As part of our reopening, Terra is proud to reaffirm its commitment to the community by providing a platform for local emerging artists. We believe in fostering creativity and showcasing homegrown talent, giving voice and space to individuals who shape the cultural fabric of our city.
In our latest collaboration, Terra will be exhibiting five pieces by multidisciplinary designer and digital artist Chafic Mekawi, curated by Margo Castro of Pinkum Collection.
This collaboration seamlessly intertwines different creative disciplines, creating a dialogue between the space, its visitors, and the art itself. At Terra, we are honored to be a part of this conversation and to continue serving as a canvas for artistic expression.
About the Artist: Chafic Mekawi
Chafic Mekawi is a Canadian-Lebanese multidisciplinary designer and digital artist based in Dubai. Chafic’s cross-disciplinary artistic style is inspired by his architecture background and Middle Eastern roots, having grown up between the cities of Dubai and Beirut. Informed by an acute awareness of business and culture, he believes art has the power to elevate the rich tapestry of cultures and narratives of the East.
Instagram: @chaficmekawi
Sports have had a rich history inthe cultural development and branding of cities globally. But what happens when a city, in this case Paris, becomes an arena forsports? What if a traditional sport like Tennis is infused with vernaculars from the Middle East? Carpet Court explores the closeties between sport and craftsmanship, merging western and eastern cultures in acourt lined with ornamental elements of the age-old Oriental carpet.
Chafic Mekawi invites viewers to explore the nuances of Arab identity through a singular, unifying element —the oriental rug. More than a decorative object, the rug holds a fundamental place in Emirati households, serving as a symbolic threshold beyond the physical and familiar.
Exploring themes of Gulf Futurism, the series conveys a deep sense of introspection and belonging, where human figures appear at once grounded in heritage and in dialogue with the infinite horizon. The series aims to act as a portal into everyday Arab life, offering glimpses of tradition, spirituality, and identity set against the vast and timeless backdrop of the sea.
Among the various species of flora, the date palm stands out to me as a plant that I continuously find myself drawn to, cultivating a greater admiration for it year after year.The palm tree symbolises a vital source of sustenance within the arid desert landscape, providing a variety of resources to its people and serving as a cornerstone of cultural identity. When displayed in the context of a permanent matter such as metal, it shares a similar quality of sturdiness, complementing the nakhl’s rootedness in its land.
Based on the Japanese art form of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is mended with gold.The broken pieces, no longer hidden, become resplendent pieces of the whole. It is *more* precious, *after* it has broken.The series explores the collective narrative of generational love and loss, woven intricately into the fabric of our being.
Terra x Pinkum Collection
For this occasion, art curator Margo was invited to build an art program that aligns with Terra’s ethos. She selected Chafic Mekawi as the featured artist, recognizing his deep-rooted connection to Jumeirah and his innovative approach to blending architecture with digital art.
"I was not only drawn to this opportunity and space for its creative potential," Margo shares, "but by the purpose-driven mission of utilizing Terra as a platform for young emerging artists in Dubai."
Margo Castro is a young collector and curator whose journey began with her personal art collection, the Pinkum Collection, and evolved into curating art programs across the UAE. She is passionate about redefining how art is encountered, bringing emerging artists' work into dynamic public spaces. Architectural Digest Middle East described Margo as "At the vanguard of the Middle East's next generation of art collectors."
Instagram: @margolikesyou
@pinkumcollection