Dubai-based Zambian artist Victor Sitali is presenting a series of portraits of African women in his first solo show in the city, titled “Afro”. The artist, who has a passion for portrait painting, will also do live painting sessions on June 28, at 8.30 and 9.30pm where he will demonstrate his talent for creating portraits within a few minutes.
“I chose this subject for the show because I find African women very beautiful. The vibrant colours they wear always caught my eye as a child in Zambia, and I wanted to capture the colours and style of these beautiful women,” he says.
The women in his oil paintings are graceful and stylish, looking confidently at the viewer. Sitali has captured not just their external beauty and details of their colourful garments and accessories, but also the beauty of their soul and their inner strength. There is a luminosity and depth in the paintings, which reflects the hearing impaired artist’s own resilience and spirit.
Sitali lost his hearing at the age of three. The lack of educational facilities for the hearing impaired in Dubai meant that he had to go to a school for children with special needs. Artist Gulshan Kavarana, who volunteered at the school, recognised his talent and encouraged him to develop it. He was able to realise his full potential after he joined Mawaheb from Beautiful People, an art studio for adults with special needs, where Kavarana teaches art.
“Mawaheb has helped me to become the independent, confident person I am today. I am grateful to the founder Wemmy de Maaker and my art teacher and mentor, Kavarana, for spotting my talent and guiding me. Besides helping me as an artist, they also encouraged me to do my Bachelor’s degree in graphic design. I could not have done this course without the support of volunteer Marisa Dietsche, who knows sign language and attends my classes with me at SAE Institute. Mawaheb also arranged for me to do two residencies in England with British master Trevor Waugh, which has helped me to develop as an artist,” Sitali says.
“I am happy to get this opportunity to show my work to art lovers in Dubai. My dream is to have my own art studio where I can teach and share art inspirations, and hopefully someday I will be able to sell art in my own international gallery,” he adds.
Jyoti Kalsi is an arts-enthusiast based in Dubai.
“Afro” will run at Jumeirah Golf Estates Clubhouse from June 27 to July 2.
