Pratyush Sarup 
Exclusive to flodeau.com, Pratyush Sarup, the Dubai-based Contributing Feature’s Writer for Harper’s Bazaar Interiors, takes us into the heart of the new global hub for collectible design – Design Days Dubai.
Above – Photo courtesy Southern Guild, Mandala Study #1 (detail) by Willowlamp.
Dubai means a lot of different things to a lot of people. Tax-free haven, endless sun and sand and of course shopping. To me, it means all of that, but more importantly it is a shining model of what ‘vision’ can achieve, of what is possible when that vision is followed with intent and grit.
Design Days Dubai is a prime example; as a designer and a resident of Dubai one that is close to my heart.
When Design Days Dubai put up its inaugural show last year, I was happy to be surrounded by the best of collectible design without suffering airport lounges. As the only fair in the Middle East and South Asia dedicated to collectible and limited edition furniture and design objects, Design Days Dubai put on a great inaugural show, one that is now surpassed only by their 2013 offering.
It is Dubai – and we like to do things BIG! As the only design fair to showcase galleries from all six continents, Design Days Dubai 2013 delivers! 29 of the world’s foremost galleries are showcasing more than 600 pieces of exquisite, limited-edition, even rare design works. The biggest names in the world of collectible design converge at Downtown Dubai in a bespoke venue – all set to wow design investors and enthusiasts alike.
Marking the success of last year’s show, some of the biggest galleries – Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery, Galerie Diane de Polignac , R20th Century, Sarah Myerscough, Southern Guild and Victor Hunt Designart Dealer – amongst others, return for the 2013 show.
Four other galleries – Broached Commissions (Australia), Art Factum Gallery (Lebanon), GaleriaMéxicana de Diseño (Mexico) and J+A Gallery (UAE) – make their international design fair debut at Design Days Dubai 2013. The show also features a stronger local representation with nine regional galleries exhibiting. Have a look at the entire gallery listing here.
Over the next few days I will bring you the very best of international collectible design from Design Days Dubai and keep you up-to-date with their extensive public progammes. In the meanwhile, feast your eyes on some my DDD13 lust-list featured in latest issue of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors.
You can follow me on Twitter @PratInTheCity , go directly to the heart of all things Design Days Dubai 2013 @DesignDaysDubai. Keep track of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors with @HB_Interiors or download it online at zinio.com
Above – Pratyush’s Design Days Dubai 2013 lust-list! From Harper’s Bazaar Interiors March 2013.
Photo courtesy Dirk Dunkelberg, stilwerk limited edition design gallery, Iridescent Copper mirror by Studio Besau Marguerre.
Photo courtesy Victor Hunt Designart Dealer, Clock Clock by Human Since 1982.
Photo courtesy Victor Hunt Designart Dealer, LED400by Human Since 1982.
Photo courtesy Victor Hunt Designart Dealer, Shift stools by Sylvain Willenz.
Photo courtesy Twentytwentyone Gallery, Look within your heart by David Kracov.
Photo courtesy Perimeter Art and Design, Sansa Armchair by Cheick Diallo.
Photo courtesy Art Factum Gallery, Cobalt, ink & varnish on PVC, by Go Segawa.
Photo courtesy Galería Mexicana de Diseño, Agave dining table by Alexander Andersson.
Photo courtesy The British Craft Council, Weighting Up The Competition chess board by Rolf Sachs.
Photo courtesy Space Croft, 0121 chair by Jaeyho Lee.
Photo courtesy Simon Hasan & Gallery Libby Sellers , Twist Lamps by Simon Hasan / The British Craft Council.
Photo courtesy Southern Guild, Untitled and Where We At, bench and artwork by Laurie Wiid van Heerdenand Atang Tshikare.
Photo courtesy Erastudio, Chakra Chair by Loredana Bonora.
Photo courtesy The British Craft Council, Drip by David Clarke.
Photo courtesy Galerie Sophie Lachaert, Modular Bracelet by Salima Thakker.
Photo courtesy Industry Gallery, Cellular Chair by Mathias Bengtsson.
Photo courtesy Industry Gallery, Meltdown Chair: Bronze Chair #1 by Tom Price.
Photo courtesy Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Taj Mahal Table by Studio Job.
Photo courtesy Carwan Gallery, Kilim by Taher Asad-Bakhtiari.
Photo courtesy Space Croft, Side Table by Jihoon Ha Ban.
Photo courtesy Space Croft, Jari seating by Jihoon Ha Ban.
Photo courtesy Space Croft, Haze Table by Wonmin Park.
Photo courtesy Gazelli Art House, Continual Slow Drip, Experiment No 7 artwork by Antony Hall.
Photo courtesy Gazelli Art House, Aways/Never
light installation by United Visual Artists.
Photo courtesy La Galerie Nationale, 2 Armchairs and a Coffee table by Helidon Xhixha.
Photo courtesy La Galerie Nationale, Three armed foor lamp by Serge Mouille.
Photo courtesy +Coletivo Amor de Madre, Noize Chair by Guto Requena.
Photo courtesy Majlis Gallery, Crackle installation by Peter Collis.
Photo courtesy Mariam Al Nassar 20th Century Decorative Arts, a pair of large Murano foor lamps, Private commission made by Salviati.
Photo courtesy Salon 94 with R+R, Prong Bench by Rick Owens
+ To continue reading about the event, please jump to our second exclusive report : Design Days Dubai 2013 set the bar high.
A walk through the Saint-Etienne International Design Biennial 2013
