Nine to ten: Funun Arts Group nears a milestone at World Art Dubai fair

When it took part in World Art Dubai (Apr. 17 – 20), Funun Arts Group, the UAE-based art community, was celebrating nine consecutive years of participation in the fair.

- Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

"Funun Arts Group continues to grow, inspire and redefine what it means to be an artistic movement rooted in community, culture and creative excellence," say Shiba Khan and Farah Khan, co-founders of the Group. From a modest beginning in 2016 with a single 12-square-metre stand and representing only a few artists, Funun Arts Group is now one of the largest and most diverse participating art organisations in World Art Dubai. In its career of nearly a decade, it has showcased over 500 artists from 60 nationalities in the fair.

Shiba Khan and Farah Khan, also known as the Khan Sisters in the art fraternity, say that "what began as a passion project to unite artists and give them a voice, has blossomed into a global creative movement." "In our very first year," says Shiba Khan, who is also an artist, "we didn’t know what to look forward to. We only had a vision - to bring people together through art and create a platform where voices, especially of women, youth and emerging artists, could be seen and heard."

Nine years later, the vision has realised itself into one of the UAE's most active and impactful art bodies, hailed not only for its consistent presence in all major art events, but also for the innovative experiences and meaningful conversations it brings to them, particularly to World Art Dubai, every year. This year's presentation by the Group was a visual journey and emotional treat across continents and cultures. Funun's stands offered visitors a rich palette of styles and techniques, from traditional techniques to experimental projects.