Around 90 creatives put their colourful artworks on display yesterday to celebrate Bahrain Arts Society’s 40th anniversary.
The ‘Bahrain Arts Society Annual Members Exhibition’ featured dozens of wonderful paintings, photographs, sculptures and mixed media, highlighting the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the kingdom.
It was opened by the society’s founder and honorary president Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa. He told the GDN that the exhibition came at an apt time to commemorate Bahrain’s recent Women’s Day and coming National Day celebrations.
“I am very happy to be here celebrating art, and to see that most of the participants are women fills me with pride,” he said. “I have seen a rise in both the quality of art produced and the number of visitors attending the exhibition.
“Many of the ladies who participate in the exhibition invite close friends and family who want to see the artwork their loved ones have created, resulting in more people attending the event.”
He also pointed out that the creation of new and unique pieces by all the leading artists participating had sparked a growing amount of excitement in the community.
“Newcomers are also contributing to Bahrain’s vibrant art scene,” he said. “There is now a genuine interest in collecting unique pieces of art that people can either showcase in their homes or offices. They are keen to show others the pieces they have collected which helps Bahraini artists keep their creativity alive.”
Artist and Bahrain University professor Dr Mayasa AlSowaidi told the GDN that she was ‘honoured’ to display her work at the annual extravaganza and particularly enjoyed merging her two passions – art and maths.
“My works represent by creative and scientific side,” she said. “My major is in mathematics and computer science, so I have a scientific mind that likes to put things together and solve puzzles.
“I enjoy using new techniques and materials to put collages together. I also enjoy watching other people trying to figure out each piece and understand how it was made.”
Although the traditional 40th anniversary symbol is the ruby, a deep red gemstone that symbolises passion, loyalty and devotion, Dr AlSowaidi inspires art lovers primarily using her trademark colour blue.
She added that she begins each work by painting the canvas and cutting different pieces to merge into a collage.
Abbas Yousif, 64, who has been honing his passion for nearly 40 years, had displayed two mixed media works inspired by his love of the sea, including one of his most popular pieces.
“One artwork was a part of my exhibition in 2022, titled Far Away from the Blue, Far Away from the Coast. It is based on my childhood and relationship with the sea,” he said. “I used to live in Budaiya and have fond memories of playing in the sea every day. Now, the sea isn’t as close to my house and times are different with the rise of social media and technology, so this artwork holds a special place in my heart.”
Founded in 1983 under the leadership of National Council for Arts president Shaikh Rashid, the society has played a pivotal role in advancing the visual arts movement in Bahrain.
- The exhibition, staged at the Art Centre in Manama, runs until December 15, and is open every day from 9am to 8pm.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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