Saturday, Jan 09, 2010
Gulf News
Dubai Zayed University in Dubai has recently revealed the creativity of its students through organising an art event named ‘Shifting Sands of Creativity'.
The ceremony was inaugurated by Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Culture. The event was an artistic gathering of professional Emirati artists such as Mattar Bin Lahej and Dr Hamad Al Falasi and introduced over 50 senior students' artworks.
The work combined video, photography, painting, installation and sculpture.
Maitha Bin Lahej Al Falasi, a graduate student from the College of Art and Science at Zayed University in 2009 who majored in Visual Art, was the curator of the exhibition.
There were four group shows, Falasism, Assumptions, 0.06 & 2.0mm in Diameter, and Dasein.
Maitha was involved in two of them.
Dasein featured Indian artist Ubik, and Falasism included two well-known Emirati artists, Mattar Bin Lahej and Dr Hamad Al-Falasi.
Expression of life
Maitha said she — along with her colleagues Maitha Al Jasem and Meera Huraiz — chose ‘Dasein' as a title for their artworks to mirror their concept of presence and expression of life.
"Dasein is a German existentialist term meaning existence and presence; and the show is a reflection of the artist's perceptions of existence and the psychoanalysis of love.
Emirati artist Mattar Bin Lahej said: "Zayed University aims to create a balance through combining professional artists with students. I showcased five large-scale paintings all revolve around the harmony of horse's movements.
"I depicted on canvas ‘Amjaad' which means glories, the elegant movement of the Arabian horses, their walk and speed."
Mattar Bin Lahej is the owner of Marsam Mattar gallery, where he welcomes all talents.
Hessa Al Hashemi went to Bastakiya to make her project.
She says this is her first exhibition, and she showcased a photography project contains a series for the same theme called Sikka 84. "I've been always attached to the idea of development and I wanted to showcase it in a photograph."
Inspiration
Hessa was inspired by the ancient artistic place of Dubai, "Indeed, I went to Bastakiya to be surrounded by the authentic art and I captured ‘Sikka 84'. The story of the theme revolves around a traveller from the future travels back in time and landed in ‘Sikka 84' in Bastakiya, he explores the place, whenever he touches anything it become coloured."
The exhibition ended on Thursday.
All the participants were happy with the outcome and they look forward to intensify their artistic participation.
By Fatma Salem.
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
