Sikka Through the Eyes of Its People

Khalaf Alblooshi, Saif Almheiri and Sultan Alhosani take us beyond the surface of the Sikka Art & Design Festival, choosing to tell the story from two complementary perspectives: the curator and the visitor. Through their conversation with Yara Ayoub, curator of Al Bait Al Khaleeji — one of the festival’s most compelling exhibitions — we gain insight into the vision behind a space that brings together artists from across the Gulf under one roof. Yara speaks about the concept, the intention, and the cultural threads that shape the house and give it meaning.

To complete the picture, the students also interviewed Sif Kulaib, a visitor experiencing the exhibition firsthand. He reflects on what it feels like to see Gulf and Arab artists showcased collectively in one place at Sikka, describing the sense of pride and connection the space evokes. Together, the curator’s vision and the visitor’s experience create a fuller narrative — showing how art is not only created with intention, but also received with emotion.