Celebrating the 20th anniversary of DIFC Art Nights, Elevision brings FADA’ to this landmark edition featuring phenomenal immersive experiences brought by kanvas in collaboration with art curator Astrid Lesuisse, transforming the district into a living canvas of light, sound, and motion.
FADA’ first debuted at Dubai Design District (d3) as part of Elevision’s broader cultural and art initiative dedicated to enhancing the city’s creative landscape. Originating as a platform to connect communities through digital storytelling, FADA’ has evolved into an ongoing expression of Elevision’s belief that media can enrich public life by supporting culture, collaboration, and innovation.
Through this collaboration Elevision, kanvas and Astrid Lesuisse demonstrated how art and technology coexist to elevate everyday environments, creating moments of beauty and reflection woven into the fabric of the city.
Bringing FADA’ to life at DIFC art nights
Taken place from 13–16 November at DIFC Gate Village, the FADA’ immersive experience were located at the square in front of Gaia – serving as one of the main highlights of the event. This year’s edition also features “Art in Light,” an interactive creative workshop by kanvas situated next to Cipriani, inviting visitors to explore the beauty of light through hands-on experimentation with colour, texture, and material.
“FADA’ embodies our vision of digital media as a platform for cultural engagement,” said Niall Sallam, CEO of Elevision. “Partnering with kanvas and Astrid for DIFC Art Nights allows us to bring that philosophy to life on one of Dubai’s most respected art stages, at a time when the city’s creative community is celebrating two decades of growth and inspiration.”
“At kanvas, we don’t just showcase art – we build immersive worlds you can step into. Collaborating with Elevision in FADA’ gave us the chance to turn DIFC into a living story of light, sound, and emotion,” says Balint Tordai, Co-Founder, kanvas.
The showcase invites visitors to step into a world where digital art and spatial design merge, offering a sensory encounter that celebrates DIFC’s standing as a creative hub.
The curated lineup brings together five established artists from kanvas artist community whose works merge technology, storytelling, and emotion:
- Ocean Anthology by Kati Katona
- A Symphony of Shadows and Light by Kristel Bechara
- Spatial Incisions by Andras Nagy
- The Forest of Infinite Secrets by Rank SSS
- Nowadeus by Tim Christie & The Grid
Each of these immersive works is distinctive in style and narrative, offering visitors a rich spectrum of visual languages, emotional tones, and artistic techniques – from abstract digital landscapes to poetic and thought-provoking explorations of light and perception. The program culminates with Nowadeus, which recently premiered in the Middle East at kanvas and is now presented exclusively at DIFC Art Nights.
Designed to explore the boundaries between technology and human experience, the immersive digital art exhibitions combine illusionary visuals, dynamic lighting, and ambient soundscapes to capture the pulse of contemporary art in motion, creating a space that is at once reflective and alive.
Alongside the installations, kanvas will host “Art in Light,” a hands-on workshop specially adapted for DIFC Art Nights 2025. The experience transforms a simple light bulb and a long-forgotten tool – the overhead projector – into instruments of imagination and discovery. Participants are invited to experiment with materials such as fabrics, transparent objects, and sand to explore how they interact under illumination, revealing the dialogue between colour, material, and light.
Accessible, playful, and educational, “Art in Light” offers visitors of all ages the chance to rediscover the beauty of analogue creativity in a digital age, reflecting kanvas’s ongoing mission to fuse creativity, culture, and technology into experiences that invite participation and wonder.
“Society is driven by innovation, and I believe art is an endless source for new experiences. Alongside Elevision and kanvas, I’m honoured to contribute to making art more approachable, sparking dialogue, fostering emotional connections, and reinforcing DIFC’s role as a creative incubator in the region,” says Astrid Lesuisse, Curator
“DIFC Art Nights has consistently served as a dynamic platform, championing both emerging and innovative artworks and the visionary artists behind them. It is a key event for the artistic community and DIFC remains deeply committed to cultivating this vibrant ecosystem, ensuring Dubai thrives as a global hub for artistic innovation and collaboration, particularly in showcasing new voices and fresh perspectives,” says Saleh Al Akrabi, Chief Real Estate Officer, DIFC Investments.
DIFC’s Art Nights is a key event in Dubai’s cultural calendar and provides a valuable platform for new and emerging artists. During the biannual event, visitors can enjoy live art performances, family-friendly workshops, and musical entertainment, as well as thought provoking panel discussions. Through DIFC Art Nights and other initiatives, such as the DIFC Sculpture Park, partnerships with global institutions, and sustained support for homegrown talent, DIFC continues to reaffirm its position as a cultural powerhouse at the intersection of art, business, and innovation.
