Abu Dhabi: Hundreds flocked to Manarat Al Saadiyat during Abu Dhabi Art’s four-day event, where street performances, art installations and global music brought the art scene in the capital to life.
The Emirati Expressions: Realised exhibition showcased everything from jewellery to abstract paintings and interactive video displays from local artists in Gallery 1.
Meanwhile four Emirati artists, Dr Najat Makki, Jalal Luqman, Mattar Bin Lahej and Abdul Rahman Al Owais told audiences on Friday about their journey as emerging artists.
“When I started out in Sharjah my sculptures at first were not accepted. I therefore decided to stick to photography while working on improving what I was passionate about. Working with children suffering from Down’s syndrome has helped me learn a lot about patience and the importance of colours and painting in the lives of those who have such disabilities,” she said.
Bin Lahej told Gulf News the inspiration for his work involved spending hours in the darkest part of the UAE desert.
“I would sit for a long time wondering whether my movements left behind a trail, whether holding a stick and throwing it would create a movement in the sand… I wanted to understand whether movement exists in silence and in darkness,” he said.
Bin Lahej believes the key to having a successful artistic culture in the country is to work on the foundation and not to settle with just being optimistic.
“We want art to become the norm like it is in European countries, infused in our culture. We want to create a thousand Dr Makkis and a thousand Al Owais. The key to this is to instil this love and these skills in our children,” he added.
Bin Lahej has set up a studio in Dubai that teaches mixed arts to children from the ages of six and above.
“The centre is open to children from all nationalities as I believe that we are all souls living and co-existing regardless of gender, nationalities and religion,” he said.
