Fully Booked returns to Dubai Art Week and Alserkal Avenue as the only art book fair in the United Arab Emirates. The fair serves as a platform to consider the medium of the artist book as a “multi-site”—a tactile, portable, and accessible form. This form allows for the creative and democratic dissemination of information, while simultaneously enabling peer-to-peer connections. Engaging with art books deescalates both cultural differences and the need for resources often required to purchase fine art.

The intention of the fair is to foster meaningful cultural exchanges between regional and international artist publishers, as well as the cultural practitioners and visitors present in Dubai during Art Week.

The art book fair features individuals, groups, collectives, artists, designers, creatives, & publishers producing and working in the mediums of printed matter, books, prints, magazines, publications, multiples, etcetera! A mail-in exhibition of printed work from around the world accompanies vendors who are present at the fair.

Fully Booked 2018 is a project presented by Misk Art Institute.

Yusef Alahmad, Curator, Huroof/حروف Graphic Design from the Middle East: Explorations in Contemporary Typography

Yusef Alahmad is a Saudi graphic designer‭ ‬and‭ ‬artist based in Washington, DC, USA‭. ‬He completed‭ ‬his MFA degree in graphic design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in December‭ ‬2016‭. He is currently an independent designer‭, ‬alternating between graphic design projects‭, ‬editorial illustrations‭, and art commissions‭. His work has been exhibited in numerous‭ ‬shows around the world‭.

Shamma Buhazza, Designer Commission, PhotoTex Wall Mural & 2018 Fair Tote Bag

Buhazza’s typographic treatment of the phrase “Halla Walla”, which roughly means “What’s up?” or “Welcome,” translates language and slang into visual forms. Buhazza is a designer from Abu Dhabi who is currently based in Germany working as a graphic designer with Adidas.

Huroof / حروف

Graphic Design from the Middle East: Explorations in Contemporary Typography

Curated by Yusef Alahmad

Typography is one of the main and most important elements of graphic design. In the Middle East, typography has evolved over time from its roots as a calligraphic medium. Increased access to tools, technology, and points of inspiration has continually influenced designers and artists.

"Huroof" (in English, “Letters”) is curated to cultivate an appreciation for design and typography in and from the Middle East by showcasing contemporary work that celebrates the expressiveness and fluidity of the region's languages. For "Huroof," Alahmad curated typographic posters by 40 designers in a wall-length display within the Alserkal Avenue warehouse, setting the stage for Fully Booked.

Fair programming was developed in partnership with the Crossway Foundation; Gulf Photo Plus; Ladies, Dine & Design Dubai; and Tashkeel.

Saturday, March 17

10:00–13:00; Off-Site Program: Corina Reynolds (Small Editions) Bookbinding Techniques Workshop

For the first time in the UAE, Corina Reynolds – Director and Co-Founder of Small Editions (New York) – leads a 3-hour introductory bookbinding workshop. Participants will fold accordion books and explore sewn pamphlets with paper covers, walking away with three books and a simple instruction manual for replicating the techniques learned.

Monday, March 19

15:00–16:00; In Dialogue: Laura El-Tantawy & Mashid Mohadjerin on the Photography Book as Exhibition Space

In collaboration with Gulf Photo Plus, photographers Mashid Mohadjerin and Laura El-Tantawy will discuss the role of photo books as a platform for disseminating work. Arguably one of the most significant vehicles for displaying work and connecting with a large audience, the photo book continues to prevail in an age where audiences are engaging with print media in new ways. El-Tantawy and Mohadjerin will share their insight and lessons learned in relation to their experience with bookmaking and self-publishing.

18:00–22:00; Fair Opening with Vendor Book Launches at 6pm

Friday, March 23

15:00–16:30; Live Fully Booked Tote Bag Screen-Printing with Toil & Tinker

17:00–18:00; Panel Discussion: Why do we make what we make?

How does culture, language, situation, gender, audience, or experience play a role in the translation of art, design, or published media? Moderated by Ladies, Dine & Design Dubai.

Saturday, March 24

14:00–17:00; Open Mic Readings & Talks Program

A selection of the fair’s international vendors will present readings from their titles and conversations related to their printed matter and publishing practices.

15:00–16:30; Live Fully Booked Tote Bag Screen-Printing with Toil & Tinker

Monday, March 25

10:00–17:00; Offsite Program: Helga Traxler Photography Workshop

For the first time in the UAE, New York-based photographer Helga Traxler shows how to communicate through your camera and create an image without perfect studio lighting. Using the gallery, participants will connect and collaborate through the process of image taking, interacting with artworks in Tashkeel’s latest exhibition ’10 Years Later’ . Go behind-the-scenes and discover new ways and angles of looking at our environment and understand how to maximize situations in order to create colourful images that stand out. The second part of the workshop looks at editing. Results will be discussed by the group and a 'best-of’ selection chosen for a mini pop-up-exhibition at the end of the day.

The 2018 fair is a project presented by ….

Programming Partners:

Printing Partners:

Media Partners:

In-kind support from:

A special thanks to the following, who each had a role in making Fully Booked 2018 happen: Fikra Design Studio; Sikka Fair, Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. And of course, a big thanks to the Alserkal Avenue team and our Partners.

Contact: fullybookedfair@gmail.com, Instagram @fullybooked.ae

Fully Booked copyright 2018. Please contact Fully Booked Co-Founders Anthony Tino & Daphne Taranto with questions or with interest to stock your title in the online Bookshop.

Site by Lukas Eigler-Harding. Photography by Helga Traxler.