Sharjah, Nov 22nd, 2012 (WAM)--As part of the of the public programme running alongside the ground-breaking exhibition The Present, Contemporary Art From The Emirates currently on the display at the Maraya Art Centre in Al Qasba, supported by Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company ?du, the contemporary arts venue hosted a children?s workshop on 21st November 2012.
The workshop was opened to children between the ages of 10 - 14 years old. During the workshop participating children were guided through the rich history of abstract art and explored and interpreted landscape and figurative abstraction, as well as examples of the abstraction of Arabic calligraphy in the works of artists such as Dia Al Azzawi and Abdul Qader Al Rais. The children also had the opportunity to apply what they have learned by creating their own abstract works of art using acrylics. Commenting on the aims of the workshop Noor Al Suwaidi, Curator of (The Present) exhibition said: "Children?s drawings are often naturally abstract. They look at the world through truly fresh eyes and, unhindered by the constraints of what others have told them is real, they have an almost uncanny ability to break what they see down into its most basic shapes and colours. The aim of this workshop was not only to teach children about the history of abstract art, but also to encourage self-expression by giving them the freedom to create."She added: "The workshop ties in perfectly with The Present exhibition, which showcases a unique collection of contemporary art by young Emirati artists who were challenged to create works that highlight the ideas and connotations behind the meaning of the word ?Present?." The 1,500m? Maraya Art Centre was officially launched in March 2010 as one of the UAE?s most spectacular venues for contemporary visual arts. The three-storey art centre offers, Maraya Community, gives its members the opportunity to communicate and to get an access to an in-house art experience, helping participants grow as individuals, find like-minded creative people, develop and explore their talents. The second floor is the permanent Barjeel Art Foundation which rotates exhibitions of Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi?s collection by artists of Arab heritage twice a year. , it serves as a stage for creative experimentation while bearing testament to the region?s extraordinary artistic talents. The third floor is the Maraya Art Gallery that hosts exhibitions and events.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2012.
