Christie’s London to feature retrospective on Syrian artist Marwan
Updated 14 July 2025
Saffiya Ansari
DUBAI: Christie’s is poised to host a non-selling exhibition of work by late Syrian artist Marwan Kassab-Bachi, titled “Marwan: A Soul in Exile.”
Taking place from July 16- August 22, the show was curated by Ridha Moumni, chairman of Christie’s Middle East & Africa.
This retrospective exhibition will display more than 150 works on loan from museums, institutions and private collections in Europe and the Middle East. The exhibition traces the artist’s career, from his artistic beginnings in Syria to his prolific output in Germany, his adopted homeland, where he spent six decades of his life.
“I wanted to highlight the essential threads running through his career: from his iconic ‘Face Landscapes’ to the celebrated ‘Heads,’ his journey from Damascus to Germany, and the pivotal moments that shaped his legacy — including his major 1976 retrospective at Charlottenburg Schloss, which established his place in the German art scene,” Moumni told Arab News.
“Equally important is his enduring connection to Syria and the Arab world,” he added.
With paintings, works on paper, and editions from 1953 until 2014, this exhibition offers audiences in London the chance to explore the artist’s multi-disciplinary approach.
“Over the past two years, our aim has been to introduce artists and artistic scenes to London that people here don’t often get to see. One of our deepest commitments is to highlight the richness of artists from the Arab world or of Arab heritage. Marwan embodies this mission beautifully: a towering figure from the Syrian diaspora, who built an extraordinary career in Germany, and had a big impact on modern portraiture,” Moumni said of Christie’s decision to spotlight the artist this summer.
In 1957, Marwan moved to Berlin and attended the Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste, graduating in 1963. The artist, who is referred to by his first name, joined a group of German expressionist painters that included Georg Baselitz and Eugen Schonebeck, but he retained his Syrian identity and engaged with social and political issues of the Middle East through his work.
“For those who already know his work, I hope they uncover new depths — its poetic power, its meditations on exile, identity, and belonging. Above all, I hope visitors feel a true connection to Marwan’s work,” Moumni said.
Simi, Haze Khadra promote new H&M collaboration with Glenn Martens
Updated 02 November 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: US Palestinian beauty entrepreneurs and influencers Simi and Haze Khadra took to social media this week to promote Swedish retailer H&M’s latest collaboration with Belgian designer Glenn Martens.
The twins posed in a series of items from the new collection in a paid advertorial post on Instagram, captioning it “fade to black.”
The creative director of Diesel is part of Paris’ new guard of fashion designers and is known for infusing humor into his conceptual collections. Martens is also the creative head of Y/Project, which he expanded into a unisex brand.
Martens’ collection with H&M twists clothing archetypes into new and unexpected forms. The designer explored H&M’s archive and selected a range of historically popular key pieces, from best-selling T-shirts to checked shirts, bomber jackets and jeans. Each is reimagined as a newly designed piece, with trompe-l’œil elements. Many of the pieces can be transformed by the wearer thanks to the use of reshaping techniques, such as foil and wiring, to create sculptural forms.
“I see this collection as a big family of garments, all of which have multiple purposes and personalities: Like people, they grow and change each day. I am always interested in the clothes that we really live in, and the idea of archetypes and wardrobe staples was the starting point for this very special and joyful project,” Martens said in a released statement.
The Khadra sisters showed off a trench coat, scarf and various boots from the collection on social media.
The pair are no strangers to creativity and co-founded their own beauty brand, SimiHaze Beauty, in 2021.
Known for their bold and innovative stick-on makeup designs — such as chrome wings and holographic cat-eyes — the brand began with eye products and then expanded its offerings to include lipsticks and bronzing powders.
In 2024, they expanded their brand to the Middle East, describing the experience as “so surreal” to Arab News.
“The market has been such a huge goal of ours since we started because we grew up here,” Simi said in an interview at the time. “We’re so happy that our products are finally accessible to our amazing followers here.”
DUBAI: Moroccan Italian model Malika El-Maslouhi appeared this week in a new holiday campaign for the French luxury label Guerlain.
In a photo shared on the brand’s Instagram page, the 26-year-old model, who has become a favorite on international runways, wore the limited-edition Rouge G lipstick from Guerlain’s Tale of Wonders Holiday Collection in shade G 877. She was also pictured holding the lipstick alongside the matching limited-edition Rouge G Stellar case.
In another image, she posed beside a gift box, wearing celestial-inspired jewelry that included dangling star-shaped earrings and matching rings featuring radiating motifs and delicate pave detailing.
El-Maslouhi, born in Milan to a Moroccan father and an Italian mother, began her modeling career at the age of 18. She has since appeared on runways for international fashion houses including Dior, Chanel, Valentino and Jacquemus, gracing the catwalks of New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks. Over the years, she has walked for brands such as Ulla Johnson, Prabal Gurung, David Koma, Boss, Missoni, Messika and more.
She has also featured in campaigns for brands such as Calvin Klein, Off-White and Lanvin, expanding her portfolio across both luxury and contemporary fashion.
In August, she was the face of Anthropologie’s 2026 resort-wear campaign. The line blended breezy elegance with playful details including jewel-toned maxi dresses, sleek black knitted dress, and form-fitting satin gowns that would be perfect for date night.
El-Maslouhi has previously starred in Anthropologie’s summer campaigns. The catwalk star was photographed posing pool and beachside in pieces from Anthropologie’s summer offering, which include ready-to-wear, swimwear and accessories.
The model was seen sporting standout pieces including a lobster-embroidered cardigan, colorful printed shorts, loose summer dresses, tropical one-pieces, denim shorts, floral-printed maxi skirts and tie-up shirts in lightweight fabric, all from the “Sunrise, Jetset” collection.
Earlier this year, El-Maslouhi starred in Saint Levant’s music video for the song “Exile,” directed by Algerian French filmmaker Lyna Zerrouki. The video, which explores themes of longing, loss and hope, features El-Maslouhi against a striking blue backdrop, seemingly falling through the air.
In 2022, she was awarded the Model of the Year in Italy title.
DUBAI: Hollywood star Will Smith is set to take the stage at the UAE’s Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, which runs from Nov. 5 to 16 at Expo Center Sharjah.
The Oscar-winning actor and musician will appear as a guest speaker on Nov. 14, where fans are expecting him to share his trademark humor and personal reflections on life and creativity.
A regular visitor to the Middle East, Smith has made several trips to the region in recent years, often expressing his admiration for its culture and hospitality. He has skydived over Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, celebrated his wedding anniversary in the city with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, and explored landmarks across the UAE.
In 2023, he made headlines in Saudi Arabia when he attended the inaugural AlUla Camel Cup, further cementing his strong connection to the region.
Now in its 44th outing, the annual literary event returns under the theme “Between You and a Book” and will feature more than 2,350 publishers from 118 countries, alongside more than 1,200 activities and 750 workshops for readers of all ages.
This year’s program will host a remarkable roster of global literary figures, including Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Italian physicist and bestselling writer Carlo Rovelli, Irish novelist and Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch, and Indian content creator Prajakta Koli. Prominent Arab and Emirati names such as poet and filmmaker Nujoom Al Ghanem, historian Dr. Hamad bin Seray and renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass will also participate.
Where We Are Going Today: Julius Meinl: A taste of Vienna in Riyadh
Updated 01 November 2025
Haifa Alshammari
Founded in Vienna, Austria, in the 19th century, Julius Meinl is well known in Europe as a coffee and tea supplier, and the company has just recently opened a shop in Riyadh.
You will surely enjoy their V60 Colombian coffee beans and desserts, such as the Gers Ogaily — or traditional Kuwaiti sponge cake with saffron and cardamom — covered in chocolate.
While the Kunafah bites leave something to be desired, the coffee is flavorful; every sip is simply delicious.
Overall, the prices at this coffeehouse are high. One cup costs SR17 (approximately $5). The chocolate bites are worth SR7 each.
If you’re eco-conscious, the decor and overall aesthetics will capture your attention. The walls are covered with recycled wood, the espresso cups are all biodegradable, and, according to the coffee house, the tools they use are all sustainable.
While the coffee and tasty sweets at Julius Meinl are high-quality, the location may not be the best. Situated in Riyadh’s far north, in the Al-Narjis neighborhood, it is pretty far from the city center.
The seating is slightly uncomfortable as well.
Despite these setbacks, Julius Meinl is a good place to enjoy a coffee time with a friend, perhaps once in a while. Its rich, flavorful brews and attention to sustainability make it worth the occasional visit.
The team from Gerber Architekten discuss their RIBA-award nominated design
Updated 31 October 2025
Shyama Krishna Kumar
DUBAI: In the heart of Riyadh, a groundbreaking project is transforming a former airbase into a green oasis that promises to reshape the Saudi capital’s environmental and social landscape. King Salman Park — nominated for its inaugural Middle East Awards by the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects — stands as a testament to innovative urban design in one of the world’s most challenging desert environments.
“Our primary vision was to transform this former (airbase) area from a desert flood zone into living, breathing nature in the heart of Riyadh,” Eckhard Gerber, founder of Gerber Architekten, the German firm behind the design and execution of the park, tells Arab News.
Thomas Lücking, the company’s managing director, adds, “The idea was to really create a forest and have under its canopy a thousand gardens. So, something to really increase the livability of the city, to attract the citizens into the green, and give them the opportunity to really understand and connect to nature.”
Concept image for Overlook Hill in King Salman Park. (Courtesy of Gerber Architekten)
The park, spanning 16 square kilometers, will reportedly be the largest urban park in the world. And it’s set to challenge conventional approaches to urban development in extreme climatic conditions.
“How to structure the park was the biggest initial challenge,” says Lücking. “And what helped us was really understanding Riyadh and the Arabian peninsulas and the wadis — a key element in the environment in and around Riyadh. Here, the main structuring element was creating a manufactured wadi.”
A second major challenge was connecting the city to the park. “That’s when we got this idea of an intertwining of the green fingers of the park with the urban ‘fingers’ of the city,” he continues. “So, the city reaches into the park, and the park reaches out into the city with those green fingers to make it, really, a vital part of the city — not just an island isolated there. And there’s no fence; there’s no boundary around the park.”
Concept image for Overlook Hill in King Salman Park. (Courtesy of Gerber Architekten)
The project’s ambition goes far beyond creating a simple green space. It represents a comprehensive approach to urban regeneration, addressing critical environmental challenges while giving citizens a new way to interact with nature in a desert metropolis.
Water management emerged as a crucial innovation. Lücking highlights the firm’s pioneering approach: “We’re using treated wastewater from the city — approximately 150,000 cubic meters daily — which is polished to near-drinking water quality.”
This approach not only solves waste-management issues but provides a sustainable irrigation solution for the park’s ambitious green infrastructure.
Concept image for Museum of the Earth. (Courtesy of Gerber Architekten)
Even the park’s soil is a marvel of scientific engineering. The team dug down 2.5 meters, breaking up compacted airport ground and creating what Lücking describes as “regenerative soil,” and by incorporating red sands, pumice, biochar, and microorganisms, they’ve developed a living ecosystem that can absorb rainwater like a sponge and support an extraordinary diversity of plant life.
The park — which should be complete by 2030, although some areas will open sooner than that — will apparently host more than 700 plant species, a dramatic increase from the 100-120 species currently cultivated in Riyadh. Approximately half of them are indigenous to Saudi Arabia, so many of them are being newly introduced to the region’s horticultural landscape. “We wanted to create a place where people can truly enjoy nature,” Gerber emphasizes.
The park’s design incorporates varied landscape types, including valleys, mountains, and water bodies, with elevation changes spanning 35 meters to create diverse microclimates and viewing experiences.
Concept image for one of the park's valleys. (Courtesy of Gerber Architekten)
Architectural elements are deliberately integrated into the landscape, rather than imposed on it. The Museum of the Earth, for instance, appears initially as a natural canyon, with building facades subtly emerging as visitors explore deeper. Pedestrian bridges mimic tree branches, and rest areas are designed to resemble natural caverns.
The park’s design philosophy rejects the typical approach of creating an entertainment zone. “We didn’t want hundreds of artificial attractions,” says Lücking. “Instead, we aimed to create a piece of manufactured nature where people can connect with their environment, explore, and occasionally get delightfully lost.”
The nomination for the RIBA Awards, for which the winners will be announced Nov. 5, represents more than just architectural recognition for the firm. “It’s our first opportunity to showcase what’s possible in Saudi Arabia,” notes Gerber.
