This month COYA Dubai turns its vibrant space into an immersive art experience with Whispers of Memory, a new showcase by Emirati artist Marwa Hashim, launching today - October 15. The exhibition draws guests into a surreal world where memory and nostalgia meet the theatrical mystery of a forgotten fairground after dark.
Drawing on her background in graphic design and illustration, Marwa Hashim weaves typography and symbolism into her work, turning everyday objects, mirrors, clocks, typewriters and books into vessels of hidden stories.
“Whispers of Memory is about finding beauty in overlooked objects. Each piece carries fragments of time and hidden voices that invite us to pause and reflect,” says Marwa.
Art has always been part of COYA Dubai’s DNA. Since opening in 2014, the venue has functioned as both a restaurant and a gallery, pairing its award-winning Peruvian cuisine with exhibitions that champion regional talent.
“Marwa’s work resonates with our community. This showcase embodies COYA’s spirit this season, offering an experience that connects the playful eeriness of Halloween with the essence of COYA”, says Yannis Stanisière, Chief Operating Officer of COYA.
As guests enjoy COYA’s signature dishes or cocktails at the Pisco Bar, the exhibition unfolds around them, poetic and dreamlike, perfectly in line with the whimsy and mystery of Halloween. Shadows, illusions and old carnival props like masks, tickets and faded ribbons weave through the space to enrich the overall guest experience.
Whispers of Memory is an unfolding séance of stories, fragments from lives once lived, reassembled through Marwa Hashim’s haunting vision.
Visit: COYA Restaurant
Mariam Khawer is a Dubai-based writer and PR professional whose work spans food, art, and travel across the region. When she isn’t chasing deadlines, she’s likely at a gallery opening, testing out a new restaurant, piecing together one of her mixed-media art projects or at home with her four cats, who keep her on her toes.
