Celebrating global change-makers with the Dazed MENA 100 exhibition

Following our launch last month, we are bringing you our first physical event: The Dazed MENA 100 exhibition, which commenced on December 10. The space shines a light on the pioneering talent distinguished in the first-ever Dazed MENA 100 list, carefully selected by our editorial team for their role in helping us all navigate the chaos we find ourselves perpetually surrounded by with their ceaseless creative spirit. 

Our list includes four of our first issue’s cover stars: Wathek, Ethiopian Girl Skaters, Nemahsis and Nazarit Machin. Joining them are a host of other changemakers from the world of fashion, photography, beauty, sport, music and beyond, including Pakistani-Scottish multidisciplinary designer Furmaan Ahmed, Olympic gold-medalist and Algerian national icon Imane Khelif,  Djibouti-born Somali visual artist, costume designer and director Gouled Abdishakour Ahmed, Saudi collective spearheading the country’s skateboarding scene Sandlifers, and Dubai-based multidisciplinary artist from the Philippines, Augustine Paredes.

We have also published 100 feature articles, all written by Palestinian writer Maya Abuali, to commemorate these incredible creatives redefining culture worldwide. We produced a limited edition directory booklet featuring the articles for each artist, which will be showcased at the exhibition alongside our launch issue, Creativity in the Age of Chaos. 

In collaboration with ICD Brookfield Place – the region’s premier lifestyle and business address located in Dubai’s International Financial Centre – the exhibition space itself is a congregation of communal kinship based on radical creative exchange. We want people to connect and collaborate, making the exhibition a watering hole for the creative community where others can be inspired to be on the next list and forge a counter-culture from the norms we reject.

Our exhibition, creative directed by Omani multidisciplinary artist and our creative director, Chndy, with editorial by Sarra Alayyan and Lynn Akili, production by Fatima Mourad and support and assistance from ICD’s arts and events director, Malak Abu Qaoud, will showcase a selection of the work of each talent featured on Dazed MENA 100. In alignment with the Dazed ethos, it will also serve as a space to nurture talent and foster community. 

Our free exhibition – open from 10 am to 10 pm everyday with no sign up required – will run through to the 20th, giving you plenty of time to visit and get a taste of the brilliant, multi-hyphenate spirit that, we hope, will define Dazed MENA for many years to come.