72 review Intellectual Pursuits Above and beyond the laudable efforts put forth by the Abu Dhabi government in the establishment of a magnanimous cultural strip – the Saadiyat Island – to celebrate, appreciate and educate on the realm of the arts, there is an innate fervour beating within palace walls. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al-Nahyan, are paving the way for the artistic and cultural boom that is taking over Abu Dhabi. T E X T B Y M Y R N A A Y A D P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M A T T H E W L A Z A R U S 73 n the build-up to the staged unveiling of Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi’s art and culture wheels are already in swift motion. From the inaugural artparis-AbuDhabi fair in November 2007 to exhibitions including 'The Tsar’s Arsenal: Treasures of the Moscow Kremlin', the 'Arts of Islam: Treasures from the Nasser D Collection' and 'Picasso Abu Dhabi: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris', that made their debuts to the Middle East, the world’s eyes are on the UAE capital - the Middle East’s contemporary cultural hub. Suffice to say that Abu Dhabi’s movers and shakers are working collectively towards the establishment of an arts- appreciating infrastructure in sync with the capital’s numerous initiatives. Shaping the vision of the capital is HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. His wife, HH Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al-Nahyan, who is involved in the art movement of Abu Dhabi, is supported by her husband in working to realise his vision through her endeavours. Driven by an inborn penchant for the arts, HH Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan works in the name of promoting and educating in the realm of the arts. From backing individual artists and private establishments to developing a thriving art scene, she strives to inspire and inform. While efforts for the public remain commendable, it is within the royal home where artistic passion is most obvious and almost genetic. Having reared their children to appreciate the arts, three have shown artistic inclinations while their eldest, Sheikha Mariam Bint Mohammed, is involved in the day-to-day operations of cultural activities, assisting her mother in supporting the different people in various fields who are helping to bring HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s vision to life. In collaboration with Canvas Education - a series of international seminars developed to raise the level of art appreciation and led by some of the world’s most renowned experts - HH Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan has sponsored private, ladies-only sessions attended by herself, her daughters, members of the Abu Dhabi ruling family, wives of dignitaries and other female art patrons and enthusiasts. Witnessing an impressive audience of over 90 women, the private seminars this year included 'Picasso’s Century', launched in line with the exhibition, 'Picasso Abu Dhabi: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris' and more recenty, ‘Introduction to Islamic Art’. Over the course of three days, ‘Introduction to Islamic Art’ addressed Arab civilisations, traditional and modern calligraphy and Islamic arts and crafts, delivered by notable lecturers such as Nahla Nassar, Curator at the Nasser D Khalili Collection; Edward Gibbs, Head of the Islamic Department at Sotheby’s; Venetia Porter, Senior Curator, Department of the Middle East, The British Museum; Saleh Barakat, Founder of Agial Art Gallery and Leading Expert in Modern and Contemporary Arab art; Nabil F Safwat, Specialist in Islamic Calligraphy and the arts of the book; and Geoffrey King, Reader in Islamic art and archaeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies. While the private classes remain praiseworthy in their assemblage of esteemed women, one unique factor of their success is the gathering of ladies from all walks of life – from undergraduate students and UAE artists to homemakers, review Facing page: Some ceramic plates made at one of the workshops during Canvas Education's 'Introduction to Islamic Art' seminars. Round plates, 30 cm diameter. Square plates 24.7 x 24.7 cm. All 2008. From left to right: Row one: Sheikha Mariam Bint Mohammed; Sheikha Mariam Saeed Al-Nahyan; Sheikha Sheikha Bint Mohammed Khalid Al- Nahyan; Sheikha Shamma Bint Al-Nahyan. Row two: Sheikha Shamma Khalifa Al-Nahyan; Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif Al-Nahyan; Sheikha Salama Bint Tahnoun; Sheikha Latifa Bint Sultan Al-Nahyan. Row three: Sheikha Shamma Saeed Al-Nahyan; Sheikha Osha Bint Al-Nahyan; Sheikha Fatima Bint Mohammed; Sheikha Al- Yazi Al-Qassimi. 74 career women and more. Butheina Al-Muraikhi and Mouza Al-Mazrouei were among the group of Zayed University students majoring in various design concentrations. “We are graduating soon and these classes were a continuation of our learning, especially since they went in depth about Islamic art,” notes Al-Muraikhi. “We were astonished to find out about archaeology sites in the Umm Al-Nar area in the UAE. We never knew!” It was the speakers which Al-Mazrouei appreciated, noting that the classes were, “inspirational.” Both ladies had attended Canvas Education’s private Picasso’s Century seminars. “We covered Picasso at university, but at the Canvas Education classes, we got to know his whole story in details,” adds Al-Mazrouei. Through discussions with the Zayed University students, it is clear that HH Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan’s efforts in cultivating cultural understanding and artistic appreciation are being absorbed and realised by the UAE’s future generation. “We want to change the image of Emirati art worldwide. We want to expose our own art,” asserts Zayed University student Sara Ali Alaidarous. “We’ve been told that we are being backed.” Through the students’ projects at university, new visions, inspirations and themes are being explored, one of which was the university’s recent collaboration with German-Egyptian Contemporary artist Susan Hefuna in a series of workshops. “Emirati art – what does that refer to? We want to address that. It’s only a matter of time,” adds Al- Muraikhi, whose final project, ‘Out of Sight and Out of Site’ was inspired by the silhouettes of labourers she spotted facing her home. As part of HH Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan’s vision and efforts for cultivating international cultural understanding, the final projects by the Zayed University students will be shown in Germany in 2009. Some of the UAE’s celebrated artists were in attendance, namely Dr Najat Makki and Salma Al-Marri, keen advocates of the promotion of UAE art. “Proposing Islamic art is very important in modern times,” adds Makki, who recently accompanied a group of UAE students from Zayed University to Basel – an initiative led by HH Sheikha Manal Al- Maktoum, President of the Dubai Women’s Establishment and Dubai Ladies Club, to encourage cultural exchange. “These classes provide the keys to intrigue and plant seeds of curiosity,” adds Al- Marri. Relying on books, the Internet and visits to international museums in the quest for more knowledge, Canvas Education’s private classes triggered a want to expose Islamic art to greater degrees. “A lot of Western art derives its motifs and influences from Islamic art. Western books are explained from a Western perspective. We need to create books from our own perspective,” adds Al-Marri. As the private classes drew to a close, groups of women approached representatives of Canvas Education, asking when the next sessions would take place. In creating this enthusiasm and zeal for knowledge on the various realms of art, HH Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan has not only prompted an intellectual Emirati following. She has elicited an undying spirit. review From discussions with the Zayed University students, it is clear that HH Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan’s efforts in cultivating cultural understanding and artistic appreciation are being absorbed and realised by the UAE’s future generation.