An exhibition curated by Khulood Thani and Fatma AlMahmoud with seven gulf-based designers who worked within areas of Textiles, Handmade Objects and Architecture.

1971-Design Space announced the return of “Fashcultivate” at Dubai Design Week 2020. With the recognition of date palms (Phoenix Dactylifera) as cultural heritage by the UNESCO, the exhibition celebrated date palms for being one of the most cherished gifts of nature and their importance throughout the history of human civilization. Date palms have become part of the cultural and historical identity of the Gulf Region playing an important role in the region’s economy. The designers researched date palms extensively, thereby defining certain narratives, aligning them with their own ideas and merging them into final, hand-crafted results. Six commissions were presented at Dubai Design Week where the exhibition theme is also mirrored in the accompanying, bespoke exhibition design itself, created by the Sharjah-based Interior/Product Designer Alya Al Ghfeli.

Aside from the commissions, the curators initiated a research idea with Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council in which they commissioned experts and labs to findings which resulted in a new material being fabricated out of the date palm.

About 1971 - Design Space

1971 is a multi-functional design space dedicated to the display and discussion of all forms of contemporary design ranging from graphic, furniture to interior, interactive design and new technologies. With a variety of curated exhibitions and public programmes, 1971-Design Space aims to become a regional and international design hub in the U.A.E. working in close proximity with local designers, architects, schools and universities.