A man immersed in lavender light stands in front of a blank canvas with a poignant observant gaze.
The man’s kandura is painted with expressive brush strokes and the sparse details of his unfastened collar reveal the skilled use of line, light and colour.
The work is a self-portrait by the celebrated Emirati artist Abdul Qader Al Rais. Painted in 1973, it’s a captivating piece to welcome the public into Al Safa Art and Design Library’s latest exhibition.
Entitled Time & Identity, the exhibition is a showcase and celebration of 50 years of Emirati art, revealing the breadth and diversity of perspectives from 22 Emirati artists across generations.
“It's always been important to include Emirati art in Emirati spaces in Dubai and the UAE,” Sheikh Maktoum Marwan Al Maktoum, the exhibition's project manager tells The National.
The exhibition is supported by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority event Sikka Art and Design Festival, which Sheikh Maktoum says “aims to create a sustainable ecosystem for artists and creators in the region, the foundation of that, is Emirati artists.”
Time & Identity is an extension of that ethos, providing a platform for artistic dialogue and exchange not only among visitors and artists but particularly between Emirati artists of different generations.
“We are creating an exhibition hoping to build bridges between these generations, encourage cross generational discussions, and hopefully plant seeds for future opportunities,” he says.
“It's also important for the visitor to see what Emirati art is and what it can be.”
The 22 artists featured explore the theme across various mediums including painting, print, digital art, sculpture, mixed media and more.
Spread across several spaces in the L-shaped gallery, separated by semi-permanent walls, the works are curated in an organic fashion. While not adhering to any type of chronology and not separated by styles or movements, the works speak to each other through the shared exploration of concepts and themes.
Renowned contemporary artist Mohammed Kazem's piece Inkjet Print on Paper and Mohamed Yousif's sculptural piece My Small Naashaat appear alongside works by young artists using new mediums, such as Maitha Demithan whose piece Artificial Portraits documents her exploration of artificial intelligence.
There is a stunning series of work by Asmaa Balhamr entitled Souq Al Ras Façade Observation and El Ebrahimi Building Observation which investigates, through intricate drawings, the influence of Emirati architecture on the landscape.
Another series of engaging monochromatic scenes entitled Hallucinogenic Facade: Starting Point by Safeya Sharif was made by blind embossing on paper, playing with ideas and imagery that blur the lines between imagination and reality.
Juma Al Haj’s painting Loose Leaf is engrossing for his skilful use of layering and detailing. He explores spiritual experiences derived from texts such as ancient religious texts, personal diaries and letters evoking longing, solace or nostalgia.
Sheikh Maktoum believes the exhibition is part of a greater dialogue around how Emirati artists can learn from each other’s practices and experiences.
“The most refreshing thing about the exhibition was seeing the different artists of various simulations, discussing their work, finding commonalities and their concepts amongst each other,” he says.
“It's important for Emiratis to see themselves reflected in the works. It's also important for visitors to see the commonalities we have amongst each other and with them.”
As viewers explore the spaces in the gallery, they are introduced to various artists' points of view and aesthetics but, most importantly, a clear display of the diversity of Emirati artists' voices.
While the aim isn’t necessarily to educate but to celebrate Emirati art, it's impossible to leave the exhibition without a clearer understanding about the history of Emirati art and its future.
Time & Identity runs at Al Safa Art and Design Library until September 15
How to tell if your child is being bullied at school
Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety
Shows signs of depression or isolation
Ability to sleep well diminishes
Academic performance begins to deteriorate
Changes in eating habits
Struggles to concentrate
Refuses to go to school
Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings
Begins to use language they do not normally use
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
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
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AIR
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More coverage from the Future Forum
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Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Company%20profile
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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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
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EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE%20FIXTURES
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Specs
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Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
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ASSASSIN'S%20CREED%20MIRAGE
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Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
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.