Dubai: One of Dubai's newest art venues, the Al Serkal Cultural Foundation, is proving a hidden haven away from the summer heat.
Located in the artistic Bastakiya district in Bur Dubai, the Foundation showcases both local and international artists with both permanent and visiting exhibitions.
It was opened just five months ago by Emirati collector Ahmad Bin Eisa Al Serkal, and is already attracting major works.
Its current visiting exhibition by Parisien photographer Fabien Lemaire - 'Impulse' - will be displayed until the end of January.
It is being held in association with the Alliance Francaise and was opened in the presence of Nada Yafi, Consul General of France in Dubai (www.fabienlemaire.com).
Light effect
Elie Al Moubayed, Manager of the Bastakiya gallery, said: "His photography talks to the person; he has good style. His photography is pure light effect, but he doesn't play with his photos.
He photographs rain and the colours found in rain, its different shapes, and he uses the light of day and night in his abstract natural photography."
The foundation has two floors, with visiting galleries showcased on the ground floor, and permanent exhibitions, such as a collection of ceramic art pieces, on the open air rooftop gallery.
Al Magbad Salah, a calligrapher, and Shafik Aytesh, a stained glass artist, work at the foundation full-time.
Salah said: "Calligraphy is more than 300 years old and I chose to specialise in something that not many people do. Each work of calligraphic art has a special meaning - the first thing with a piece is the meaning. I do more than 10 styles of calligraphy."
More than 20 artists work for the Foundation, specialising in drawing, mosaics, stained glass and calligraphy as well as art teaching.
Al Moubayed said: "We have received many requests from artists since we opened, who want to showcase their work. We are planning to invite many local and international artists, but we want to promote local artists because we want to concentrate mainly on local heritage."
Salah produces art pieces using many forms of calligraphy. The main forms are Diwani and Jali Diwani from Turkey; Thuluth and Naskh from Iraq; and Nastaalic from Iran.
There are also mixtures of designs, including Diwani and Nastaalic that form Jali Diwani, and Thuluth and Naskh that form Ijaza.
"Artists see calligraphy in their every day lives; in people's smiles and the things around them," Salah said, adding that Diwani is his favourite form of calligraphy.
Show will go on
Location: Al Serkal Cultural Foundation
Heritage House, Building 79,
Bastakiya Historical District,
Bur Dubai
Telephone: 04 353 5922
Upcoming events
July 21-31: 'Impulse' photo exhibition by Fabien Lemaire, Bastakiya historical district.
January 28-31, 2009: Dubai Art Design Fair, details to be confirmed
