On being whisked to the RIRA Gallery opening by my bestieblogbuddie Marcella, I didn’t really know what to expect.
I also hoped it wouldn’t be too much of a walkathon. You see when I’m out with Marcella who used to be a supermodel (she is going to kill me for saying that!) and is about 600ft tall, I always have to wear my highest shoes (an boy, are they high!) It’s also a given that I will be paying for my vanity the next day...
But there had been a lot of buzz about the RIRA’s opening, so I knew it would be good fodder for the blog. One thing I’ve noticed is that there are certain people who pop up in every crowd. And far from becoming boring, this actually makes the whole Caricouture process more comfortable, because these arty regulars are used to me clicking away - and no longer eye me suspiciously as though I’m some kind of crazy paparazzi lady working for a local gossip column.
But I digress. The RIRA Gallery is a large, double-storey gallery (so my feet got a jolly good pounding) and the exhibition opening, called Respect to Time was packed with a glamorous if eclectic crowd of bohemian people, elegantly gliding around and absorbing all the Iran art.
The exhibition itself was a fascinating mix of sculpture, painting and photography created by generations of Iranian artists. One item that caught my eye was a contemporary piece by Masoumeh Abirinia. It was a red tyre, beautifully positioned in a box frame with a patterned background, giving it a vintage/pop art feel, and was from a series called the Cycle of Life.
After mingling and chatting to lots of people, (in the hope of taking my mind off my aching soles – gosh, that almost sounds philosophical) I spotted the amazing designer Rami Al Ali. I had been hoping to ink the 1940s film star-esque Rami for some time, and immediately start clicking away at him - which he was super-cool about. After that, I discovered a very sophisticated lady in a long white dress with a large diamond around her neck and a gorgeous curly hair-do. She could have been at the Oscars, she looked so glam. Then, to top it all, my dear friend the wonderful designer Ezra Santos was there, looking flamboyant and beautiful as ever, and thus my pain in the heels were all but forgotten – until the next day of course…
But who cares – after all, that’s what flip flops and comfy slippers were invented for. The point is, no pain, no gain darlings! I can’t wait to see what Rami and Ezra think of themselves being inked!
Watch this space!
Respect to Time is showing until June 16 At the RIRA Gallery, DIFC. www.DIFC.ae/rira galleryllc (04 04 369 9339)
