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Lebanese artist Lana Khayat discusses her first solo show in º£½ÇÖ±²¥

  Lebanese artist Lana Khayat discusses her first solo show in º£½ÇÖ±²¥
Lana Khayat. (Supplied)
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Updated 28 February 2025

Lebanese artist Lana Khayat discusses her first solo show in º£½ÇÖ±²¥

  Lebanese artist Lana Khayat discusses her first solo show in º£½ÇÖ±²¥
  • ‘I would like show how Arab heritage is evolving,’ says Lana Khayat

DUBAI: Lebanese artist Lana Khayat is currently staging her first solo show in º£½ÇÖ±²¥. “The White Lilies of Marrakech: Women as Timeless Narratives†runs at Riyadh’s Hafez Gallery until March 25, and is, according to the press release, an homage to the titular city’s Jardin Majorelle, which celebrates its centenary this year, “as well as Lana’s enduring narrative on the strength and resilience of women.â€Â 

Khayat says the exhibition also marks a significant step forward in her work, which blends influences from nature with abstraction and calligraphy.  

“In this show, you will see a bolder look, a more confident me,†she tells Arab News. “Nature was always my main inspiration, but recently I’ve added another layer of botanical forms into my work, which will be seen for the first time in this show. An obvious example is the lily. The lily is an intrinsic part of my work; it was always present. But now it is taking center stage, so it becomes more apparent. The lily, which is the symbol of women… in my earlier works, it was very shy, but in my most recent work, you can see the lily taking the foreground — big and lush, and very present. I’m very shy. I’m a big introvert, but I’ve learned that, actually, the truer I am to my work, the more people relate to it. I think women are very strong, and their strength is very silent, but at the same time very commanding — and I definitely feel more confident in my work. 




'Echoes of Ephemeral Whispers.' (Supplied)

“I even changed my signature,†she continues. “It has become more bold.â€Â 

The inspiration for the exhibition, as the name suggests, came when Khayat was visiting Marrakech.  

“Marrakesh is a historical cultural crossroads; it embodies the fusion of tradition and modernity, which is essential to my work,†she says. “Its Berber and Arab and Andalusian influences make it the perfect backdrop to my work. And the theme of the show was born of out of my fascination with how women’s stories persist throughout time — through language, through culture, through nature. The lilies, for me, are women, standing strong. They’re there. They flourish. Lilies are among the strongest plants and flowers, and water lilies are present in the Jardin Majorelle. So it’s this interplay of my study of women, my study of lilies, and my study of languages, and I felt that Marrakesh is the perfect place to carry all of these meanings.â€Â 




'The Vermilion Lilies of Marrakech.' (Supplied)

Given her ancestry, it’s no surprise that Khayat became an artist. Her great grandfather, Mohamad Suleiman Khayat, was a famed restorer of lavish Syrian-style Ajami rooms whose work is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other prestigious establishments. His son and grandson — Khayat’s father — followed in his footsteps.  

“I was raised with this,†says Khayat. “From them, I learned patience. But it was male-dominated, so I had to forge a place for myself in this artistic lineage, which wasn’t easy, but I slowly found my voice.â€Â 

A large part of discovering that voice was moving to New York from Lebanon after completing her degree in design. “I remember in my childhood I was copying Van Gogh, you know? Vases and flowers… I had images of that in my head,†she says. “But after I was in New York, and I spent some time working at the Guggenheim, and then when I moved to Dubai, that’s when I actually had a bit of an internal struggle. ‘Should I keep (my art) to myself, or should I just show it and see where it will take me?’ And after some internal conflicts between me and myself, I thought, ‘There’s actually nothing to lose. Let’s just see where it takes me.’ And around 10 years ago, I was lucky to meet Qaswra (Hafez), the founder of Hafez gallery, who really believed in my work and supported it.â€Â 




'Between Bloom and Form.' (Supplied)

She loves Monet’s work, she says, but her main inspirations were other female artists — though not necessarily because of their art. 

“It was more the artist’s journey and how they fought for that rather than the art itself,†she says. “For example, I love Frida Kahlo for her boldness.†A few days after our interview, she writes to add that Lebanese artist Etel Adnan’s work is also an inspiration, because “her fearless blending of disciplines — of poetry, landscape, and abstraction — encourages my own pursuit of art that honors resilience, transformation, and the enduring strength of women.â€Â 

In her twenties, Khayat was more influenced by Western art, “but now I appreciate Arab art more and more,†she says. “My work has multiple layers. It’s both personal and universal. It’s a celebration of my Arab heritage. Also, I use language in a very meditative way — the script I use, it’s a carrier of tradition and a testament to history. My work is also very abstract. The script I use dissolves into gestures and the nature that I’m inspired by morphs into fluid shapes. You know, Arab culture is vast and diverse, but in my work, I try to reinterpret it and show how it evolves; it’s not stagnant.â€Â 

Calligraphy is, she says, “a quiet dialogue between me and the painting, between the audience and the painting, and it’s open to interpretation. I would love for the viewer just to lose themselves in the painting and find the meaning where they want. And it’s a dialog also with history, because, as I said, I would like to reinterpret Arab heritage and show how it’s evolving.â€Â 

That last point is one of the things she most hopes audiences will take away from the Riyadh show. “I hope it feels intimate and universal for them, and I hope they see it as a celebration of script. I hope they see the abstraction I make in my work as an evolution of Arab heritage and I hope they see how, for me, nature is a witness to history,†she says. “And I hope they enjoy it.â€Â 


‘WICKED’ musical heads to º£½ÇÖ±²¥

‘WICKED’ musical heads to º£½ÇÖ±²¥
Updated 29 September 2025

‘WICKED’ musical heads to º£½ÇÖ±²¥

‘WICKED’ musical heads to º£½ÇÖ±²¥

DUBAI: The musical “WICKED†is heading to º£½ÇÖ±²¥ this December, with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Broadway Entertainment Group announcing a run of the popular show from Dec. 3-20 in Riyadh.

The event will be staged at the King Fahad Cultural Center, from where the iconic musical will launch a Gulf tour.

Billed as one of the most popular musicals ever staged, various productions of “WICKED†have been watched by 65 million audience members across 130 cities in 25 countries. This new production features 100 performers, crew, and orchestra members, 350 costumes, and the ever popular musical numbers “Defying Gravity,†“Popular,†and “For Good.â€

Inspired by the classic story “The Wizard of Oz,†the musical is set in a hidden fairyland called Oz. “It’s the story of two remarkable young women — one, misunderstood but brilliantly talented and born with emerald-green skin; the other, beautiful, ambitious, and admired. What begins as an unlikely friendship soon becomes a riveting rivalry that shapes their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West,†the show’s logline reads.

“This new production brings its own vitality and creativity, while continuing to tell our story of friendship, love, and having the courage to be true to yourself and stand up for what you believe in,†Stephen Schwartz, the musical’s composer and lyricist, said in a released statement.

In 2024, “Wicked†was adapted into a Hollywood film starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the lead roles. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film went on to win two Academy Awards.

 


Renowned regional models star in Doja Cat’s latest music video

Renowned regional models star in Doja Cat’s latest music video
Updated 28 September 2025

Renowned regional models star in Doja Cat’s latest music video

Renowned regional models star in Doja Cat’s latest music video

DUBAI: US rapper and singer Doja Cat released a music video for her latest single “Gorgeous†over the weekend that featured a lineup of sought-after models.

Dutch Moroccan Egyptian model Imaan Hammam joins Mona Tougaard — who has Turkish, Somali and Ethiopian roots — and US Somali star Ugbad Abdi alongside other fashion heavyweights, with the cast rounded out by Alex Consani, Anok Yai, Irina Shayk, Yseult, Paloma Elsesser, Amelia Gray Hamlin, Alex Wek, Karen Elson and Sora Choi.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Doja Cat, whose real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, also cast her mother, Deborah Sawyer, in the video, which recreates stereotypical makeup adverts from the 1980s and features models with bouffant hairstyles posing with lip gloss cases and mascara wands.

“Gorgeous†is the latest single from the singer’s recently released fifth album, “Vie,†which takes a detour into 1980s’-themed music. Rolling Stone magazine described the 15-strong track list as “an album full of pastels and neon and mega-cheese sax solos.â€

On Saturday, Hammam took to Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes video taken during the shoot, where she is seen having her makeup applied before joining Doja Cat on set. It is not the first time the 28-year-old model has starred in a music video — in 2024, she featured in a video for “Imaan†by Sudanese Canadian poet, singer and songwriter Mustafa Ahmed, known as Mustafa.

The model is known for her love of music, art and culture and launched her archival project, Ayni, in February. The platform highlights significant contributions to Arab film, art, music and literature.

“Meet Ayni (@ayni.vault), an archive dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Arab artistic expression through ‘my eyes’,†Hammam wrote on Instagram at the time of the launch.

“Follow along as I highlight some of the most significant contributions to Arab film, art, music, and literature — both old and new — and celebrate the talented artists behind them. This project holds such a special place in my heart, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I enjoy curating it.â€

 


Franco-Tunisian duo bring smash hit burgers from Paris to Dubai

Franco-Tunisian duo bring smash hit burgers from Paris to Dubai
Updated 29 September 2025

Franco-Tunisian duo bring smash hit burgers from Paris to Dubai

Franco-Tunisian duo bring smash hit burgers from Paris to Dubai

Friends-turned-business partners Majed Mansour and Wissem Ben Ammar built Junk Burger on a simple premise developed during the pandemic: Strip the burger back to essentials. 

Involved in the restaurant industry since 2013, the Franco-Tunisian duo took the plunge and opened their own burger joint after experimenting with food during COVID-19.

Junk opened in Paris in 2021 and, following success there, the brand expanded into 17 locations across France and the UK — including a central London outpost that went viral on social media this summer. Now, the first branch in this region has opened in Dubai.

Mansour and Ben Ammar said the secret to their burgers was simplicity and consistency.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“We focused on quality, flavor, consistency and a clear identity,†they told Arab News. “We never tried to please everyone; our goal was simply to deliver direct, unapologetic pleasure — the experience of a perfectly executed smash burger.â€

In Dubai’s busy food scene, Mansour and Ben Ammar said Junk was able to stand out due to its unique and focused menu.

“At Junk, there aren’t dozens of options: just one burger, available in different patty sizes, with fries and our signature panko. This focus allows us to guarantee unmatched consistency and quality,†they explained. 

“Dubai is one of the most exciting, vibrant and ambitious food destinations in the world. It’s a city that embraces bold concepts, attracts people from everywhere and rewards ideas that dare to stand out.â€

The two have plans to expand Junk further in the region, with their eyes on Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

In addition to their burger emporium, they also co-founded Puffy, a cookie spot that aims to satisfy the sweet tooth.

“Puffy was born from the desire to offer something comforting and unique — big, gooey cookies paired with great coffee; a warm, generous experience,†they said.


Samar Maakaroun on creating brands in a multilingual, multicultural world  

Samar Maakaroun on creating brands in a multilingual, multicultural world  
Updated 28 September 2025

Samar Maakaroun on creating brands in a multilingual, multicultural world  

Samar Maakaroun on creating brands in a multilingual, multicultural world  

DUBAI: British Lebanese typography designer and creative director Samar Maakaroun is known for her multilingual approach to design.

This week, Maakaroun is speaking at the Innovation by Design Summit in Doha, hosted by sustainable property developer Msheireb Properties.

Maakaroun, the founder of design agency Right to Left, and her team were the minds behind the brand identity of last week’s seminal Together for Palestine charity concert in London.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

On the night, celebrities from around the world gathered to raise funds for Palestinian-led organizations including Taawon, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the Palestine Medical Relief Service.

“I couldn't approach this with like, ‘OK, I'm going to, you know, do something super slick,’ because it’s just not right,†she said, noting that when it came to designing posters for the event “this is not about who’s singing on that day … this is about making space for people to feel safe.â€

The agency eventually settled on a powerful poster that featured negative space.

“Just black and white, cheap to print, maximizing fundraising efforts and sort of saying that this is a time to create space. Everybody feels very strongly about this so the white space was used to hold people’s feelings and emotions on this.â€

Maakaroun, who is fluent in three languages, is also a partner at leading international design firm Pentagram, which was founded in 1972.

“I have come across projects that sort of have a foot in the Arab world, a foot in the Latin word, English or French,†Maakaroun said of her 20-year career.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“The issue when you have a second language is typically what people do in the GCC, is they create an English version, an Arabic version, and the bilingual version. What that means is you end up with three faces for one brand — so that’s not efficient,†she said.

“For me it’s important to actually create brands that represent  this hybridity in people,†she said.

“The purpose in every project that I do is to end up with one mark because that’s more efficient, that’s ownable and that is more memorable,†she added, referring to a “mark,†or one of three types of brands or logos found in brand identity creation.

Working from a dual perspective is a key part of her creation and ideation process — “typically some GCC clients come to the UK to do a brand identity, they work with a company that’s only English-speaking people, start designing (in) English and then the Arabic version ends up being a translation of the concept that perhaps works in English, (but) doesn’t work in Arabic, (because) the letters are completely different,†she said.

Maakaroun counts coining the first integrated destination brand for Dubai with M&C Saatchi in 2015 as part of her portfolio of projects in the Gulf region. She also launched Apple’s brand in Arabic across digital, retail and print in 2017 and was part of the process of launching º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s Diriyah City brand in 2019.

“When we create brand identities, we’re telling stories about who we are as people and what matters to us and what represents us … and for me, the key driver in my work is about representation.â€

It is perhaps fitting then that Maakaroun took to the stage in Doha to discuss “The Language of Identity,†where she discussed what it means to work across several languages and cultures in her practice.

 


Princess Rajwa, Crown Prince Hussein celebrate the birthdays of Princess Iman and Princess Salma 

Princess Rajwa, Crown Prince Hussein celebrate the birthdays of Princess Iman and Princess Salma 
Updated 27 September 2025

Princess Rajwa, Crown Prince Hussein celebrate the birthdays of Princess Iman and Princess Salma 

Princess Rajwa, Crown Prince Hussein celebrate the birthdays of Princess Iman and Princess Salma 

DUBAI: Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein of Jordan and her husband Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah paid tribute to his sisters, Princess Iman and Princess Salma, this week by wishing them a happy birthday and sharing a photo together on Instagram.

“Happy birthday to Iman and Salma, the kindest and most loving sisters,†the crown prince wrote on Instagram.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In the picture, the royal couple stand at the center, with Rajwa, originally from º£½ÇÖ±²¥, wearing a brown draped silk-blend shirt by Dries Van Noten, paired with off-white trousers. She completed the look with a choker adorned with dangling pink sapphires, called The Wave, from Emirati brand Ailes.

The sisters stood on either side of the couple.

Princess Iman opted for a burgundy long-sleeved blouse paired with high-waisted white trousers featuring oversized pockets, while Princess Salma chose a white shirt dress with rolled sleeves. 

Princess Iman and Princess Salma were born four years apart. Princess Salma was born on Sept. 26, 2000, while her elder sister Iman was born on Sept. 27, 1996.