Art Exhibition: Khayt by Sandra Tinari

Khayt, a live 100 sqm public art exhibition exploring past and present Middle Eastern arts, culture and design practices at The Dubai Mall was created by artist, Sandra Tinari, supported by a multidisciplinary team of creatives and design students from Dubai’s Design University (DIDI).

Khayt – meaning string in Arabic – reinvented the traditional string weaving culture of the UAE, Sadu, for the modern day. Welcoming 25,000 Mall visitors daily, over a two-week residency, the participatory exhibition invited visitors to weave giant minimalist cubes with the artists and designers, creating abstract shape and forms.

The exhibition included innovative practices and technologies such as 3D printing, to create ‘pearls’ representing the pearl-diving heritage of the country, which were woven into the large-scale artwork. Khayt was a reflection of Dubai’s own innovative transformation by drawing connections between heritage and modernity.

The live art installation located on the Ground Floor in The Dubai Mall’s Grand Atrium, was made up of kilometres of string and 110 metres of powder coated steel. Khayt transformed and evolved throughout its two-week residency, as members of the public were invited inhabit the work, viewing the large-scale 3D printing live and contributing to the mass weaving project, elements of which were later displayed at the university campus in Dubai Design District.

The installation included a photography exhibition and was supported by a creative program of talks and workshops to activate the exhibition space. Sandra also gave talks in the nearby Apple Flagship Store in the Dubai Mall as part of it’s ‘Dubai Design Series’.

Sandra commented: “We’re delighted to unveil our experiential art installation at The Dubai Mall. Khayt’s theme of collaboration between traditional practices, digital techniques and the community, highlights the city’s core values of collaboration, innovation and sustainability, while also giving the public an opportunity to see, experience and participate in art outside of a gallery setting.”