Visitors to Dubai Beach might be wondering about the large royal-blue structure that has recently appeared on the shore: four octagons with blue netting stretched across them like an airy, canopied tent.
Rather than a gigantic sunshade, the structure is actually a sculpture by Aljoud Lootah made for Dubai Design Week.
Titled Yaroof, it takes its inspiration from a type of traditional fishing of the same name, in which fishermen use netting made of strong mesh to net small fish. The net is laid down near the shore, and the fishermen make a small half-circle with the nylon netting to trawl the fish back in.
Lootah has used nylon ropes to depict the shape and structure of the fishing net, with patterns and curves inspired by Arab motifs, in a striking sculpture in its natural habitat.
• Yaroof is on Dubai Beach opposite JBR throughout Design Week, which ends on Saturday, October 31. For more information, visit www.aljoudlootah.com.
artslife@thenational.ae