‘Beyond Measure Art Exhibition’ for Bahrain and Asian expatriates

His Excellency Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the National Council for Arts and Honorary President of the Bahrain Arts Society, and Philippine Embassy, Charge d’ Affaires, Anne Jalando-on Louis led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The special event was organised by Filipino Creatives Bahrain under the auspices of the Philippine Embassy in Manama. Filipino Creatives Bahrain represents the unity and pride of about 42 artists in diverse and vibrant art exhibitions. In her message, the Charge d’ Affaires congratulated the Filipino Creatives Bahrain for staging another successful art exhibition involving a line-up of physical visual arts presented by outstanding artists from Bahrain and Asian expatriates.

Exploring the deeper meaning of belonging and relationships through abstract artworks from painting, sculptor, art installation, tapestry and digital art showcase of 120 art pieces on display showing varied and great talents of artists from different Asian nationalities. Participating artists included a nine-year-old Chinese, Mira Ma Bomholtz, and Howa Aya Farhina, 12 years old from Indonesia.

In an interview, Jie Refuerzo, president of Filipino Creatives Bahrain, said: “I am delighted to see the Filipino community come together as one big family and support each other. We’ve got a lot of undiscovered talents out there, so for me, this is the right time to display our talents, acknowledge each other’s accomplishments, and show each other support.” His son Eros, 19, and daughter Faith, 17, artworks are also on display at the exhibition.

Jie said: “When the two were still young they’ve already loved the arts. They expressed what they feel and share the messages they want through art. I could only advise them that art is freedom, it has no boundaries.”

And as parents, he and his wife, Riza are very happy and supportive of them. The VIP guests included Labor Attache Atty. Vicente Cabe, Philippine Navy Captain Francis Cacho, Philippine School Bahrain Directress Gydabelle Naval; Catherine Paje, co-founder of Filipino Creatives Bahrain and Mr Alex Craine, Chief Executive Officer, Harbour Gate. Members of the diplomatic corps who attended the event included H.E. Piyapak Sricharoen, Ambassador, Royal Thai Embassy and H. E. Farida Hairani Hisham, Charge d’ Affaires, Embassy of Brunei Darussalam.