Under the Patronage of H.H. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, FN Designs Gallery to Host

AL BARSHA, UAE - Oct. 12, 2016 - PRLog -- As part of Dubai Design Week, under the kind patronage of H.H. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, Dubai based Design studio Ape Creative will be organizing a typography exploration named Byahe at the FN Designs Gallery later this month. The debut show that aims to bring back the spotlight on the art of signage, will be held from 24th to 29th October, 2016.

In this exhibition, with the elements of typography and design on signage, the artists Mary Hechanova and Jude Valderrama, will examine how people connect through their stories, their travels and experiences.

Talking about the upcoming exhibition, H.H. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum said, "Art is beyond the factors of age and time. The ways of creation might change with time but the meaning and the message remains the same. Byahe is about the tradition of art of signage which has been a part of our societies long before digital technology overshadowed most of our life space".

The Filipino word for "travel" or "trip", "Byahe", the exhibit, specifically draws inspiration from the hand-painted signage found mostly in side streets and on public transportation in the Philippines, such as the iconic Jeepney.

"Byahe - An Expedition in Type, will bring alive the craft of sign painters that dominated the streets back then. The show is bound to let you peep into the history and let you explore certain connections with different cultures across the world. We are sure people will enjoy this unique exhibition", added H.H. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum.

'Byahe' aims to detach visitors from the world of the fast-paced instant consumption of digital technology and reconnect them back to an authenticity rooted in history, in heritage and in a sense of place.  The show also hopes to bring a fresh perspective to the Philippine culture through its art and design while finding a connection with other cultures from around the world.

Rollan Rodriguez, founder and creative director of Ape Creative, said, "The core inspiration for Byahe arose out of our interest in hand-painted signage and the traditional art of lettering. We wanted to explore this dying art and its connection to our own personal histories  - a  lot of us here in Dubai came from somewhere, and a lot of us are also moving about from place to place".

"We wanted to take out these unique elements from our own backyard and see how these signs would speak to people from different parts of the world, from different backgrounds and point of view", added Rodriguez.

A short documentary by Dubai-based film-maker Kamil Roxas will also be shown at the exhibit. The film is expected to take a peek at the artists creative process as well as highlight responses from some "travellers" who were given signage that refer to their journey to and from their hometown to the UAE.