Desert Cast | Exhibition and Designers: Online Introduction

- Tuesday 21 April, 2020 08:00PM

Join us in a live stream introduction on the upcoming exhibition happening at 1971 – Design Space. The conversation will be hosted by the head of 1971 – Design Space, Fatma Al Mahmoud, bringing together the designers Jassim AlNashmi, Kawther AlSaffar, and Ricardas Blazukas. The conversation will go over the designers’ practices and the story behind Desert Cast.

For the link kindly email us on rsvp@1971design.ae

Artwork image credit 

Mohamad Chehimi

About the designers

Jassim AlNashmi

Jassim F. AlNashmi  is a Kuwaiti designer, architect and artist. AlNashmi  has a Masters Degree of Advanced Studies in Urban Design from ETH (Zürich) and a professional BArch from Iowa State University. When pursuing his BArch, AlNashmi spent a semester at London’s Architectural Association, after which he practiced at offices such as Pace and Perkins + Will in the USA and Kuwait. AlNashmi has also curated and exhibited works in the USA, UK, Brazil, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. His works were exhibited in art institutions and galleries like the Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and Future Perfect in New York. AlNashmi’s works are published on many design platforms such as  Dezeen, Design Boom, Wallpaper, Design Milk, and Herskhazeen. The Kuwait-based designer now runs a design store and design studio named manmade studio for custom and collection furniture pieces in which he collaborates with local & Arab designers and craftsmen.

Kawther Alsaffar

Kawther Alsaffar  is a Kuwaiti product designer who has a Masters Degree in Design Products from the Royal College of Art in London and BFA.  in  Industrial  Design from Rhode Island School of Design. Her work is multi-disciplinary and uses storytelling and craft to traverse the fictional lines between art and design. She focuses on finding patterns for human intimacy and truth, whether this manifests itself in finding cultural significance, integrity in materials, or creating human connections. Al Saffar founded her brand Saffar where her products aspire to be personally informed, locally defined and universally desirable. Through her brand, she focuses on developing crafts in Kuwait that aren’t favourably considered in the rest of the world, challenging the generic definition of luxury – promoting the local grittiness.

Ricardas Blazukas

Ricardas Blazukas is an independent architect, designer and artist who was born and raised in post-Soviet Lithuania, educated in the UK and currently residing in Kuwait. Blazukas holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Westminster in London, though his eclectic portfolio spans beyond his profession and bridges with other creative disciplines of art & design. Blazukas completed a number of high-profile projects independently such as design and curation of Sheikh Jaber Al Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah Museum and an exhibition celebrating the 50 Years of Architecture in Kuwait, whilst also collaborating on projects such as Kuwait City Pavilion along with Desert Cast collective for Dubai Design Week 2018 and a public realm installation Aidah – The Invisible City in collaboration with Boano Prismontas for Dubai Design Week 2017. Blazukas also exhibited his own work at renowned galleries such as Jameel Arts Centre in Dubai and Future Perfect in New York, along with various regional and international solo and group exhibitions. Currently, Blazukas continues working on cultural projects and is establishing his own creative studio operating from Kuwait.