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Ever looked up at the sky and thought what is beyond those twinkling lights? Creatives have long been fascinated with out of this world galaxies and one artist, in particular, has made it the subject of her latest work.
Russian artist Marina Fedorova is known for her instantly recognisable paintings inspired by the 90s glossy magazines, Hollywood films and Instagram trends, but now she has turned her attention to an immersive experience. The unique project COSMODREAMS sees the world of earthly glamour ‘invaded’ by the outer space and offers art lovers an opportunity to go on a fast-paced conceptual journey created by Fedorova.

Fusing together the traditional approach to painting with the modern digital technology, Fedorova has managed to create her own galaxy filled with cosmic landscapes that give viewers a moment to reflect on the technological progress and its implications for the life on Earth as well as question what legacy we are leaving for the future generation.

The heroines of the concept appear feminine and vulnerable, yet they all have distinct personalities and inner strength.

“Some of them are the artist’s signature tragic and glamorous beauties who colonise the outer space in their evening gowns and high heels,” reads the brief. “Others bear semblance to a grown Alisa Seleznyova whose obvious otherness and moral integrity was admired and copied by the generation that grew up reading Kir Bulychyov’s books and watching their film adaptations Yet another group of female characters appear to dwell in a dreamlike deep space without spacesuits: relishing the freedom of flight, they discover new worlds finding no resistance on the part of reality.”
Her paintings and sculptures have been brought to life with the use of VR & AR functions while the music has been specifically composed for the project to allow viewers to further dive into her imagination.
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COSMODREAMS is on until November 1 2020 at the Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation but can also be viewed online on cosmodreams.com.  Download COSMODREAMS app through the App Store and Google Play.
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In Partnership: As travel is largely on hold, we’re looking to the next best thing – a staycation.
Luckily for those of us based in the UAE, we’ve got the whole country on our doorsteps making it easy for those based in the busy cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi to escape to the quieter emirates like Ras Al Khaimah.

If you’re currently seeking a calm and quiet getaway then we may have found the ultimate deal just for you, and it’s just an hours drive from Dubai.
Say hello to Rixos Bab Al Bahr in Ras Al Khaimah and their new ‘Suite Escape’ all-inclusive stay package.

With 450m of sandy beaches, 14 restaurants and bars covering an array of different cuisines and 8 pools, we’re confident in saying this is the ideal place for a cityscape.
The hotel’s new staycation deal gives the perfect opportunity for couples or families to take a midweek break as when you book a weekday stay of a minimum of two nights at any suite category will receive 15 per cent off the best available rate.
Not only to get a luxurious suite in the staycation deal you’ll also reap the benefits of the Rixos Bab Al Bahr’s signature welcome amenities and a private cabana by the beach with refreshments.
Whether you’re on a getaway with the whole family, with a group a friends or you’re with your significant other, there’s something for everyone including adventurous water sports, beach and poolside fun and a luxurious spa.

Guests can be rest assured that the Rixos Bab Al Bahr has the highest safety standards and training and hygiene protocols to protect the health and well-being of both guests and employees. Similarly, they are also part of the RAKTDA ‘Safeguard Assurance’ program and are certified as a safe destination by Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification services.
We can’t think of any excuse not to book a stay ASAP.
To make a booking call +971 (7) 244 4400 or email reservation.rak@rixos.com.
Note: All room rates are subject to a 10 per cent service charge and 5 per cent VAT. A tourism fee of Dhs20 per unit per night is also applicable.
– For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
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Viva España
IN PARTNERSHIP: COVID-19 turned the travel and tourism industry on its head, imposing lockdowns across the globe. While isolation continues for many countries, that doesn’t have to stop you awakening the inner-traveller in you to plan out your travel bucket list. We can’t think of a better place to be than Spain, whatever the season may be, to add to that list – #SpainAwaitsYou.

Boasting majestic views of everything from rugged mountains and wild meadows in the North of Spain, also known as Green Spain, to coastal towns, fishing ports and picturesque beaches, Spain has something to suit everyone. Enjoy wandering through villages of timeless beauty perched on hilltops, narrow winding lanes in valleys, vibrant life and magnificent sunsets.
Art aficionados should definitely add in a visit to cultural landmarks. On the must-visit list are the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the Royal Alcázar of Seville, the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, the famous Prado Museum in Madrid and the Guggenheim in Bilbao. The landmarks are endless. In fact, the art scene boasts over 1,500 museums and has the third most UNESCO World Heritage assets in the world.   

For the foodies, Spain offers the best in terms of home-grown, fresh produce. Whether you are seated at an exclusive table or having a stand-and-go be sure to enjoy the tapas and pintxos in San Sebastián or savour the sumptuous seafood in Galicia. Alternatively, sports fans can catch a football game at Santiago Bernabéu or be awe-inspired by some Messi magic at Camp Nou.
There’s also The Balearic Islands, Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza to explore… so many beautiful locations, so little time!
While the country now is not admitting tourists, only some exceptions are made, as soon as it is possible tourism will resume with the utmost safety. Spain has adopted many hygiene measures to give you peace of mind while travelling. Twenty-one guidelines with specifications to prevent any spread of the coronavirus have been meticulously put together. The government has also introduced a series of protective mandatory measures such as the use of face masks in public spaces, maintaining a social distance of at least 1.5 metres, sanitising your hands, automated check-in procedures and much more to ensure you are safe at all times and have an incredible break in Spain, hopefully in the very near future. Spain.info/gcc
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
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IN PARTNERSHIP: Whether you’re migrating from your slick apartment Downtown Dubai to a spacious villa in Arabian Ranches or simply want to hit refresh on your interiors, Crate & Barrel offers seamless solutions that will complement any space and taste.
The design team at Crate & Barrel have carefully thought through every scenario to create three distinct yet harmonious themes that compliment every style of living.

Just as you’d approach your wardrobe, the key thing is to not to be rigid with your design choices. Instead, play around with trends and finishes to come up with something unexpected. The warm and balanced colour palette and minimal design makes Crate & Barrel’s latest fall selection ideal for mix and matching.
Below, we take you through the themes and the key pieces to elevate your home with this autumn.
Modern Prairie

Taking inspiration from architect Frank Lloyd Wright who broke away from closed-in architecture and embraced nature, the Modern Prairie is all about bringing the outdoors in. Expert furnishings constructed from warm woods and natural materials with the colour palette rooted in earthy tones, such as browns and warm amber with pops of ochre. Some of the hero pieces from this edit include Wells leather sofa or Anaise bed that will instantly bring a sense of balance to the room. Some of the larger pieces do benefit from high ceilings and plenty of natural light that you find in villas, but you can easily create a nature corner in a studio apartment with the use of preserved botanical flowers placed in a Poe glass vase, cushions with different texture, layers of rugs for added warmth and a walnut floor mirror which brings an illusion of space. To turn it into a secret corner with a retro flair, introduce an Anaise rattan room divider – even Coco Chanel was a fan of dividers. If you want the focus on the dining room then you should explore the unique selection of serving boards and utensils.

Urban Retreat

If you cherish living in an intimate space or want to play up your minimalist interior with some elegant touches, then you might find something extra fabulous in the Urban Retreat selection. Focusing on soft textures, colour-washed hues, sustainable materials, and welcoming silhouettes, there is something extremely soothing about subdued pieces that focus on texture and detail. For example, the curved Rouelle sofa with chenille-like fabric adds an instant statement to the room and yet still comfortable to unwind on after a long day at work, while Ezra Glassware set with its textured glass finish is perfect for hosting a refined and sophisticated dinner party. The selection of home accessories such as candle holders and vases provide plenty of options to help enhance side tables and shelves. Play around with a wide variety of curved shapes, mixed materials, and unusual textures to piece together a statement display.

Trove
 
Just moved into your brand new apartment? Inject it with some youthful spirit from the Trove collection that celebrates colour, striking silhouettes in the forever modern look of Danish design. Updated seasonally, this range is ideal for those who love a clean style of living, but with a hint of classical European décor that has been given a modern twist with punchy colours and eye-catching silhouettes. Think Copenhagen fashion week of interiors. This collection is easy to mix and match, but try to keep it in the same colour spectrum for a contemporary mood and embrace a more down-to-earth lifestyle by choosing low seating, narrow cushions and layered coffee tables. This approach will make the ceilings in an apartment feel higher.
Ofelia Velvet Swivel Dining Chairs

Amalie Small Space Apartment Sofa

Oli Oval Dining Table

The latest collection is available at Crate and Barrel’s Dubai stores at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, and the Dubai Mall. It can also be found online at crateandbarrel.me.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
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IN PARTNERSHIP: In the ever-changing dynamics of the world, companies are constantly having to adapt. Whether those dynamics be a pandemic, a shift in technology or a refocus on values, it’s how one deals with the issues and changes at play which ultimately proves which organisations will thrive.
While many issues come and go, one continued problem amongst many organisations, however, is the lack of representation of women in business. In fact, global evidence reveals that women only make up an estimated 25 per cent of middle-management positions worldwide. This figure is even less when it comes to women in board positions making up between five per cent and 17 per cent.

The solution? According to Professor Payyazhi Jayashree, Dean – Faculty of Business at the University of Wollongong, “Empowering women at an accelerated pace is therefore a business imperative.”
As the first female Dean of the Faculty of Business at UOWD, Professor Jayashree is not only an expert through her professional career in this field, but has first-hand experience in the fundamental things that need to be done to solve this issue.

From research she has completed in this field – in partnership with institutions such as the UN, Dubai Business Women Council (DBWC) and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and more – particularly to do with the career development of women in the Arab Middle East, she found the key to success for women in business is to ensure they have access to the relevant career capital.
“Capital creation is a continuous process and while institutional mechanisms are crucial, all of us as women in business will also have to take ownership for continuous learning in formal and informal ways,” Professor Jayashree explains.
It’s through experience with the women studying in her learning cohorts that Professor Jayashree has found that they succeed in the best way through a “personalised, flexible and reflective approach to learning”.
This is where UOWD’s Master of Business programmes come into play, which has a wide-range of programmes suited to enable many women, no matter which arms of business they are looking to go into, to succeed.
The university’s popular Master of Business Administration programme offers a key opportunity for students to not only equip them with the knowledge to operate in the ever-changing global market, but they will have the opportunity to collaborate with senior industry professionals, creating indispensable networking opportunities.

Similarly, UOWD’s one-of-a-kind Global Executive Masters in Luxury Management (GEMLUX) opens doors for students in Dubai like no other university. For many AME women who are aspiring to work in luxury, this master’s course gives students the opportunity to travel to three luxury fashion capitals around the world – Milan, Geneva and Paris – during the four-semester curriculum. In-keeping with the university’s ethos to help their students with the best of the best, GEMLUX is also supported by key players in the luxury industry including Chalhoub Group, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Ferrari S.p.A.
For those seeking to carve their own paths in the world of business and entrepreneurship – something Professor Jayashree is always encouraged by seeing women taking that leap – UOWD’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation program includes collaborating and receiving feedback from top entrepreneurs from prototypes created during students’ studies, along with mentorship from those in global innovation hubs, which include Germany and Australia.
Through Professor Jayashree’s commitment, as well as the wider faculty of business at UOWD, for innovative and transformative priorities to help both female and male students to succeed in the world of business, further bridging the gap of the lack of representation of women in organisations.
“Discovering one’s authentic leadership is a continuous and evolving process and it is only through collective sense-making and collaboration (with men and women working as equal partners), that we can create sustainable societies, particularly through leveraging empathy and knowledge-creation,” she says.
To grow your career with the University of Wollongong Dubai click here. 
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
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