Abu Dhabi: A famous French artist, who painted several paintings of Dubai city before he even visited it, said the power and energy of the hard-working population attracted him.
"This is my first visit to the UAE; I did these paintings three months ago, inspired by what I heard about Dubai from my friends and acquaintances," Jean-Francois Larrieu told Gulf News.
"I'd noticed the news stories on the negative impact of the global financial crisis on Dubai, but I was a witness to the crisis in Europe so I didn't feel anything special about it."
His paintings are featured in an exhibition titled ‘Voyage', organised by Opera Gallery, Dubai. Larrieu spoke to Gulf News during the preview reception at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
The event was organised under the patronage of Shaikha Shaikha Bint Saif Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, UAE chairperson of the ‘Make A Wish' Foundation, sponsored by Etihad Airways, in association with Opera Gallery. Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan opened the preview.
The exhibition also featured the paintings and sculptors of Alexandre Zakharov and Laurence Jenkell and another 11 artists. Larrieu said his creation of the beautiful scenes of Dubai skyscrapers was his own initiative. In ‘Zabeel Park', the tree is bigger than the twin towers because the tree represents the people and their spirit, he said. "I felt those elements [people and their spirit] are more significant than buildings," the painter said.
A layman may notice the skyscrapers only on Dubai streets instead of palm trees, but I know… like a tree grows on the sand this city has also grown on sand so the tree also represents the evolution of the city, Larrieu explained.
Larrieu is president of the Paris Autumn Show and vice-president of the government-affiliated Federation of Graphic and Plastic Arts Associations.
Make a wish
A portion of the proceeds from the exhibition will go to the ‘Make A Wish Foundation' — a charity which helps children with life-threatening illness to realise their last wish in life. "Etihad sponsored the event as an opportunity to promote good art and Abu Dhabi and the UAE as art hubs, apart from the chance to support the charity," said Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad.
