Fady Saliba understands the power of a good name. The Lebanese designer was living in Prague when he decided to launch his own lighting and homeware company and decided to name it Kafka Goes Pink, after one of the city's most famous inhabitants.
"In Prague there are shops named after Kafka, there are cafes named after Kafka and there are streets and museums named after Kafka. But I remember reading The Metamorphosis and thinking: how can anybody be in such a beautiful place and be so macabre and so dark?
"Since I wanted to do something new, with a twist, I couldn't use a name like 'Earth and Sand', which sounds like a souvenir shop. I wanted something that was almost shocking. That's how I came up with Kafka Goes Pink."
The names of Saliba's products are similarly steeped in meaning - and fully capture the oriental exoticism of his creations. "I try to come up with names - and designs - that make people dream a little," he says.
The first light fitting he designed was called Sahar, after the first rays of light at dawn; Tarabish is a triangular table lamp named after the Arabic word for fez; Harem is sculptural and sinuous; Moon is perfectly spherical and Eve is shaped like a cuboid apple. There's also Nour, which was named after Saliba's eldest daughter and means divine light - although this has caused some consternation at home, where his younger daughter is impatiently waiting for a namesake of her own.
Saliba studied fine arts in Lebanon and Russia before embarking on a career as an interior designer. Soon after, an opportunity arose with the bathroom manufacturer Grohe and Saliba spent the next 12 years working for the German company.
"When I left Grohe I wanted to start something of my own. I wanted to go solo but I started thinking: what can I do that will make a difference? I wanted to create something with a story. And since I am Lebanese and I have lived my whole life in that country and love that country, I wanted to take something valuable from the past and make it into something modern for nowadays."
Saliba spent two years in Prague indulging his love of painting and fine-tuning the Kafka Goes Pink concept before launching the brand in 2007. His aim was to take traditional forms, such as the metal-cut lighting that is so familiar in this part of the world, and give them a contemporary makeover.
"I started with lighting because I love the idea of lighting. I was inspired by something that I found in my grandparents' home. It was made from earth and they used to put oil in it and burn it at night. It looked like a bulb, so I took the bulb shape and made it into a light."
As well as lighting, the Kafka Goes Pink portfolio now includes tables, stools and accessories such as trays, candle holders and bowls. Saliba also takes on interior design projects and describes his style as "theatrical and unexpected".
Next up, he will be experimenting with new lighting technologies. "Imagine the contrast between handmade copper products and LED lighting. I'm also trying to move ahead with the furniture because we have a lot of ideas but in order to mass produce small furniture items, I need a bigger set-up. There's a lot going on."
The one thing that will remain constant is Saliba's commitment to high-quality materials. For his lighting he has always favoured materials such as brass and copper, while his furniture is often inlaid with mother of pearl. And although he plans to branch away from an overtly oriental styling, he will continue to favour such "noble materials".
Production of Saliba's creations currently takes place in Lebanon, where he also has a studio. However, he travels extensively and is based between Lebanon and France. "I would be extremely excited about launching my own store in Lebanon, but I'm waiting to see if the Lebanese government settles down once and for all.
"I have a studio there. That's my way of always having a foot in the country, but I travel all around for business and culture. They might tell you there's culture in Lebanon, but it's not the case. We killed it. We killed our nature and we killed our culture. So in order to get inspired, I have to get out of the country."
Saliba remains the creativetour de forcebehind the Kafka Goes Pink concept and this shows little sign of changing - even if his daughters are eager to get involved. "They want to make their mark but I'm trying to resist - there'll be no Hello Kitty on my lamps!"
Kafka Goes Pink products are available at Bloomingdales and O' de Rose in Dubai. For more information, visit www.kafkagoespink.com
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,400m. Winner: Al Ajeeb W’Rsan, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Jaci Wickham (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m racing. Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Onward, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep Rated Conditions (PA) Dh 125,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: AF Arrab, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 90,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Irish Freedom, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
UAE%20set%20for%20Scotland%20series
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TYPES%20OF%20ONLINE%20GIG%20WORK
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
The biog
Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists.
Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.
Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
New Zealand 15
Tries: Laumape, J Barrett
Conversions: B Barrett
Penalties: B Barrett
British & Irish Lions 15
Penalties: Farrell (4), Daly
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
The%20Roundup
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The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
more from Janine di Giovanni
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
FULL%20FIGHT%20CARD
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