GULFWEEKLY: A vibrant celebration of art, culture and creativity is set to unfold in Bahrain this weekend as artists bring diverse themes to life through a vivid display of tropical colours.
Tropical Spectrum, taking place at Bahrain Financial Harbour in Seef District on Saturday, September 12, will showcase striking works inspired by nature, expatriate experiences and local traditions.
The exhibition will be inaugurated in the presence of chief guests – Bangladesh Ambassador Mohammed Sarower and his wife Dil Ruba Akhter, and Bahraini artist Abbas Al Mosawi.
CURATOR: Sudeep
Artists Sudeep Deshpande and Zainab Al Halwachi, who are among the 25 participating creatives, have curated the display.
“Rather than limiting the concept to a literal representation of tropical landscapes, the exhibition invites artists to interpret the theme through their individual artistic languages,” architect and Indian expatriate Sudeep, 46, from Adliya told GulfWeekly.
“The exhibition therefore becomes a visual dialogue between colour and emotion, nature and imagination, tradition and contemporary expression.”
LIFE: Sudeep’s works exploring fish
Sudeep’s works explore fish as both an element of ornamentation and a symbol of survival.
“Fish, traditionally associated with water, abundance, movement and life, become more than a representation of the natural world in my work. They become a visual metaphor for the ways in which life adapts, exists and survives within its surroundings,” he added.
NATURE: Zainab’s piece inspired by blooms
Bahraini art educator Zainab, 43, shared her curating experience, noting how the works evoked tropical landscapes, flora and fauna, coastal environments, human experiences, cultural memories and imagined worlds.
TALENT: Zainab
“Some works communicate the theme through recognisable imagery, while others may approach it through abstraction, symbolism, texture, gesture and colour. This diversity is central to the curatorial approach of the exhibition,” explained the entrepreneur from Jeblat Hibshi, who has her own art studio.
“The two pieces I’m exhibiting explore nature, transformation, and the contrast between fragility and strength. I was inspired by organic forms – particularly leaves, flowers and plants – and the way nature can continue to grow and transform even through difficult surroundings. “I worked with acrylic paint combined with textured elements, allowing the surface itself to become part of the artwork. The raised, expressive marks and layered brushwork give the plants a sculptural quality and create a sense of movement,” she added.
PAINTER: Richa
The exhibition, organisers revealed, gives artists a freehand where they can focus on their personal stories. For Riffa-based self-taught talent Richa Maurya, this approach tied well with her present state of mind – exploring a free-flowing style as an avenue of emotional expression.
“In one of my pieces depicting the Bahrain skyline, you can see the Bahrain World Trade Centre. Instead of focusing on perfecting the buildings, I painted something that resembles it and conveys the message well. If you are too concerned about getting the right building there, the entire essence of the creative process is lost and can be draining,” noted the 49-year-old.
Talking about her artworks, the art educator and mother-of-two highlighted how they are connected to her experience as an expatriate in Bahrain for the last 15 years.
“All those times when we took our children to the park and had picnics, or dropped them off to classes and waited for them inspired my pieces. It is quite personal,” said the software developer, who turned to art fulltime after the Covid pandemic.
So far, she has participated in many exhibitions and her work is presently displayed at the Indian Embassy. A ‘turning point’ in her artistic journey was when Bahrain’s National Arts Council chairman and founder of RAK Art Foundation Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa bought one of her pieces at an exhibition.
“It was after that I decided to teach and pursue art more intentionally,” Richa said.
CREATIVE: Margaret
Also drawing from her expatriate experience is art teacher Margaret Casey from Seef District. One of her pieces brings alive the island’s karak (tea) culture.
ICONIC: An ode to karak tea by Margaret
“I focused on my experience as an expat and things that are central to my experience in Bahrain. Karak is something that I have never experienced anywhere else,” said the avid traveller, who has previously lived in Brazil and South Korea.
“Typically, I work with quite bold and vibrant colours. I work with quite transparent layers so, sometimes, you can see through to the background or through to other things, which kind of ties into the moment in time where it is still such a concrete memory, yet it is also fading and not so concrete in some other ways,” added the American national, elaborating on her style.
While this is her first exhibition since she moved to Bahrain over two years ago, the self-taught talent has participated in live art events and is part of local on-location sketching groups.
“I am most prolific and comfortable in ceramics, but with moving around quite often, ceramics is not a very mobile art form. So, I went into the world of travel sketching. On my travels, I captured small details in the buildings or the way that the leaves reflected the sunshine. For me, a lot of it has been finding the beauty in these moments in everyday normal life,” she noted.
TRADITIONAL: Anisa brings alive Arab heritage
Meanwhile, Bahraini artist Anisa AlSaad from Hamad Town will bring alive her Gulf heritage with a vibrant piece featuring local elements like the date palm, a camel and a tent.
ARTIST: Anisa
“I am drawn to incorporating heritage, nature and Gulf identity into a contemporary artistic language, with particular attention to colour, detail and texture. I enjoy vibrant colours and their interplay, and I strive to make each painting carry a feeling and a story, rather than being simply a visual scene,” said the 63-year-old.
“I was inspired by the environment, heritage and the spirit of traditional journeys. I wanted to present the camel and traditional attire within a vibrant atmosphere filled with colour and life. To me, heritage is not simply the past; it is a beautiful memory that can be reinterpreted and presented through a contemporary artistic vision.
“I aspire to continue developing my artistic practice and expand my presence through participation in local and international exhibitions. My goal is to create works that reflect Bahraini and Gulf identity through a contemporary perspective, reaching a wider audience and leaving a meaningful and lasting impression,” added the retired banker.
Tropical Spectrum supported by Bahrain Artistic Frames Centre will run until September 24.
Participating artists
1. Sudeep Deshpande
2. Zainab Al Halwachi
3. Abdulla Al Manami
4. Adel Al Thawadi
5. Aneesa Al Saad
6. Anju Kapoor
7. Abbasi Sarhan
8. Atam Jeet Singh Bawa
9. Samara Gabriel
10. Ebrahim
11. Issa Al Nuaimi
12. Jacqueline de Freitas
13. Margaret Casey
14. Nasreen
15. Nitasha Biju
16. Richa Maurya
17. Saira Qureshi
18. Salah Al Sayed
19. Shruthi Ranjith
20. Sriparna Ghose
21. Mohamed Taha
22. Thamer Al Reefy
23. Khalil Kazerooni
24. Aysha Rais
25. Shreen Farid
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