Publishers Conference, the Sharjah International Library Conference and other prominent global events held throughout the year. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, affirmed that the authority's participation in the Rio International Book Fair reflects the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who places culture at the heart of development strategies and views books as a powerful tool for building bridges of dialogue with the world. Al Ameri said: 'Sharjah's presence in Rio highlights the central role of Emirati and Arab culture on the global knowledge map. Today, we are not only sharing our Emirati identity but also fostering a vibrant dialogue between Latin America, with its rich intellectual and cultural heritage, and the Arab world in all its expressions of thought, literature, art, and creativity. The selection of Rio as World Book Capital for 2025 offers us an opportunity to renew and strengthen our partnerships with the cultural community in Latin America.' He added: 'Under the guidance of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the SBA, we are committed to empowering Emirati and Arab publishers and authors to reach new markets and to developing sustainable support systems that enhance their presence on the global publishing stage.' As part of the cultural programme at the book fair, SBA organised a panel discussion titled, 'The heritage of Arab literature and Sharjah-led new literary movement', which explored the evolution of the Emirati literary landscape and the emirate's vital contribution to nurturing writers and advancing cultural initiatives. On the sidelines of the event, SBA organised a special book signing ceremony for the translated titles, underscoring the authority's commitment to deepening cultural exchange and strengthening the international presence of Emirati literature. During its participation, SBA highlighted several of its leading initiatives in publishing and knowledge exchange. These include the Sharjah International Book Fair, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, and the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone. The authority also introduced the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), an initiative designed to support publishing industries in emerging markets, and the Sharjah Literary Agency, which works to protect the rights of Arab authors and publishers while expanding their international presence. The authority has also drawn attention to the role of Sharjah Public Libraries, one of the region's oldest cultural institutions, which has been promoting knowledge for more than a century. Publishers have been briefed on the specialist international conferences hosted annually in the emirate, including the Sharjah Publishers Conference, the Sharjah International Library Conference, the Booksellers Conference and the Sharjah Animation Conference.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store