UAE | Leisure
Art exhibition with a difference sets sail in Dubai
Against the Tides show gives artists of all ages and at all stages of their careers the opportunity to display their work
- By Fatma Salem, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 March 13, 2010
- Image Credit: Suuplied
- A wide age range of artists, from 17 to 60 years took part in the show and exhibited their work side by side.
Dubai: A colourful boat was recently seen out at sea — on board was a wealth of talented artists showing off their skills in areas such as fashion design, comic art, graphic art, jewellery design, nail art, photography and painting. The vessel with the theme "Against the Tides" was organised by the group Women2Women.
This unique art show came about for various reasons, such as paying tribute to all the artists that are working against the odds to be provided with an opportunity to exhibit — most of whom were showing for the first time.
Wide range
A wide age range of artists, from 17 to 60 years took part in the show and exhibited their work side by side.
The show also sought to break other notions about art and introduced as many genres as possible.
All the participants were very happy to take part in such an exhibition that blended the charm of nature with art.
Zainab Malubhai, a 27-year-old artist, said it couldn't get any better than showcasing art on a boat in the middle of the sea.
She says as a photographer she is constantly learning.
"I am intrigued by people, emotions, and reactions. It took me sometime to understand this kind of photography and I found myself constantly taking candid pictures of people and things. I have tried my hand at posed portraits with artificial light but it doesn't thrill me as much as when I am taking images of people in their natural surroundings doing whatever it is that they are doing. [At] events like weddings, I crave to make memorable candid images of someone's biggest day. Street photography and photography with natural light is what I love doing. It's a bold form of photography, photographing people without disturbing them and breaking away from the general rules of composition."
"Candid shots cannot be pre-visualized, it's all about anticipating action, interaction and capturing those fleeting moments."
‘Fabulous opportunity'
Regarding her role in the event she said: "It was a fabulous opportunity, there were artists present who have been creating for years and also first timers, and they were all given an equal space to showcase their talents, shoulder to shoulder with experienced artists without them feeling out of place."
She showcased four pictures and all were captured in Mumbai in natural surroundings,
A different form of art was displayed by Marketa Halamek.
"I do oil paintings, pastels and drawings. There is almost always a bit of nature in it. "Against the Tides" was a brilliant idea, it allowed me to showcase three oil paintings and one charcoal drawing, and it was my first exhibition," the 37 year old said.
"I would like to share my art with people, just get a chance to show it and then silently watch what people say. I believe art is all about feelings from deep inside. I work really fast as my feelings flee out of me and land on the canvas."
The painter is attracted to the work of many artists.
"I admire Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and many others."
Pravin Bajaj is another artist who took part in the competition.
"I do illustration using Adobe Illustrator, or comic book art which is hand-drawing using pencil and ink and coloured via Photoshop or natural media such as pencils or felt-tip pens," the 33 year-old said.
Pravin was born in Mumbai and he's been in the UAE for almost 30 years.
"I submitted three art pieces that were of female comic book characters."
More from UAE Leisure
More from UAE
Latest news
- Tracks to be laid on recycled material
- Golden Hour crucial to a patient's survival
- Opening show worthy of UAE
- Sun is shining on prospects for solar power
- Artists focus on craftsmanship
- World leaders committed to supporting civilians
- Schools open a new page in teaching English
- Special parking to help disabled tourists
- Helping hand surgeons have long sought
- Blind woman lights up corridors of power
- In Mind
- At times, I think of committing suicide
- Designer of a creative haven
- Fund to help Dubai taxi drivers' families
- New life-saving fleet of vehicles
Community Reports
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
-
Supporting the needy with food supplies
Group of families engaged in serving isolated labour community hopes to motivate more people to help underprivileged and hungry
-
Leukaemia boy granted wish to meet footballer
Emirati meets hero Al Qahtani, Al Ain team
