Within the AlUla Oasis, a lush expanse of 2.3 million date palms, Obaid Alsafi’s installation stands as a call to protect the natural environment.
His work, entitled Palms in Eternal Embrace, has been named winner of the sixth Ithra Art Prize. The $100,000 award is the largest art grant of its kind in the region.
This is the first year that the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra) has collaborated with the Royal Commission for AlUla on the prize.
The winning installation was unveiled to coincide with the opening of AlUla Arts Festival, which runs at venues across the historic city until March 2. When the festival concludes, Palms in Eternal Embrace will become part of Ithra’s permanent collection.
It comprises 30 palm trunks positioned in a toppled arrangement and fastened together by recycled fabrics. In a landscape of towering palm trees, Alsafi’s work strikes a somewhat bittersweet tone. The tumbled arrangement of the palm trunks, all without their fronds, sharply contrast the lushness of the surrounding vegetation. The textiles, with vibrant reds, greens and blues, enliven the installation with colour.
“Palm trees are traditionally seen as a symbol of prosperity, and have been a natural resource in the region since the beginning of human settlement,” Alsafi tells the National.
“Through this work I wanted to highlight the importance of preserving our landscapes, cultural and natural heritage. With so many of the world’s palm trees at risk, I wish to encourage viewers to reflect in ways we can protect them.”
Alsafi conceptualised the installation in response to the prize’s theme of Art in the Landscape. It invited artists to propose site-specific works that considered AlUla’s ancient history, natural landscape and heritage.
“The 2.3 million date palms of the AlUla Oasis were a direct inspiration for my work,” Alsafi says. “They are prevalent throughout the natural Arabian Peninsula, a motif of Arab identity and a powerful symbol of a cultural and environmental legacy we should strive to protect.”
Another inspiration for the Saudi artist came from his hometown of Qaryat Al Faw, located 700km southwest of Riyadh. Alsafi sourced the trunks from his grandfather’s farm and devised a structure where the weight of each palm tree supported its adjoining counterpart. “I used ropes to link them, drawing from the traditional artistry of rope making,” he explains.
The textiles came from recycled materials and were locally-sourced. Their incorporation within the sculpture is perhaps meant to evoke the way technology can be utilised to safeguard the natural environment.
In form and structure, Palms in Eternal Embrace also has an aesthetic basis in a specific aspect of Saudi history, namely the mysterious 5,000-year-old Al-Rajajil Columns in the Al Jawf region in northern part of the kingdom. The area is home to about 50 sandstone columns, some of which are as thick as 60cm. They are as enigmatic as Britain’s Stonehenge and were believed to have religious significance, while also being used as an astrological tool, observing stars and the change of seasons.
“I have always been fascinated by the mythologies surrounding the Al-Rajajil stone pillars,” Alsafi says. “These pillars, the first art installation I ever saw, exemplify the intersection of history, nature, art and culture. As an artist, I strive to showcase the interconnectedness of all these things, drawing inspiration from the mystery, culture and landscape of northern Saudi Arabia.”
Launched in 2017, the Ithra Art Prize accepts submissions from artists who are from or work in the Arab world. It allocates up to $400,000 to help bring proposals to fruition, besides awarding the winning artist $100,000.
Palms in Eternal Embrace was deemed the winner this year by a committee that included Farah Abushullaih, head of museum at Ithra; Nora Aldabal, executive director of Arts and creative industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla; Emirati artist Mohamed Ibrahim; Sophie Makariou, scientific director for culture and heritage at Afalula; and Aric Chen, general and artistic director at Het Nieuwe Instituut.
Abushullaih said in a statement that Alsafi’s work was selected for “its cohesive, organic specificity to AlUla’s landscape and its commitment to integrating into this landscape in both form and content.”
“It is such a pleasure to see Alsafi’s Palms in Eternal Embrace come to life as part of the AlUla Arts Festival launch, nestled among the AlUla palms that the work gives voice to. We look forward to seeing this installation provoke thought and discussion throughout its six-week exhibition in AlUla, before proudly welcoming it to our permanent collection at Ithra.”
Aldabal, meanwhile, noted that Alsafi’s installation is “a powerful reminder of the vital role of art in bringing attention to the urgency of safeguarding our natural world.”
“We’re proud to present this new commission, selected as winning artwork of the sixth Ithra Art Prize, as part of the third edition of the AlUla Arts Festival, which endeavours to spotlight AlUla's pivotal role as a vibrant hub for creative expression and cultural exchange.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases
A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.
One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.
In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.
The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.
And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Other key dates
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Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
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
The bio
Favourite book: Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer
Favourite quote: “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist
Favourite Authors: Arab poet Abu At-Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi
Favourite Emirati food: Luqaimat, a deep-fried dough soaked in date syrup
Hobbies: Reading and drawing
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
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Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
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- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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- 400m Olympic running track
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
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Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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The five pillars of Islam
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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