French photographer Olivier Escarguel’s first solo show in Dubai, “Borderless Territory”, features photographs taken during his travels to the UAE, Oman, Yemen, Iran, Zanzibar, India and Ethiopia. The poetic images convey his fascination for the people, the culture and the landscape of this region.
“I grew up in a village in the South of France. My first visit abroad was at the age of eight to Algeria, where I discovered a world that was so different from my own. Ever since then I have been fascinated with the Arab and Islamic world. I love the special atmosphere created by the warmth and hospitality of the people, and their culture and traditions. My photographs express my appreciation for this world and the feeling that this is my world too. Every photograph in this show essentially depicts a crossroads between time and space, and speaks about my dream of a world where there are no boundaries of culture, religion or language — a world without borders,” Escarguel says.
The artist has no formal training in photography, but is driven by his desire to capture memorable moments from his travels. His photographs include portraits of the people he has met, of everyday scenes on the streets, and of the different landscapes. The pictures tell stories about traditions and lifestyles that have remained untouched by the passage of time, as well as about the changes taking place in these traditional societies.
A portrait of a priest in an ancient church in the remote region of Harar in Ethiopia speaks about the history of the region, and about things that have remained unchanged for thousands of years. Similarly, pictures of the desert in Oman and the colourful gates of Omani houses evoke a traditional way of life. On the other hand, images of veiled women dressed in black, juxtaposed with a shop window full of mannequins draped in trendy, colourful scarves in Iran speak about changing attitudes of a new generation; and the reflection of a modern skyscraper beside a traditional mosque in Abu Dhabi captures the changing urban landscape.
Escarguel’s ability to find beauty in his surroundings, and his skill in capturing the play of light and shadow are also evident in his abstract compositions featuring fishing nets in India, rocks and leaves in the desert in Oman, rock carvings in the ancient Iranian city of Persepolis, and an old door in Zanzibar with cracks and peeling paint.
“I do not worry too much about the technical aspects of photography. I work with my heart, mind and soul to create images that connect with people emotionally and intellectually. The main reason I travel and take pictures is that I like to meet people and learn about their way of life. I always try to communicate with the people I meet, visit their homes, and take pictures that depict their daily life. But I also like to create abstract compositions that invite viewers to contemplate the meaning of life and the passage of time,” the artist says.
Jyoti Kalsi is an arts enthusiast based in Dubai.
“Borderless Territory” will run at Alliance Française Dubai, Oud Metha Road until May 31.
Dreams of young artists
The latest exhibition at Mojo Gallery, “My Dream”, puts the spotlight on the artistic talent of children and their dreams for the future. The paintings in the show were created for an art competition, organised by Innoventures Education, for primary school students of the company’s five Raffles International schools, and the SENSES Residential Care Home for children with special needs. The paintings on display include works by the winners in different age categories as well as over 600 other entries. Proceeds from the sale of these artworks will be used to support the SENSES Residential care home, which provides safety, comfort and care for children with special needs whose families are unable to support them.
“My Dream” will run at Mojo Gallery, Al Quoz until May 30.
An evening of Bangla folk music
Well-known Bengali band Dohar will present their first performance in Dubai tonight (May 29) at the Emirates International School Auditorium on Sheikh Zayed Road. The Kolkata-based band’s members include lead singer Kalika Prasad Bhattacharjee, Amit Sur, Rittik Guchait, Mrignabhi Chattopadhyay, Satyajit Sarkar, Niranjan Haldar, Rajib Das, Sudipto Chakraborty and Devajyoti Haldar.
The band’s unique sound comes from their in-depth research into the folk music of West Bengal, Northeast India and Bangladesh. This has helped them to revive and preserve the rich legacy of Bangla folk music, and take traditional folk music forms such as “dhamail”, “baul”, “bhatiali”, “sari”, “jhumur”, “bhavayia”, “chatka”, “kirtan”, “gombhira”, “kavigan”, “pala geet”, “Goalparia lok geet” and “bihu” to music lovers around the world. Their performance is enhanced by the fact that they play up to 25 different types of acoustic and ethnic instruments.
The event, which begins at 7pm, has been organised by the Bharatiya Sreehatta Sammelani, UAE, in collaboration with Heart and Soul Events, Dubai. Entry is by invitation only. For more information and invitations, write to bss.uae52@gmail.com or call 055-2006980 (Dubai), 050-3287711 (Abu Dhabi) and 050-7854392 (Sharjah).
