Rendering the UAE: The chronicler

A constant quest to define what it means to be Arab is the leitmotif of Beirut-born, Dubai-based photographer and jewellery designer, Nadine Kanso’s work. Irrespective of the boundaries drawn, Kanso believes that the only reality lies in a strong Arab culture that presents itself in everybody irrespective of their nationalities be it Palestinian, Emirati or Lebanese.
With an obvious fervour for all things Arab, in particular its culture, expression, form and representation, Kanso endeavours to interpret the term through a contemporary visual framework. A turning point in her artistic career was when she was invited to exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, in 2006, as part of a group exhibition entitled Arabize Me.
Later that year she adapted the exhibit for a solo show at B21 Gallery in Dubai, with a collection that included a series of portraits depicting Arabs from across the region with an eclectic mix of artistic, creative and cultural milieus. The exhibit was entitled, Who I Am or Meen Ana in Arabic.
A definitive statement or a larger catechism, we do not know, but it is an existential and artistic search — with the drive for one feeding the other. Kanso’s muse during this enquiry was the UAE.
“To me as it is an ambitious place. It opened its arms to a lot of people and embraced so many cultures. It gave me hope to see an Arab country rise and develop as such, and that in itself is inspiring,” she says.
Just as her pursuit as an artist is constantly revealing new dimensions, Kanso sees a parallel in Dubai, which is always in a state of metamorphosis. “This emirate has come a long way and brought with its growth many elements. Yet I can still feel the essence and the culture of the city. It is amazing how in many ways it has kept its identity even with the skyscrapers and modernistic touches that have been added to the city. In my work you can see a collage of this very blend of the past, present; of the history and of the times to come. All elements that I see around me have found a place and are held together by the flag that unites the city and this country.”
Kanso’s approach to her art is akin to her approach to life, she believes that you need to love it, to live it and to learn it. “All my works carry and reflect my love for my identity and culture, but they also carry criticism about the place I come from because nothing and no one perfect.” And it is this balance, this juggling of perspectives, that Kanso succeeds in conveying brilliantly through her creative dialogue — offering her own keen observations, and at the same time, leaving room for individual opinion.