Dubai: The nobility of art was reflected in each of the paintings and photographs on display at the "Art for Gaza" exhibition which opened Wednesday at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre.
What started out as a mere urge to extend a helping hand to Palestinian children caught in the hostilities during Israel's 22-day invasion of Gaza developed into a celebration of life itself.
The opening of the exhibition, which showcases the artwork of 11 Gulf News and Xpress artists from Mexico, India, Canada, England and the Philippines, attracted a throng of visitors, including journalists and artists among others. The designers, photographers and videographer were present to introduce their work to bidders and interested visitors. The paintings reflected a humanitarian theme in the light of the suffering visited on Gaza.
Seventy per cent of the proceeds of the exhibition will go to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), a non-profit international organisation with a chapter in Dubai which addresses the medical and humanitarian crises facing Arab youths in the Middle East.
PCRF spokesperson Nadia Wehbe thanked the artists for their effort and said that the initiative which had brought international artists together for a charitable cause represented the essence of community spirit in Dubai. "We do what we do because of people like you," she said.
"The turnout was great, I am very happy that there was such a good and mixed group of people here. We had many people from many nationalities and cultures come together for one cause. It was good to have the PCRF and the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation with us and to feel the work of so many people, not only the artists, but others who helped plan it until the very end," said Guillermo Munro, senior infographic artist, who gave the initiative huge momentum.
Videographer Ashraf Helmi and photographer Megan Hirons had visited Gaza in the aftermath of the Israeli war and brought back photos and videos that they presented to visitors.
"I am very happy to be part of this show. Firstly, it's a great feeling to raise some money for a charity that I have seen at work first hand, both here in Dubai and in Gaza. Also, travelling to Gaza in January to cover the after-effects of the war was a life changing experience for me that I'd really like to share with others, and I think it is important to keep telling the Gaza story, so that people don't forget," Megan said.
The show will continue till March 10 at DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates.
