An art exhibition that runs until February at Manarat Al Saadiyat
10 artists ask the new generation's questions about identity in "Al Khaleejia"
The exhibition works focus on photography.
Photography: Eric Arrasas
picture
What is the identity?
Is it a fixed content or does it change with time and change of life?
Should it be dealt with as a single block, or can it be dismantled into multiple vocabulary that eventually unite together to form identity in its comprehensive sense?
These questions and more are raised by the “Al Khaleejia” exhibition, which opened in Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, the day before yesterday, and was organized by the Manarat Al Saadiyat Photography Studio in cooperation with Sawalef Publishing House.
The exhibition, which brings together 10 Gulf artists, and will continue until February 10, raises the questions of the young generation about its Gulf identity, and does adherence to identity mean abandoning individualism and placing restrictions on the person's freedom to express himself and act on his nature so that he is not accused of departing from society and its traditions.
The exhibition relies on the image or installation work to present these ideas in a youthful manner, whether in the nature of the displayed works, the way they are implemented, or the colors used.
The exhibition begins with works that discuss the concept of the Gulf’s belonging to the “home” or the homeland, an affiliation that originates with it since childhood, as in the works of artists Shamsa Al-Mansoori, Lama Jalal, Tariq Al-Hajri, and Hamad Al-Faihani.
Then he moved to what looks like a “public telephone booth” covered in full pink lighting, and old-style telephone headsets hang from the ceiling, while the visitor listens to verses of Nabati poetry.
The visitor moves to the “Al Habayeb Club”, which is an installation work by the Omani Abdulaziz Al Hosani, and is designed to take the form of traditional sessions, and aims to provide a space for people who are afraid to express themselves, their thoughts and feelings freely. Related to himself or others, then placed on shelves installed in the place and at the end of the exhibition these messages are collected and issued in a book.
"Fear of colours"
In the same space, the exhibition includes other works, including a picture of Khaldoun Khulaifi, in which a Gulf man appears wearing a “colored” ghutra, criticizing the “fear of colors” that some people suffer from in society, stressing his respect and love for the traditional Gulf dress, but the problem is the harsh way in which By it, the two sexes are judged when one of them decides to add some colors to his clothes, considering that this behavior is a sign of disrespect for the Gulf culture, and that it sends wrong signals.
While the work of the artist Hajar Al-Mutairi dealt with the pressures imposed by society on men to preserve their honor, which with time turn into restrictions from which it is difficult to escape.
Also, the work of the artist, Maryam Al Kathiri, came to address a close idea, commenting, “The idea of a battle of beliefs came to me when I was tired of the unnecessary toxic features/thoughts inside and around me.”
The artist, Ali Al Hosani, discusses, in his composite work “theatrical”, the tendency of some to appear with a personality that contradicts their truth in order to please society and avoid criticism. A room whose walls were covered with mirrors from every direction, and flowers were planted in it that seemed to extend for great distances thanks to its repetition in the mirrors, commenting: “Then how do you progress and flourish as a society?
By accepting the other and celebrating individuality.
The artistic curator of the exhibition, Sarah Al-Muhairi, told "Emirates Today", that "(the Gulf Arab) asks the new generation's questions about the Gulf identity, and the customs and traditions associated with it. Especially among those who have atypical personalities, and how society forces them to appear with a personality that is different from their reality.”
She indicated that the selection of artists and their works was based on the book "Comprehensive Volume No. 1: Pictures and Articles on the Gulf", issued by the House of "Sawalef", especially works that focus on photography because it is in line with the nature of the studio, and Tariq Al-Hajri's work was added, because his works are suitable for the exhibition. And his idea.
Sarah Al Muhairi:
• “The selection of artists and their works was based on the book, Comprehensive Volume No. 1: Pictures and Articles on the Gulf.”
Pictures and texts
The founder of Sawalef Publishing House, Salem Al-Suwaidi, said that choosing the English language to publish Sawalef books is due to the fact that it is a global language, and it can reach a larger number of people from outside the region, in addition to the fact that many young people are currently using it, indicating that the house is seeking To revive the relationship between youth and the paper book by employing photographs with texts.
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