one of the most abundant natural materials in the Arab region,

We're a multidisciplinary studio creatively exploring sand,

through art and design.

Karim Tamerji and Elias El Hage have joined years of individual expertise in the fields of fine arts, interior and product design, architecture, site-specific installations, digital design and mural artworks to launch their focused venture. The duo has come to recognize sand as a material with meaning — in its timeless and universal quality.

Based in the UAE, the studio’s vision was inspired by its immediate context and geography; historical landscapes of desert sands. Following the success of their design debut for the entrance installation at Downtown Design 2022, Karim+Elias has begun with pieces of Dubai, on a mission to craft earthen relics and spatial experiences from landscapes worldwide.

Sand has existed timelessly and, in many ways, paints a meaningful picture of the region’s history, culture and identity.

MATERIAL WITH MEANING

Instinctively, we saw this as an opportunity worth celebrating, while asking ourselves — “How can we use the most abundantly found local material as a cultural ode to the region?”

“We’ve come to recognize sand as a material with meaning, one which tells a story steeped in heritage, that speaks to people on a primal and universal level.”

SCULPTING WITH SAND

Through creative exploration, we developed a personalized approach towards rammed earth in an effort to preserve the ancient art of “sculpting with sand”.

Much like the preserved artistry of sculpting marble, or carving wood, we consider ourselves revivalists of a traditional craft, now reimagined through a contemporary lens.

Our mixes also preserve traditional techniques. A proportionate mix of local earth, clay and water is packed in sedimentary layers within custom-made moulds to craft the works; be it an object, a sculpture, or architectural walls.

All our materials are locally sourced, and naturally pigmented in an array of earthen tones.