Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Urban Planning Council, in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, yesterday inaugurated the Zero Exhibition at 1971 Gallery Space, a multi-functional design space dedicated to exhibition, display and discussion on all forms of contemporary design, ranging from graphic, furniture and interior, as well as interactive design and new technologies.

The exhibition, which will run from March 11th until May 23rd, and is sponsored by the waste management centre in Sharjah, Bee'ah, the Sharjah Environment Company, and Maraya Art Centre, presents newly commissioned projects by UAE-based designers and architects working with eco-friendly materials, and using recycled or sustainable materials which have only a limited impact on the environment.

The title, ZERO, was taken from the Bee'ah's ambition in achieving a state of zero waste, with no used material disposed of in landfills but rather recycled into energy or new material.

Giuseppe Moscatello, Maraya Art Centre Manager, said, "We are very proud to launch this exhibition in partnership with Bee'ah. ZERO offers designers a very specific and indeed worthy challenge: to create and produce functional design pieces while adhering to the ethos of zero-waste on all levels. We wanted designers to engage in more than just a sustainability exercise. We want to raise awareness on the issue of using sustainable and up-cycled products, and supporting Bee'ah in their continuing mission of aiming to achieve zero waste. The purpose was to facilitate a paradigm shift in the way that the entire design and production process is approached and we are very please with the results." Designers exhibiting in ZERO have adopted and re-purposed a wide variety of materials in their projects, including cardboard tubes from print shops, old tyres, bio-resin, fabric leftovers from tailor shops, metal tubes, plastic bottles, rubber, recycled concrete, reclaimed wood, crushed glass, sand, discarded objects and live plants. The designers have demonstrated how the detritus of daily life in the UAE can be transformed and given a new existence in environmentally-friendly ways.

Talking about the exhibition, Meera Taryam, Director of Environmental Services and Education at Bee'ah, Sharjah Environment Co., said, "From an environmental perspective, we could not be more pleased with the results. Creating awareness around the crucial importance of waste management is an ongoing process. We are continually looking for new and exciting platforms that can be leveraged to involve the community in an interactive dialogue, and in this respect ZERO has been a resounding success. Not only has it attracted the attention of the creative community, but it has created an opportunity for people to look at recycling in a very different light, thereby elevating its importance and creating a myriad of new possibilities." Participating artist Ali Al Sammarraie said, "Zero is an ideal platform for designers because it challenges us to be creative while still keeping our focus firmly on the real life impact of our creations. I believe strongly that the quest to achieve a zero waste equation in our interaction with the world is vital to our continued existence and I am very proud to have been part of this innovative exhibition." The event was attended by Dr. Rashid Al Leem, Chairman of Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Amiri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority, Hisham Al Madhloum, Chairman of Sharjah Collections of the Art, Marwan Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority, Shurooq, Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of Bee'ah, Sharjah Environment Company, Khalid AlButti, Chairman of the Directorate of Town Planning and Survey in Sharjah, and specials guests, art critics and designers.