Century-old Dubai guesthouse hosts artists’ tribute to Zayed
dubai — In a tribute to the country’s founding father, an over 100-year-old guesthouse in Bur Dubai is hosting an art exhibition that features renowned Emirati and expatriate artists in the UAE.
Ahmedia Heritage Guest House celebrates the life, vision and legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan with a display of portraits taken or painted in various mediums — including coffee — as part of the ‘Heart of Heritage’ exhibition that runs until Saturday.
“The exhibition features artworks that include images of Sheikh Zayed, his sayings and his long-term visions upon building the UAE as a thriving multi-national and multi-cultural country, where everyone lives side by side in peace,” said Ahmed Abdullah Al Dossary, one of the Emirati artists taking part in the event.
While Al Dossary used coffee as a medium to paint some extraordinary portraits of Sheikh Zayed, other artists showed their love of the Emirati heritage through sculptures, photos, land art, mixed media, calligraphy and new takes on traditional art.
As part of the event, a multicultural, non-profit art platform called Art4you saw about 22 celebrated artists sketching different portraits of the founding father. A total of 45 paintings and five sculptures under the theme ‘UAE Culture and Heritage’ are now part of the exhibition in one of the oldest art galleries in town, Ahmedia Art Gallery. Emirati artists Najat Makki and Abdulqader Alrais were the chief guests of the event during its opening.
Through the exhibition, the founders of Art4you, Jesno and Rengi, said they wanted to create a new category of “seamlessness”, challenging the sensitivity of the senses and leaving exciting
thoughts in viewers’ minds.
“The UAE is proud of its diverse and vibrant multicultural community that attracts people from across the globe who want to seek opportunity and call the country home. This art exhibition is a celebration of our diversity and acknowledgment of the contributions of our growing community in our nation. The exhibition is a tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed, who dreamt about bringing all cultures together and help the country grow,” said Jesno.
The local artists included Al Dossary, Ahmed Rukni, Khulood Al Jabri, Amal Bin Lootah, Ahmed Al Ameri and Reem Al Subey, while those from other nationalities were Elizabeth Bruce (Scotland), Hadeel (Jordan), Smahane Drissi (Morocco), Anjali Babu(Oman), Jaya(Oman), Ruxeena Mustafa (India) ,Prachie Shah (India),Alejandra (Mexico), Nandini Bajekal (Singapore),Jalal Abusamaa (India), Jesno Jackson (India), Maria Baj (Pakistan).
All their works were showcased in the exhibition divided in seven themes: nation and unity, geography and nature, architecture and urbanism, portraiture and identity, religion and spirituality, language and calligraphy, and tradition and heritage.
This art exhibition is a celebration of our diversity and ... a tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed, who dreamt about bringing all cultures together and help the country grow.”
Jesno, Art4you founder