By Eddie Snagge
The Meddler visited the new pop-up on a rainy Sunday and found Fatima, one of the sisters who run it, cleaning. She welcomed us in, saying that the pop-up would formally be open next week and run until February. “We chose the end of February more so as a pitch to our father, who owned and ran the shop”. The previous Sheikhtaba Grocery/Hassoons Cafe closed four years earlier and the space has been vacant since.
The plan, according to Fatima, was to run the old store as a place for community. The transience of the space was important to keep the fabric of the neighbourhood, but the future of Dukkana is ultimately being played by ear. “Our father is proud of us and the work we’ve put into this” said Fatima, when commenting on the experience of helping out in their father’s business as younger girls, and now taking over the space as an artistic, community-oriented project.
During the weeks that they are open, the sisters are running a schedule of art and community events. In the first week, there was an admin/co-working day, a ‘hang out’ day, and a decorative fruit platter workshop. The following week, there was embroidery and photography. On 21 February, Dukkana is hosting an art fair from 6pm-9pm.
Dukkana has a large lounge space for people to talk, read and play cards, and an exhibition space displaying various artists. The sisters have used the old bain-marie to showcase Safa’s (one of the sisters) embroidery business and designs.
In the back, there’s a ‘sister’s closet’ section, referencing the phenomenon of the shared sibling wardrobe.
Charming still is the artwork paying homage to the Sheikhtaba grocery, with artwork of fruit and veggies populating old fruit stalls.
Dukkana pop up
99 Harding Street, Coburg 3058
The Coburg Meddler 