New website gives Dubai artists a global profile

London and New York are out of the picture, as Dubai becomes 'hot' in the arts world.

Hind Mezaina is among the Emirati artists whose work has been featured on the Satellite Voices website. Satish Kumar / The National

DUBAI // London and New York are out of the picture and Dubai is hot when it comes to the arts world.

Satellite Voices, a cross-cultural website that picks up the work of local artists and gives it a global voice, encompasses seven cities worldwide: Santiago, Shanghai, Moscow, Munich, Rome, Paris and now Dubai.

"The point of Satellite Voices is to focus on people who call the UAE home instead of international cities that are far more established and translate pop culture," said Simone Sebastian, one of the site's editors in Dubai.

"This is a chance to showcase what Dubai has to offer in terms of arts and culture in an effort to try and understand creative cultures told by people on the ground."

Emirati artists Hind Mezaina and Khawla al Marri, whose work is featured on the website, said it has helped them in terms of exposure.

Al Marri, a 27-year-old pop art painter, said that as an artist, "the website really puts you out there which is special because we don't see a lot of Emirati artists around".

The UAE is welcoming artists and their creations, and really putting its name out there, said al Marri, who has already sold 20 paintings online. "We get the biggest names in art coming to the country but why can't we have Emirati artists be a part of it too? I think it's wonderful."

Mezaina, a 39-year-old photographer, said she heard of the website through Ms Sebastian.

"I thought it was really cool because it captures a lot of different types of creative's in the city and it's good for me to see people outside the world of photography, and more from the fashion scene," she said.

"It's also good to show site visitors outside the UAE the interesting things happening in arts and culture here because it's not always the glossy or the glitzy side that comes out of Dubai."

She said the website succeeded in showcasing the unique character of the UAE, something which would not have happened 10 years ago.

"We're finally up there with the big players and it's such a good platform to reveal another side of Dubai that doesn't get as much coverage," she added.

"The website focuses on creative movement, events, specific scenes," said Ms Sebastian.

"We are not looking for celebrities with well-known work because what's important for us is to showcase people who are 'on their way'."

Satellite Voices plans to launch videocasts of Dubai-based music in the next few weeks.