(3 Oct 2019) LEAD IN:
Jordan's leading artists and designers are showcasing their work at Amman Design Week, aiming to make the capital a centre for innovation and experimentation.
STORY-LINE:
From vast stone sculptures to intricately woven textiles, the third Amman Design Week displays the best of Jordan's artists and craftsmen.
The theme of this year's event - held in the Ras El Ain Hangar in downtown Amman.- is "Possibilities".
Deputizing for Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh launched a private view of the event, two days before it opens to the public.
Director of Amman Design Week, Rana Beiruti, says the event will showcase the works of more than 350 creators, designers, and artisans.
"The Hangar Exhibition hosts about 55 designers from Jordan and the region," she says.
"This year we have new participants from 13 countries including Bahrain, the Emirates, Lebanon and Palestine. The nice thing about the exhibition is that they can show designs in a range of materials; from sand, from stone, from materials you can find around you that can be transformed into art and that can change the concepts of building and design."
The work on display includes architecture, product design, fashion design, furniture and graphic design.
Jordanian designer Ayman al-Azzam says the exhibition will help him showcase his artwork in front of large numbers of people from Jordan and from other countries.
"My work is extensively exhibited in front of major clients, thanks to the international media outlets covering this event, so that it's not just local people coming here. And we can take advantage of that."
Elias Anastas, is a Palestinian designer who uses recycled stones to make art.
"I use several kinds of stones; these stones were taken from a building constructed in 1885," he says.
"It was illegally demolished, so we used the ruins from the building. We wanted to show how we can use these massive stones again."
The event is also hosting a student exhibition, consisting of works completed by 33 students from 14 local schools and universities.
Joss Williams is the Principal of the Amman Baccalaureate School.
He says the event is "remarkable"
"I love the way it's integrated with professionals, university students and also school pupils," he says.
"So, the pupils who are upstairs in that space could see themselves in this hangar space in a few years' time."
The exhibition also opens the door for inventors to showcase their products.
Abbas al-Faouri, a Syrian refugee from Daraa, invented a low-cost microscope and is supported by UNICEF so he can bring his product at the exhibition.
"The reason behind my participation in Amman Design week is to get the chance to meet business leaders and heads of companies that may help me and invest in my invention," he says.
The event is being supported by Queen Rania or Jordan, in partnership with the Greater Amman Municipality, sponsored by the Jordan Tourism Board and several private sector companies.
The nine-day event until 12 October 2019.
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