Artist talks, creative workshops, graffiti artists and cruising skateboards - Why Alserkal Avenue is the place to be
In the midst of the Al Quoz district in Dubai there is one area where seemingly all the hip kids go.
On the weekend’s afternoon the streets of Alserkal Avenue is bustling with people seeking a wide range of cultural entertainment. Be it theater play, music rehearsal, art galleries and painting workshops - The Alserkal Avenue paves the way for creative collaborations as well as local, region and international exchange.
The Avenue owes it’s name to Abdelmonem Bin Lisa Alserkal, an Emirati businessman and a true patron for the arts. The industrial area in close proximity reminds you that the Alserkal Avenue was previously and industrial area. In 2007 the Alserka’s Headquater was established in a former marble factory.
While The Ayyam Gallery was the first art gallery to open in 2008 since then many more creative spaces such as Sima Performing Arts and Music and Yadawei Ceramic Studio as well as galleries such as the Leila Heller Gallery and Volte Art Projects have opened up.
The Map
The map of the Alserkal Avenue provides a good overview of the layout of the cultural hotspot.
On the left side of the map concrete there are 3 vertical lanes hosting most of the art galleries, workshops whereas on the right side you can find the main square with cosy cafés in front an adaptive building called Concrete. This venue is hosting regional and international, museum-grade exhibitions, events ranging from art, design, fashion and the performing arts, it is already worth to visit for the building itself.
Along the main avenue, you’ll find a range of cultural highlights, including the Alserkal Avenue headquarters, the Ishara Art Foundation, and The Warehouse. The latter occasionally hosts a farmers market to introduce their products to Dubai’s international visitors.
On our visit we were specifically drawn to the stall of Nada's homemade sugarfree cookies. It was a busy Saturday, Nada and her team were in a good mood when selling the cookies of her compayn "". We tried them and fell in love with the cookies in an instant. The gentle, sweet taste was revealed in several layers, the consistency was between crisp and soft, they were freshly baked. She showed us around the stall and we started talking. The Palestinian recipe for the dough, as Nada told us, was once passed on to her from her grandmother. She started with this recipes but then gave it her own modern twist with locally sourced ingredients from Dubai.
Homemade cookies
On weekend’s there is a lot of motion inside the lanes. Graffiti artists such as Captain Barboza featured in the cover image and ISL4M in the image below. Both were crafting huge murals on the wall inside one of the creative spaces as the sun set. The contrast of the two different styles were both refreshing and fascinating to watch.
Graffiti's in the making
@ drawing black-and-white compositions with a big black marker, while . worked on a close-up portrait of a woman using a warm color palette. If you’re sensitive to paint fumes or have asthma, we’d recommend bringing a face mask, as the air can get quite heavy while the artists are spray-painting their artworks.
One of the standout exhibitions at the gallery Taymour Grahne Projects is currently showing at its mezzanine space, bringing together a selection of limited-edition works by contemporary artists including Asif Hoque, Amy Lincoln, Cara Nahaul, Hilary Doyle, Minyoung Kim, Matthew F. Fisher, Mikey Yates, and Nicky Nodjoumi.
taymour grahne projects
Among the pieces, Kiki Smith’s woven tapestry immediately catches the eye. The jacquard work, showing dark creature-like legs moving through a field of flowers, feels both unsettling and strangely beautiful. Inspired by folklore and the natural world, the piece has the kind of texture and detail that makes people stop and look twice.
thejamjar
In case the creative spirit caught you after seeing the mesmerizing artworks in Aslerkal Avenue's Galleries then there is a place for you to craft something of your own too. Founded in 2005 @thejamjar has become a creative hub for passionate painters, be it beginners or intermediate. They offer DIY painting sessions, figure drawing workshops, kids’ classes and creative community events. One of their most popular concepts is the open studio, where you can rent a canvas, easel, paints, and brushes for the day and paint freely at your own pace.
What is most noticeable is that this location lowers the threshold to engage with other people in conversations and to exchange ideas about their creative passions. Whether through workshops, exhibitions, pop-up stores, cosy cafés or just skating through the lanes, the Alserkal Avenue will be worth the visit.