UAE | Heritage and Culture

The art of Ramadan

Titled Layaali, which means "nights" in Arabic, this initiative is designed to offer people a chance to meet and reflect on regional issues and to get together with family and friends.

  • By Jyoti Kalsi, Gulf News Report
  • Published: 23:21 September 19, 2007
  • Tabloid

  • Image Credit: Supplied photo

 

The Third Line gallery in Al Quoz will host a variety of art events during Ramadan. Titled Layaali, which means "nights" in Arabic, this initiative is designed to offer people a chance to meet and reflect on regional issues and to get together with family and friends to participate in community art projects. The weekly events, which begin at 9pm, are free and open to all.

Community

"Besides art exhibitions, The Third Line has initiated various art related programmes because we want to bring together artists from different fields and people from all sections of the community to discuss various social, cultural and art related issues," says Katrina Weber, communications manager for the gallery.

"Ramadan is a time for reflection and for getting together with friends and family. So we have taken elements from all our programmes to develop Layaali, our unique alternative to the usual Ramadan tent," added Weber. "Here people of all nationalities, professions and ages can interact, reflect on issues that affect us all and be part of some fun-filled art activities,"

Successful films

The first Layaali event, to be held on September 25, is titled "We are here", and will feature a screening of five thought-provoking short films on Lebanon. The films, selected by Antonia Carver of Bidoun and Rasha Salti of ArteEast, come to Dubai after a successful showing at the Edinburgh Film Festival this year.

The Arabic films with English subtitles depict life in Lebanon during the war last summer and include footage starting from the day the Israeli attacks began in July 2006 up to coverage done a few months ago. Rather than the violence and devastation seen in the news, the films look at the war through the eyes of ordinary people telling personal stories of their determination to cling to the simple routines of life in the midst of turmoil.

The 62-minute screening will be followed by a discussion about regional filmmakers and the struggles faced by independent filmmakers in creating their work. Co-curator Antonia Carver will facilitate the discussion.

Literature lovers

The next event, to be held on October 1, is a meeting of "Kutub", the Third Line's bi-lingual Arab literature appreciation circle. This month the group will discuss Girls of Riyadh (Benaat al Riyadh) by Rajaa Alsanea, a modern novella that explores the lives of young women from the upper crust of modern Saudi Arabian society.

The event planned for October 2 is a community art project that gives people a chance to explore their own creativity while supporting underprivileged women and children. It has been organised with the help of Dubai-based gallery Jam Jar and START, a grassroots art education programme that reaches children in need across the Middle East with education programmes and local partnerships. Women and children from shelters run by City of Hope will join guests of all ages in creating a joint artwork during this fun filled evening.

The women of Afghanistan will be the focus of the event titled Finding Hope to be held on October 9. Co-hosted by IRIN, the UN's humanitarian news and analysis agency, the evening will begin with a screening of IRIN's moving 2007 documentary about women's rights titled Losing Hope: Women in Afghanistan.

This short film will be followed by an open discussion about the international response to regional humanitarian events and ways to create hope in the midst of humanitarian need. The panel will include local and regional leaders.

Layaali programme

September 25: We Are Here: A selection of short films on Lebanon, followed by a discussion facilitated by curator Antonia Carver.
October 1: Discussion on Rajaa Alsanea's novel Benaat al Riyadh (Girls of Riyadh).
October 2: Art for Families: A Hands-On event where women and children from shelters run by City of Hope will join guests in creating an artwork.
October 9: Finding Hope: screening of documentary titled Losing Hope: Women in Afghanistan followed by discussion on creating hope in the midst of injustice.

What's on
Venue: The Third Line gallery in Al Quoz
Time: 9pm
Entry: Free and open to all. RSVPs are essential to ensure seating at the events. To RSVP please email events@thethirdline.com

 

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