Culture, creativity take centrestage as art goes live in Bahrain
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Zahra Ayaz
Live artworks by international and Bahraini artists were on display for the first time at Swiss Belresidences as part of a special event to showcase Bahrain’s culture to a wider audience.
Titled ‘Art of Athens and Bahrain’, the exhibition was a collaboration of interactive art by the Unesco Club of Greek, featuring paintings and calligraphy of 34 Greek artists who sent their work as prints.
Artists from Bahrain at the expo told The Daily Tribune that the event is giving a much-needed boost to the art scene in Bahrain, which is slowly gaining international recognition.
“We are using our artworks to communicate emotions and to learn from our peers, their works and inspirations.”
For simple things that we never notice: Al Hawaj
While talking to The Daily Tribune, Bahraini artist Ali Al Hawaj emphasised the importance of presenting “what is beautiful in our nation’s environment” and “how simple things that we never notice can be seen in different aspects of the painting.”
“The purpose of art is to introduce these small things into people’s lives. Al Hawaj further said it is “crucial for us as artists to promote art as a culture in Bahrain” as “we are oblivious to many wonderful things around us.”
“While I don’t have any time restrictions for my paintings,” Al Hawaii said, “I do know that every artist strives to complete their work as quickly as possible.”
My paintings are my emotions: Ghazal
Another Bahraini artist, Maha Ghazal, shared that each time she paints, she puts her emotions into it, and it typically takes two to three days to finish the art.
Recalling her younger days, Ghazal said that she developed an early interest in painting from her school days and used to draw using pencils in school books.
“Now, I have a major in arts.”
I am too realistic: AlBsat
Bana AlBsat, who is too realistic, stated that it takes her a long time to complete her paintings, but she never stops painting “even when I tell myself to.”
“I always admired the beauty, the landscape of Bahrain, its palm trees and historic buildings. “One of my most renowned art pieces, dating back to 1997, was created during my tenure as an art teacher before I ventured into entrepreneurship. Although I discontinued painting for nearly 15 years, the desire to resume my passion lingered, and I eventually achieved my goal.”
My roots are my motivation: Earaji
Najma Earaji’s artwork, which symbolises women’s hair like an abaya, was motivated by her roots and the traditional theatre and the music she grew up with. “I always had a liking for Bahraini women and traditions. Earaji, however, said she is not stressing herself with any timeframe.
“Depending on how I’m feeling, I can complete artwork in two days, but other times it takes me two months. When asked about her motivation, she said, “I come from a traditional household, and after watching traditional theatre and music, my roots served as my motivation.”
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