‘Sonar’: art exhibition that draws from the human soul

Dubai: The ‘Sonar’ art exhibition began on Thursday in the presence of the two exhibiting artists, Salma Al Marri and Suheil Al Baddor.

The exhibition derives its name from the original Latin roots of the word ‘sonnet’, Al Marri said.

Al Merri is an Emirati artist, who graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo and is a member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society. She had previously worked in the field of teaching and was a judge on the panels of a number of awards and participated in individual and group exhibitions both in and outside of the UAE.

Baddor explained that ‘Sonar’ is an instrument used to see into the depths, “and we [he and Al Marri] work on deep subject matter and on things that are in the depths of the human nature.”

He explained that their work falls somewhere between abstract expressionism and reality. “Our work expresses a human state or condition, not just the person,” Baddor said. “Our work conveys what is within the person.”

Baddor is an Emirati-based Syrian painter, sculptor, writer and critic who left his mark in and outside of Syria. He is a member of the Fine Artists Association in Syria and a member of the Union of Arab artists and also a member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society.

He has had several solo exhibitions since 1981 and participated in a number of group exhibitions in Syria, UAE and around the world.

He said that his subject matter is music and women, as he said he sees that both have many similarities such as grace and simplicity. Music and women have been a reoccurring theme in Baddor’s work. ‘Sonar’ shows some of his sculptures as well as paintings.

Al Merri uses acrylic paints in her art. “In my work, I did not treat the canvas as a flat surface, but I try to give it dimension and texture through the use of acrylics to create reliefs.

“I also use different objects to create imprints in the wet paint to create different textures. I use anything, for example the plate I use to mix the colours.”

Al Merri said that she considers the works she is exhibiting in ‘Sonar’ a new experience for her.