Local creative group Urban Sketchers Bahrain kicked-off their latest initiative at Bahrain National Museum yesterday, celebrating the kingdom’s rich history and culture through the medium of art.
The seven-week programme will see artists bringing alive traditional narratives through on-location sketching at the various halls in the museum and lastly, outdoors.
An urban sketch is a drawing created on location – indoors or outdoors – capturing what the sketcher sees from direct observation. The essence of the style lies in its on-the-spot, agile nature.
The initiative started yesterday at the museum’s Hall of Dilmun Graves and focused on ancient Dilmun burial practices, beliefs and life through artifacts.
Around 50 creative talents across nationalities and backgrounds came together to sketch on the theme ‘Echoes of the Ancients’.
Dilmun is an ancient civilisation centred on the island of Bahrain dating back to around 3000 BCE.
Other themes that will be explored in the subsequent weeks include ‘Living Along the Trade Route’ highlighting Dilmun’s historical route as a trade centre; ‘A Day in the Life of a Bahraini’ showcasing daily life through a cultural lens; and ‘Hands of Heritage’ celebrating heritage crafts like boat building and blacksmithing.
Urban Sketchers Bahrain is a non-profit platform, which is part of the worldwide Urban Sketchers (USk) movement. It was set up last year and has since brought together enthusiasts of all skill levels to sketch every Friday. What started with just three or four people has grown into a close-knit ‘family’ of around 50.
Self-taught Bahraini artist Ahmed Ali Alshakhoori from Malkiya founded the group after he discovered the global Urban Sketching movement in 2012. He discussed the idea with his longtime friend and USk Bahrain co-founder Sadeq Al Shehabi, who currently manages the group’s operations. As there was no Bahrain chapter to the global platform, they decided to start one.
Over the past year, the group has attracted enthusiasts, spanning ages 11 to 80 years and representing diverse professions. The chapter’s core mission is ‘to actively document and celebrate Bahrain’s urban and cultural landscape through on-location drawing, aiming to strengthen the kingdom’s art movement and gain international recognition’.
One of the artists sketching
Some of the iconic locations covered in the past include Bab Al Bahrain, Suq Al Baraha in Muharraq, Bahrain and Arad forts, Grand Mosque on Al Fateh Highway, as well as indoor spots like The Avenues mall and the nostalgia-inducing Adliya branch of Hole’n One – Bahrain’s first homegrown doughnut chain.
The global Urban Sketchers was formed in 2007 by Seattle-based journalist and illustrator Gabriel Campanario, with a mission to raise the artistic, storytelling and educational value of on-location drawing, connecting people worldwide.
“This sketching series is an exciting way to learn about art and history at the same time,” Mr Al Shehabi told the GDN.
“We encourage artists to join our ‘Seven-weekends Bahrain Museum Sketching Series’ to capture the kingdom’s rich history and legacy. It’s not only about sketching; it’s about bringing history to life, encouraging cultural conversation, enriching our community and making our community better by keeping Bahrain’s treasures safe for future generations,” the Diraz resident noted.
In a previous interview with the GDN’s sister paper GulfWeekly, Bahrain Contemporary Art Association member Mr Alshakhoori, who has been painting and sketching for more than 45 years, explained that the objective of sketching is to ‘weave a story’ through your art.
Artists with their sketches at the event
Architect and participating artist Sudeep Deshpande commended the initiative as ‘one-of-a-kind’.
“The Bahrain National Museum itself is a place of art, culture and history. Mr Alshakhoori and Mr Sadeq have beautifully conceptualised this programme, which offers diversity for us artists.
“Usually we visit the museum with the perspective to discover the history or a tour with family or friends. But with this series the motive is different – to make a memory in time – which changes the whole approach of the visit,” the 44-year-old from Adliya, who was on the co-ordinating team for the event, added.
USk Bahrain has plans to stage joint activities with the Bahrain Society of Engineers as well, blending engineering with artistic techniques by documenting Bahrain’s architectural heritage. They officially signed a memorandum of understanding with the society last month.
Those interested to join USk Bahrain can follow @uskbahrain on Instagram where the location for the next meeting is announced in advance.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
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