Abu Dhabi as seen by 30 winning artists
4,000 EMIRATI AND EXPAT BUDDING TALENTS VIE FOR AWARDS IN PHOTOGRAPHY, FILMS AND ART CATEGORIES
Thirty winners of the Abu Dhabi Through Your Eyes art, film and photographic competition were announced at Manarat Al Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening.
More than 4,000 citizens and residents vied for the top-notch selection of photography, films and art categories, in which over 90 nationalities took part.
This year’s categories included art, creative writing, film 24 hours in 24 seconds, photography of city and architecture, culture, traditions, landscapes, sports, nature and wildlife, people and life, and cities of Al Ain, Al Dhafra and people’s choice award.
In the art category, Ukrainian national Marharyta Minevrina won first prize, Emirati Salama Mohammad Al Hammadi from Ras Al Khaimah was second and Abu Dhabi resident Natalie Humphery grabbed third place.
The General Secretariat of the Executive Council commissioned the competition, which celebrates Abu Dhabi by bringing together exciting, emotive and creative reflections of the emirate’s culture and society.
The competition aims to get participants to explore the emirate through photography, film, art or writing.
The budding photographers and filmmakers participated in a media competition titled “Abu Dhabi Through Your Eyes” and vied for cash prizes. ■ ■ ■
In creative writing, Leena Obaid grabbed first position and Emirati Abeer Ahmad Al Harethi was second. This category has only two winners.
In films, five people were awarded, including Beno Saradzic [first], Reem Abdullah [second], Abdul Majeed Abbasi ■ [third], Anand Pious [fourth] and Joebel Garcisto [fifth].
City and architecture
In photography’s city and architecture category, Emirati Khalid Al Hammadi got first prize and Galib Arnaut was second. ■
Speaking to Gulf News, Leena Obaid, 21, a Saudi national who won first prize in creative writing, said, “I keep writing from my childhood, but this is the first time I took part and my work won me a prize.”
In her piece, The Singsong of the City, she described Abu Dhabi saying: “If you listen closely, this city will speak to you.”
“I have been living here for the last three years and it felt like home. The thing I like most about Abu Dhabi is the multiculturalism. You can find people of different nationalities and interact with them. You learn at every bit,” said Obaid who studies aerospace engineering at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi.
Emirati Abdul Rahman Mohammad, 22, who won second place in the People and Life category, said, “I feel motivated after winning the prize. I am happy that my photograph was selected. It’s my hobby to capture different aspects of Abu Dhabi’s culture and traditions.”
Mohammad Ali Rajak from India was first in this category.
“I took this photograph of an old Emirati preparing a carpet using old traditional techniques at the Shaikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba this year,” said Mohammad, who graduated in mechanical engineering from the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi.
And Ukrainian Marharyta Minevrina, 24, who won first prize in the arts category, said, “This is a big honour for me and I thank the organisers who gave us a chance to explore this beautiful city, values and culture. No matter from where we are, we all share the same values.”
Her drawing was about the Wahat Al Karama, dedicated for martyrs of the country. It’s located just next to the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.