Dubai, UAE – Long before it enters white-walled galleries, contemporary art is finding its first audience at the table. IKKA, the Peruvian–Japanese restaurant located at Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai, announces the launch of a permanent, rotating art programme – debuting with an exclusive first presentation of Epistola Avium by acclaimed multidisciplinary artist ‘Ali Ettehad’.
Running from 5–31 January 2026, IKKA will host Ettehad’s latest major video-art exhibition before it moves into Dubai’s gallery circuit, marking the first time his work is presented in the city. The exhibition establishes IKKA not as a backdrop for art, but as its starting point – redefining where cultural encounters begin in Dubai.
Epistola Avium is a striking, immersive video work inspired by Ibn Sina’s The Epistle of the Birds (Risālat al-Ṭayr) – a philosophical allegory in which birds symbolize human souls trapped in the material world, beginning a journey toward their true origin and freedom. Shown within the energetic, sensory environment of IKKA, the work invites reflection through contrast rather than isolation.
Ali Ettehad
The exhibition will also present a selection of Ettehad’s acclaimed collaborative works with the 366th Performing Art Group, including Over the Cube (2025), Birds of Nothingness (2025), and MAYBE THE NEXT TIME (2024), alongside SEMI NO KARA (2025), a short documentary by Melika Behjat exploring the artist’s philosophy and creative evolution. Together, the works challenge perception, dimensional boundaries, and humanity’s attachment to destination.
IKKA was never conceived as a conventional restaurant. Rooted in the belief that creativity belongs in lived spaces – not behind closed doors – IKKA approaches cuisine, design, and now art as parallel forms of expression. Art here is not decorative; it is encountered, questioned, and lived with.
This philosophy is embodied by IKKA’s creative force, Jose Luis, whose hand-painted works form part of the restaurant’s visual language. For him, cooking is another artistic medium – one where composition, rhythm, and emotion matter as much as flavour. The dedicated art space is a natural extension of this thinking, positioning IKKA as a cultural destination rather than a hospitality setting.
Importantly, IKKA’s programme is not limited by medium, movement, or classification. With exhibitions already confirmed for the coming months, the rotating programme will showcase a diverse range of artistic practices – spanning different formats, disciplines, and styles – reflecting IKKA’s curatorial freedom and refusal to be confined to a single definition of art.
Launching in early 2026, the programme forms part of IKKA’s October rebrand and signals a shift in how, and where, art is first encountered in Dubai.
This January, the first encounter happens at IKKA. The gallery comes later.
Here are some details:
Exhibition: Epistola Avium
Artist: Ali Ettehad
Dates: 5th January – 31st January 2026
Venue: IKKA, Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai
IKKA is a Peruvian and Japanese fusion dining destination located at Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai. Guided by the culinary artistry of Jose Luis, IKKA blends the bold flavours of Peru with the precision of Japanese technique, creating dishes that are as expressive as they are refined. With panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai skyline, hand-painted artworks and a lively yet elevated atmosphere, IKKA delivers an immersive dining experience that celebrates culture, creativity and connection. From signature Peruvian Japanese fusion plates to a vibrant brunch scene, IKKA invites guests to savour flavour and artistry in perfect balance.
