The Urban House by The Workshop Dxb transforms into a dynamic canvas hosting The Anatomy of Vulnerability, a multidisciplinary art project exploring human emotions. Through immersive installations by diverse artists, it invites audiences to navigate raw feelings and personal journeys. The house’s history and community voices shape a profound narrative of fragility and resilience.

Exploring nostalgia and revisiting the past is a central theme that is highlighted within this house. Whether through the lens of cultural elements like handicrafts, childhood memories, or the wisdom of older generations, this exploration reflects a deep urge to connect with a time that can no longer be reached, a longing that shapes the creative practices of many artists in the region today. The showcase seeks to uncover the roots of this preoccupation by presenting fragments and attempts to preserve these fleeting experiences. Visitors are invited to reflect on their own memories; ones held onto tightly yet inevitably allowed to slip away. What would today’s creative practices look like if the past were entirely out of reach?

This journey you are about to embark on takes you through the metaphysical spaces within us all—whether mental, emotional, or beyond. While physical space shapes our reality, our experience of it is deeply intertwined with the inner landscapes we carry, which in turn guide how we navigate the world. The selected artworks draw on elements of our physical reality to explore both conscious and subconscious realms, delving into the vast possibilities and inherent boundaries of each dimension. As you step into this space, you are invited to reflect on the parallels between the external environment you are about to encounter and the internal landscapes that reside within you.

“Bridging Realities” is an exploration of the interplay between tradition and innovation, where the echoes of heritage meet the rhythms of the future. This exhibition reimagines cultural narratives through the lens of technology, weaving together the past and the present to shape visions of tomorrow. Through interactive installations, generative art, and digital forms, the artworks on display serve as portals—inviting viewers to reflect on the evolution of identity, memory, and design in an age of rapid transformation. From ancestral patterns reinterpreted through algorithms to kinetic sculptures that respond to human touch, “Bridging Realities” celebrates the fluid dialogue between history and progress. At its core, this exhibition highlights the power of technology as both a preserver and disruptor—transforming timeless traditions into dynamic expressions of contemporary culture. It asks us to consider how art and innovation can connect us across time, redefining our relationship with heritage in a world driven by constant change. “Bridging Realities” is not just an exhibition; it is a space for contemplation, conversation, and connection—an invitation to journey between what was, what is, and what could be.

This exhibition delves into the intersection of digital and physical realms, showcasing how their integration redefines artistic expression and expands creative possibilities. Through innovative works, visitors are invited to explore the future shaped by technology and the role of artists in imagining it. The exhibition reflects the beauty and challenges of the real world, using technology to capture and reinterpret life’s complexities. Engaging and immersive, it offers hands-on experiences for all ages, blending interaction and innovation to inspire new ways of perceiving art and the world around us.

Step into the world of “A7lam Al3a9r”, where the boundaries between reality and imagination dissolve. A fever dream that twists the familiar into the unexpected, where nothing is quite as it seems. Inspired by the Khaleeji pop culture term A7lam Al3a9r, this house pulls you through the different stages of a dream, with each room distorting everyday elements into something surreal. As you move through these dreamscapes, the exhibition encourages exploration, invites interaction, and lets you experience Khaleeji traditions unfold in new and unexpected ways.

This year, Studio Thirteen’s participation in Sikka Art & Design Festival centers around the theme of "Community", celebrating the power of collaboration within a creative collective. The artists who participated last year have expanded their presence, carving out their own creative spaces, while the new studio artists step in to continue the legacy. Together, they highlight what can be achieved when creatives choose to collaborate rather than compete—demonstrating how shared visions and diverse talents can create something truly impactful.

The House of Saffron celebrates the luxurious ingredient central to Emirati cuisine, recognized for its quality, color, aroma, and flavor. It is often used in celebrations, defining abundance and joy. This edition blends culinary innovation, visual arts, and design to explore saffron’s role in food, storytelling, and culture, elevating the dining experience and informing warmth.

The journey ahead examines the give-and-take relationships humans have with the environments they create. It reflects on how human-made spaces offer shelter, functionality, and comfort, while also questioning what these constructed environments receive in return. Transactional dynamics are fundamental to any human society, and the very space you stand in today is a testament to this exchange. Al Shindagha, once the bustling heart of Dubai’s trade, served as a vital artery in the region’s trade routes—a place where exchanges of goods, ideas, and culture shaped its identity. Through this showcase, artists explore their own environments and the transactions that unfold within them, uncovering the cycles of give and take and the traces left behind in the process. The viewer is invited to consider their own interactions with the spaces they inhabit, reflecting on the exchanges that shape both their environments and themselves.