Ajman set for new look with murals
ajman — The Ajman Municipality has completed 80 per cent of its mural works being carried out by seven local and international artists. The artworks are part of the city’s Pulse beautification project, which aims to achieve sustainable development and enhance the standards and quality of life in the emirate.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Nuaimi, director-general of the Ajman Municipality, said that the project was launched under the patronage of Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, chairman of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, to create a distinctive image for the emirate and promote it as an important tourist destination.
The seven artists also collaborated with a sculpture company for the design aspect. “The team that oversees the project has developed an accurate plan to choose the quality of murals to reflect life in the emirate, its history, and authentic identity,” Al Nuaimi added.
The first three-dimensional painting on a building’s façade in Al Nakheel is the largest painting of its kind in the country. A French artist, who goes by the name Shuck2, pulled it off in an unconventional way, in record time, to best suit the painting to the emirate and attract passersby with its attractive colours and distinctive imagery. Dr. Mohammed Ahmed bin Omair Al Muhairi, executive director of Infrastructure Development Sector at the Ajman Municipality, said the project progress is on schedule.
Among the notable murals are artist Rami Zaghoui’s beautiful work of horses that belong to Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Executive Council, at Ajman Park. “These horses have won global prizes in several important tournaments,” Dr Al Muhairi commented.
Internationally famous artist eL Seed has accomplished a unique masterpiece using Arabic calligraphy, incorporating a statement by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, made during his speech on the occasion of the first National Environment Day in 1998. It says: “Our fathers and grandfathers lived on this land and coexisted with its environment on land and sea and realised instinctively and sensibly the need to preserve it and take away from it as much as they need and leave the rest for the future generations to be able to find a source of good.”
According to Dr Al Muhairi, another artist Zia Allam has completed a unique mural in the shape of a spiral, formed from the words of the poem Positive Energy by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “The poem urges people be positive all the time and strengthen their determination and hope,” he explained. The remaining murals will be completed by the artists by the end of July.
Artist Fatima Al Ali will be finishing a painting depicting popular traditional games of the UAE, while Majid Ahmed’s mural, showcased on the pillars of the Sheikh Humaid bridge, is set to reflect the emriate’s identity.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com