Art mimics the elusive patterns of nature, but it is up to the creator to uncover these, says Lebanese painter Lana Khayat.
“I experiment with the elements and with geometry, and I dissect the painting into different parts. It's about finding the calm in the chaos. I spend a lot of time in nature alone, so I'm inspired by it,” Khayat, who splits her time between Valencia and Dubai, tells The National.
Her painting Rising Sun (2022), which was most recently shown at the London Art Biennale, reveals layers of delicately painted strokes in blue, black and white.
The dense abstract image evokes the landscapes of Japanese miniature and the poetry of Islamic calligraphy – one in which the lettering appears in an unknown language. It is 2 by 2 metres wide – which is typical of Khayat’s large-scale abstract work.
“You see repetition, you see calligraphy and geometry that all comes together,” she says.
But the blue also evokes the tilework of Islamic architecture. “Blue is always in my work, I always come back to that blue.”
For this, and other works, Khayat was selected among 10 artists, curators and collectors by the UAE’s Ministry of Culture and Youth to take part in a course on Islamic arts, organised by Christie’s Education in London.
“I was honoured to be the only non-Emirati to be selected for this programme,” she says, and that it was “an opportunity to delve more into Islamic arts, and learn more about its significance and its beauty”.
Khayat’s large-scale paintings can take up to six months to produce, with hours spent daily in her studio.
Her meticulous, labour-intensive approach is a form of communion. “There is a meditative and transcendent quality to calligraphy. It is spiritual – a way of seeing the beauty in this world in the form of oneness with God,” she says.
Khayat was seeped in Islamic arts from an early age – but from a more intuitive perspective. She came from a family of artisans, and watched her father and grandfather restore the elaborate interiors of Lebanese and Syrian homes and palaces.
Khayat’s great-grandfather, Mohammed Sulaiman Khayat was a Damascene craftsman known for his elaborate wooden interiors and furniture, which included mother of pearl inlay and marquetry. His creations have been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design in Hawaii.
Mohammed Sulaiman’s skills were passed down to Khayat’s father, who was born in Lebanon’s Beiteddine Palace, the 19th-century residence of the Emir Bashir Shihab II. Mohammed Sulaiman's parents had been living there as his own father was restoring the Ottoman era complex.
Though art runs in the family, convincing them that she would also follow was a challenge. “I came from a family of male artists, I had to fight for my place,” she says.
After studying graphic design at the American University of Beirut, she went to the Pratt Institute in New York, becoming the first woman in her family to study there.
As a student, she dabbled in painting, experimenting mainly with figurative works. She made the move to abstraction around 2010, after seeing her great-grandfather’s restoration of a Damascene room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
“Things came full circle for me then,” she says. “I wanted to find my voice and didn’t want to repeat what my family was doing.”
Though she started working with calligraphy, she did not like the associations to the craft, seeking a more contemporary voice.
“I was sad when people called me a calligrapher,” she says.
Among her contemporary influences is Iranian artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, whose work was also shaped by her time in New York in the post-war decades.
Farmanfarmaian’s kaleidoscopic works explore Sufi mysticism and geometry, while being inspired by the city’s abstract art movement.
Nature plays an important role in the works and Khayat finds inspiration in the outdoors.
She often goes for walks along the river and in the Mediterranean forests of Valencia, where she spends part of the year and has a studio. These walks are reminiscent of her childhood summers spent hiking in the mountains of Lebanon.
"I spend a lot of time there. The nature really talks to me. I just dissect the leaves, the flowers and the colours," she says.
Her travels to Asia are also visible influences in her paintings, and she says she was inspired by the rich colour schemes in China.
Khayat, who is represented by Jeddah’s Hafez gallery, feels she has now reached a “maturity” in her work.
The course at Christie’s introduced her to Islamic Arts from an academic perspective for the first time – she was struck by the detailed miniatures of the Safavid era, and the blues of Mamluk architecture.
“I had the privilege of engaging with esteemed educators and researchers of Islamic Arts. I was granted exclusive access to the Albukhary Islamic World Collection and given private tours of the illustrious Leighton House and other captivating venues,” she says.
“A particularly awe-inspiring moment was witnessing a never-before-seen 500-year-old Manuscript Quran at Christie’s."
She hopes the Christie’s programme will help her to lead a “renaissance” in Islamic Arts – both in the footsteps of her great-grandfather and distinct from the age-old traditions that he upheld.
“The vision I hold dear – the Islamic Art Renaissance – is just the beginning of a profound movement, and I am thrilled to embrace what the future holds."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
U19 World Cup in South Africa
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Vriitya Aravind, Deshan Chethyia, Mohammed Farazuddin, Jonathan Figy, Osama Hassan, Karthik Meiyappan, Rishabh Mukherjee, Ali Naseer, Wasi Shah, Alishan Sharafu, Sanchit Sharma, Kai Smith, Akasha Tahir, Ansh Tandon
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Uefa Champions League play-off
First leg: Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Ajax v Dynamo Kiev
Second leg: Tuesday, August 28, 11pm (UAE)
Dynamo Kiev v Ajax
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Ireland v Denmark: The last two years
Denmark 1-1 Ireland
7/06/19, Euro 2020 qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
19/11/2018, Nations League
Ireland 0-0 Denmark
13/10/2018, Nations League
Ireland 1 Denmark 5
14/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
Denmark 0-0 Ireland
11/11/2017, World Cup qualifier
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
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ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
