TALENTED Bahraini artists came together at the Safeya Ali Kanoo Hub yesterday to display their colourful work to mark and pay tribute to Bahraini Women’s Day.
The special day commemorates the achievements and contributions made by women to the kingdom’s development.
“We wish the best for all women in Bahrain and are delighted to display the work of these talented artists,” the hub’s host Safeya Kanoo told the GDN.
The Safeya Ali Kanoo Hub is a charity-based community centre, providing support and assistance to talented Bahrainis. All the creatives taking part in the exhibition used their unique artistic interpretations to create artwork that symbolised the importance and rich history of Bahraini women.
Artist Mona Al Shamlan, for example, aspired to make their past, present and potentially future achievements a central theme in her contribution.
“Bahrain has a very rich history of women’s achievement, so we should be proud to represent our accomplishments, especially through an artistic approach,” she added.
The 50-year-old included the golden leaf around her artwork to represent the ‘fruits of the past’. “Bahraini traditional dresses were important to include, and I made sure to incorporate them in different colours – to represent the different fields Bahraini women play in society,” Ms Shamlan explained.
A sun, shining high portrayed the promising future awaiting the women of Bahrain, she added. “I want this to show that we should encourage women’s empowerment. We can achieve anything we set our minds to.”
Entrepreneur and artist Nadia Al Moosa used colours and words to get her message across.
“The words – ‘I read, I learn and I participate’ – in the art not only encourage women – but celebrate them,” said Ms Al Moosa, who is also a member of the Bahrain Business Women’s Society. “All of the colours used highlight something significant – gold represents feeling comfortable as a woman and I also incorporated red and white to symbolise the Bahrain flag as it represents all of us.”
Zeenat Al Mohandes, also inspired by vibrant colours and the Arabic alphabet, used traditional techniques with her hands to complete her work instead of stencils.
“As a woman and artist, I have always loved bright colours,” the 69-year-old artist admitted, saying it took her three months to perfect her piece. “I used these colours to represent women on Bahraini Women’s Day.”
Using acrylic paint and blowing techniques, Seema Haqiqi displayed the ‘two sides to life’ often experienced by working women. “One is our career and the other is our family … and we have to balance both,” said Ms Haqiqi, 52. “Sometimes, one area can take over the other but at the end of the day we somehow find a balance.”
Her second artwork focused on traditional life. “The gold leaf relates to the long palm leaves that are used here to represent happy occasions,” she explained, adding that traditionally the leaves were also used for multiple reasons in the home, including culinary techniques. “It’s a part of our culture,” she added.
Cartoonist Hajar Al Fudhala’s creative artwork celebrated feminine strength and evidence that a ‘woman’s work is never done’. The life coach included a special visual that shows a Bahraini woman in her home as her husband relaxes.
She also included many traditional cultural symbols such as the palm trees and fishing boats.
Julia@gdnmedia.bh
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