As part of its ongoing dedication to spotlighting the UAE’s creative talent, Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, the city’s first boutique hotel, is hosting experimental artist Masarratfatima Sulaimani for a month-long residency.
Taking place from 1 to 30 October 2025, the residency offers guests and visitors a rare glimpse into Sulaimani’s delicate papercutting practice, culminating in a solo exhibition, an artist talk and an interactive workshop.
Sulaimani has shaped an international practice defined by experimentation and storytelling. Her paper-based works have appeared at the Shanghai International Biennale, Sikka Art Fair, and World Art Dubai, where she was named Hotel Indigo’s Artist-in-Residence for 2025. She previously received the Al Qasimi Foundation Artist-in-Residence Award in 2022.
Between 1 and 8 October, Hotel Indigo’s social hub, Open Sesame, transforms into a live studio where guests can observe Sulaimani’s creative process during open sessions. On 9 October, Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown will unveil Rooted Memories: A Journey Through Paper, an exhibition accompanied by a conversation between Sulaimani and Yasmina Ali Yahia, the hotel’s Art Manager. The show brings together a body of work that reflects on memory, migration, and belonging through Sulaimani’s distinct language of paper and will be on display until 30 October.
On 11 October, the artist will lead a hands-on DIY Bookmark Workshop at Open Sesame, where participants can create their own botanical paper bookmarks to take home. The session is open to ages 12 and above. Priced at AED 150 per person, it will also include light refreshments. Bookings can be made through the Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown website.
Outside of exhibiting her art, Sulaimani is deeply engaged in education and environmental awareness, leading workshops on papercutting and sustainable art practices. Her ongoing research into handmade botanical papers and recycled pulp painting reflects a growing dialogue between craft and ecology in contemporary art.
Visit: hotelindigo
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.
