Emirati mask-making a hit at Sao Paulo Book Fair
We hope our participation will lead us to new business opportunities and introduce us to Brazilian entities working with local crafts.”
Reem BinKaram, director of Nama
SHARJAH — A Sharjah council has hosted a creative mask-making workshop for children aged 6-16 at the 25th Sao Paulo Book Fair. The Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council (Irthi), an affiliate of the UAE-based women’s advancement organisation Nama, is hosting workshops at the fair for its young visitors to see a national symbol in a new light.
The children created masks using elements of traditional crafts and fabrics from the UAE, and were introduced to ‘burqa’, a traditional, face mask integral to the Emirati woman’s social and cultural identity. They also learnt about the UAE’s traditional handicrafts mostly practised by women like the art of Talli embroidery (hand-woven braids) and Safeefah (palm-frond weaving).
Through the activity, its young participants learned about an aspect of the UAE’s heritage and how it shares a few common traits with Brazil.
Reem BinKaram, director of Nama, said: “Calendar favourites at Sao Paulo International Book Fair include an array of activities delivered by Irthi Contemporary Crafts Council in celebration of Sharjah as the book fair’s first-ever guest of honour.
Our participation is aimed at bringing the beauty and authenticity of the UAE’s heritage to another culture, and develop an understanding and appreciation for it in Brazil. We also hope our participation will lead us to new business opportunities and introduce us to Brazilian entities working with local crafts.”
On Wednesday, Irthi is organising a basket-making workshop for children, another Brazilian tradition which consists of hand-weaving bamboo to make baskets, vaseshaped containers and other types of traditional Brazilian handcrafts. Emirati artisans of Bidwa will fuse this process by creating baskets using the art of Safeefah (palm-frond weaving), and teach children how to decorate them using fabrics and materials from the UAE.
Six artisans from Irthi’s ‘Bidwa’ Social Development Programme and another five from the Emirates Handicraft Centre at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage are giving live demonstrations from 9am to 10pm every day on a variety of traditional Emirati crafts.