{"id":2105173,"date":"2026-08-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2105173"},"modified":"2026-08-21T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T21:00:00","slug":"an-inflatable-pool-party-by-craig-karl-fills-a-dubai-atrium-with-summer-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2105173","title":{"rendered":"An Inflatable Pool Party by Craig &amp; Karl Fills a Dubai Atrium with Summer Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"an inflatable installation of colorful shapes with smiley faces by craig and karl\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images courtesy of Craig &amp; Karl, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">An Inflatable Pool Party by Craig &amp; Karl Fills a Dubai Atrium with Summer Fun<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-21T12:18:45-05:00\">August 21, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/gebert\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Grace Ebert<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"colossal-share-buttons\">\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--facebook\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Fcraig-and-karl-under-the-sun-dubai-installation%2F&amp;title=An%20Inflatable%20Pool%20Party%20by%20Craig%20%26amp%3B%20Karl%20Fills%20a%20Dubai%20Atrium%20with%20Summer%20Fun\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--pinterest\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Fcraig-and-karl-under-the-sun-dubai-installation%2F&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Fcraig-karl-1-960x640.jpg&amp;description=An%20Inflatable%20Pool%20Party%20by%20Craig%20%26amp%3B%20Karl%20Fills%20a%20Dubai%20Atrium%20with%20Summer%20Fun\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share to Pinterest\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Pin<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--email\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email this article\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Email<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--copy\">\n\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Copy article link\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link colossal-share-button__copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/craig-and-karl-under-the-sun-dubai-installation\/\" data-label-default=\"Copy\" data-label-copied=\"Copied!\" data-aria-default=\"Copy article link\" data-aria-copied=\"Link copied to clipboard\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-live=\"polite\">Copy<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--bookmark\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"477014\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/icdbrookfieldplace.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ICD Brookfield Place<\/a> in Dubai, a vibrant collection of smiling inflatables sprouts from a vaulted ceiling, creating a suspended pool party of colorful forms. The spirited installation is titled \u201cUnder the Sun\u201d and the latest project by duo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.craigandkarl.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Craig &amp; Karl<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to capture the warmth, vibrancy, and joy of summer\u2014distilled into one space and experienced from within the expansive summer garden atrium. A way to bring the season indoors,\u201d the pair write about the project. Included in the installation are hot-weather staples like flowers, beach balls, inner tubes, and of course, a radiant sun.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477014\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-2.jpg\" alt=\"an inflatable installation of colorful shapes with smiley faces by craig and karl\" class=\"wp-image-477021\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>The immersive work is a new installment in Craig &amp; Karl\u2019s <em>Mateys<\/em> universe, populated by a vivid array of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/10\/craig-karl-inflatable-mateys-sculptures-installations\/\">inflatable characters<\/a>. Whether springing up on a bridge or dangling from the ceiling as in Dubai, the expressive forms infuse oft-overlooked architecture with play and whimsy.<\/p>\n<p>Although the duo live in different cities\u2014Craig in New York and Karl in London\u2014they continue to collaborate across continents, allowing projects to \u201cunfold as a two-way conversation from the initial idea through to completion, with each of us throwing things out, building on the other\u2019s ideas, and knowing when something feels right.\u201d This collaboration works, in part, because the artists met while in college and spent a considerable time in the same studio, securing a bond and trust in another that\u2019s indelible to their current practice.<\/p>\n<p>Keep up with Craig &amp; Karl and their globe-trotting projects on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/craigandkarl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477014\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-3.jpg\" alt=\"an inflatable installation of colorful shapes with smiley faces by craig and karl\" class=\"wp-image-477016\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-4.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477014\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2999\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-4.jpg\" alt=\"an inflatable installation of colorful shapes with smiley faces by craig and karl\" class=\"wp-image-477017\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477014\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-5.jpg\" alt=\"an inflatable installation of colorful shapes with smiley faces by craig and karl\" class=\"wp-image-477018\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477014\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/craig-karl-6.jpg\" alt=\"an inflatable installation of colorful shapes with smiley faces by craig and karl\" class=\"wp-image-477019\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a 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