Takki W Hakki in Dubai Design Week 2016

- Saturday 29 October, 2016 10:00PM

VENUE

Dubai Design Week, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Takki W Hakki, also referred to as Swing n’ Tell, by Think Tank Co., a design studio from Jeddah, KSA, is going to be showcased in The Rove Hotel, Dubai as part of 1971 – Design Space’s participation in Dubai Design Week 2016. The installation was originally commissioned by 1971 – Design Space as part of a group exhibition called Once Upon Design: New Routes for Arabian Heritage, which was curated by Noor Aldabbagh. The installation was selected by The Rove Hotel, which will be one of the many venues around Dubai that will display design pieces across the city for the duration of the design week. Dubai Design Week 2016 will run from Monday 24 to Saturday 29 October, 2016.

About Takki W Hakki:

The interactive installation by Think Tank Co. brings people together in a unified playful experience of music and movement across time. The seats feature Sadu print cushions and are shaped like camel saddles, evoking ancient Bedouin transportation methodsacross the Arabian Peninsula. They are repurposed as swingseats in a circular formation and matched with headsets thatall utilise the same upbeat track.

For this swingset, Saudi director Majid Al Essa remixeda well-known traditional Samry song performed by a group of men with new Western beats. The choice of collaborating with Al Essa is pertinent; since his Samry remix Youtube videos went viral recently, he is known for bringing people together in shared online experience. The lyrics of the original Nabati love poem by Bukhoot Al Marrirecall the lateBedouinpoetess’ arduous personal journey towards an unattainable love. This unfulfilled passion, a common theme in the “Ghazal” genre of Bedouin Nabati poetry, is described in the poem within the metaphorical context of a journey towards the South of Arabia.

Neon lights connected at the centre of the top of theswing set light up depending on the side swinging.Theyvisually reference the green lights on ice cream trucks, a common sight since the 1980’s in cities alongthe two main coasts of Saudi Arabia.Takki W Hakki layers various routes, temporalities and elements of nostalgia to create an overpowering sensory experience.

About Think Tank:

Think Tank Co. is a creative design agency based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. With a collaborative mode of work, Think Tank creates and develops existing products, brands, services, spaces and customer experiences. Think Tank’s goal is to create, refresh and sustain businesses, spaces and experiences to realize their full potential. As a result, they cultivate enthusiasm, increase sales, and enhance leadership all while promoting constant innovation.