Impressions of Oman

Moosa Omar and Sarah White to unveil Icons of Architecture

Moosa Omar and Sarah White, two of Oman’s celebrated artists, will hold an art exhibition titled Icons of Architecture at the British Ambassador’s residence in Muscat from December 13 to 15.

The artists will present works that are rich with myth and meaning. They have chosen the theme of icons to stress a particular period in their quest to unravel the architecture of Oman.

The highlight of the exhibition lies in the different vision each artist creates in the overall picture of the culture and heritage of Oman.

Moosa Omar founded the Omani Abstract Artists group in 1988 and continues to be active in art through the Society for Fine Arts, the Youth Art Studio and the Qurum Cultural Club.

Working with mixed media, the style of this artist combines elements of realism, symbolism and abstract expressionism. His simple graphic work denotes the quiet village life. At the same time, his work is rich in symbols that tell stories.

“In my work there is a constant resistence against an outer silence. Inside, behind the walls of our towns, we sense a human aroma that carries the feelings of the community,” says Moosa Omar.

A well-known name in Oman, Sarah White is recognised for her outstanding contribution to Bait Al Zubair.

A characteristic of her painting is strength of form combined with subtleness of atmosphere, one physical, the other human, always interacting, and each one capable of dissolving the other. Mood comes from colour.

Sarah’s colours emanate from the buildings and from light, from the earth and from Oman’s painted doors and gates.

Sarah White’s deep involvement with Oman allows her to express its spirit boldly on canvas. With her brush, Sarah deconstructs the physical reality of a building, unearthing its elemental structures, searching to release the inner essence that led to its creation.

“My interest in the architecture of Oman is partly to record an actual place, but also to capture the inherent spirit and impression,” says White.

The artists have offered to donate 10 per cent of all sales to charities in Oman.

The Show
Exhibition: Icons of Architecture.
Artists: Moosa Omar and Sarah White.
Venue: British Ambassador’s residence in Muscat.
Date and timings
December 13: from 10am to 1pm, for ladies with refreshments; 5 to 8pm, for cultural associations and the public.
December 14: from 10am to 1pm, for schools visits and the public; 5pm to 8pm, for all.
December 15: from 10am to 1pm, for all and collection of paintings in the afternoon.