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Inspired by the highly successful Word Into Art exhibition, Dubai-based students used Arabic script in imaginative ways in their artworks.
An art exhibition with a difference was held at Modhesh Fun City (MFC) when paintings focusing on Arabic calligraphy, and created by Dubai-based students were displayed as part of the Dubai Holding Fine Art Awards 2008.
The paintings were inspired by the highly successful Word Into Art, Artists of the Modern Middle East exhibition presented by the British Museum in partnership with Dubai Holding at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) earlier this year.
The winner of the competition, Bharti Tilwani, received an all expenses paid trip to London including a unique behind-the-scenes tour of the British Museum. The other prize winners, Rashida Shabbir Rashid and Shamma Mohammad Bin Masoud, received prizes valued at Dh7,000.
All the paintings on display at MFC were created by students, between the ages of 12 and 18 , after they visited the Word Into Art, Artists of the Modern Middle East exhibition. In line with the theme of the exhibition, each painting included Arabic text, combined with an image to convey the artist's message.
The competition, which attracted more than 200 entries, was judged by the curator of the British Museum's Word Into Art exhibition Venetia Porter, Sonia Brewin, director of START, a programme that links child development with arts education, Dubai Holding group chief marketing officer Malek Inja and Iraqi calligrapher Wissam Shawkat.
Porter praised the quality of the work submitted by the students and explained that the judges had had a very difficult task to select the four winners.
“I was impressed by the creativity demonstrated by the student artists and delighted that Word Into Art had inspired them so. Many of the works submitted underline how the Arabic script can be used by artists in so many imaginative ways, and the way it can help reinforce an Arab identity in a fast changing world. The future of Modern Art in the UAE is very bright indeed," said Porter.
Get involved
Dubai Festival City, a sponsor of DSS 2008, recently hosted characters from the well-known children's television series Sesame Street. The 30-minute 1-2-3 Imagine! show runs until August 3 and is on at 7.45pm and 9.15pm.
Organisers say it is full of entertaining music, exciting choreography combining education and fun. The show features sing-alongs, dancing, and encourages audience participation. Characters performing in the show include favourites such as Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, Grover and Zoe.
Walking flowerpots
Al Manal Centre hosted the Flowerpots Walkabout as part of the DSS 2008 activities. Curious shoppers and onlookers took photographs with the characters and children especially were amused at the sight of walking flowerpots. Visitors said the rather odd performers who wore suits with flowerpots on their heads were “amazingly entertaining".
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