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Unique sights and sounds of Bahrain Grand Prix on display

Bahrain News

By Nader AdnanWed, 14 Feb 2024Wed, 14 Feb 2024

Ms Ferrell describing her paintings to visitors

AN American artist is showcasing the unique sights and sounds of the Bahrain Grand Prix by combining art and media in an interactive Formula One-themed exhibition.

Erin Ferrell’s solo showcase, titled ‘F1 Bahrain: An American Tourist Paints’, is being held at the Art Concept Gallery in Andalus Garden, Manama, as part of Spring of Culture 2024 events.

It features a collection of 57 drawings and paintings made with diverse materials and innovative techniques, each carefully selected to best capture the essence of the bustling Bahrain International Circuit during the F1 weekend.

Visitors admiring the artwork

Ms Ferrell, who currently resides in Maine, US, was inspired to do the project during the time she spent in the kingdom, with a view of the stunning track at night piquing her interest.

“I fell in love with Bahrain and its people a couple of years ago when I came here with my husband for a visit in 2022,” Ms Ferrell told the GDN.

“I was particularly enthralled with the people, the culture and the architecture, and it inspired me to start painting from the 14th floor of my flat in Juffair.

“When we were flying into the country, I remember seeing a peculiar shape lit up at night, from my aeroplane window, which I later learned was the F1 track.

“When my daughter and her husband came to the country, they wanted to watch the Grand Prix and asked me to come with them, and I reluctantly agreed though I am not a sports fan, in general.

Ms Ferrell with her sketchbook

“At the event, I was astounded by the sounds, the colours and the Middle Eastern flair, and it inspired me to start sketching.”

What makes the exhibition unique is that people can not only look at the paintings but also experience them by utilising the Near Field Communication (NFC) feature on their phones.

The paintings contain a small NFC code that people can scan, and it will automatically redirect them to a video or audio clip which allows the user to feel the sights and sounds of the spectacular F1 weekend.

“I was struck by the energy, speed and sounds of the cars and wanted others to experience them as well,” Ms Ferrell said.

“I loved sitting in the stands and hearing the cars rush by, it made the moment that much better.

“I wanted to incorporate those sounds into the exhibition, and have others feel what I felt at that moment.”

Painting of the track and the night sky

In her artwork, Ms Ferrell captures the essence of the track, with several paintings depicting the race’s transition from dusk to night, the dust and sand, the 13 curves, the sound of the cars zooming by, and the beauty of the desert sky.

Among her prominent works are those that use thermochromic pigments, which results in the paintings changing colours according to the temperature, turning bluer as the environment around them cools down, depicting the ever-changing nature of the sport.

The BIC Tower in Sakhir

The original sketches of all the works are also on display, interwoven with large multi-panelled watercolour artworks, showcasing the vibrant culture that coexists with F1.

“I feel like the sport revolves around the teams working together to come up with creative solutions to deal with certain challenges,” Ms Ferrrel said.

“There is a sense of design and artistry associated with the sport, and I respect it.

“The sights, sounds and colours come together like paint on a canvas, creating some beautiful artwork in the process.”

One of the thermochromic paintings at the exhibition

The exhibition, launched on Sunday, will run until February 23. It will be open from Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm.

For more information, follow Ms Ferrell on Instagram @artistamerican or by visiting her website at artistamerican.com.

nader@gdnmedia.bh

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