Since we reported on the fabulous work of the artist Elise Vazelakis last month, her work has been picked up by a local gallery and now, she will enjoy her first solo show to run during March and over Dubai's Art Week.
Vazelakis makes fabric art by weaving together the brightly coloured material of the scarves (or gamchas, to give them their proper name) she acquired from the labourers who work near to her home in Dubai Marina. She became obsessed with the gamcha's colours and finally plucked up the courage to ask one man if she could buy his off him. When she felt the softness of the material she was compelled by the many stories the garments told and began to make art from them.
When The National reported on her in December, Vazelakis' work was simply hanging in a spare bedroom at home but when Showcase Gallery in Dubai's Alserkal Avenue read the story, they immediately contacted her and now she will have a solo show in March.
"I'm over the moon," says Vazelakis. "I began this work simply because I loved doing it and then it became something more serious because I wanted to tell the story of these labourers and how much they contribute to our society.
"When Showcase saw the story and asked me to do a solo show I was thrilled. It is like a dream come true."
* The Gamcha Project will run at Showcase from March 15th for one month
* To read our original story about Elise Vazelakis click here: http://bit.ly/19wo3hM