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