Sharjah Islamic Art Festival kicks off with vibrant masterpieces

sharjah — The Sharjah Islamic Art Festival (SIAF) on Wednesday kicked off a month-long celebration of vibrant masterpieces that illustrate how Islamic art complements the global, contemporary art scene.

The festival that unites artists and art enthusiasts from around the world was opened by Sheikh Mohammed bin Saood Al Qasimi, chairman of the Finance Department, at the Sharjah Art Museum.

The event is organised under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, by the cultural affairs department of the Sharjah Department of Information and Culture (SDCI).

Held under the theme ‘Horizon’, the art festival is set to run until January 19, 2019.

Mohammed Al Qaseer, director of cultural affairs at the SDCI, said the theme was conceptualised to unite artists and art enthusiasts.

Khalid Muslit, head of the organising committee of SIAF, said the festival is one of the most renowned Islamic art events in the region, and its events include local and international exhibitions, intellectual programmes and interactive activities.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Tomko Ishida from Japan, an artist participating with her painting titled Close

your hands, Open your hands, said her work features touches of Islamic art. “My art restores warm memories of Japanese children’s elementary dance. Through this artwork, I am trying to share with the audience the memories of myself and other common Japanese people.”

Sultan bin Fahad, an artist from Saudi Arabia, said his painting titled Can you hear me is a profound example of Islamic architecture. He draws inspiration from worship practices and other details that religious followers will be able to identify with.

“I was influenced by my mother’s religious practices. She was devoted to prayer and worship and she prayed five times a day. I may not see the impact of the Islamic art on my work as much as I see the ‘Muslim impact’. My views are from the eyes of a Muslim artist. It is my own vision of contemporary Islamic art,” Fahad said.

Fatmah Aldhanhani, an Emirati calligrapher who presents a series of classic artworks, said calligraphy is an ancient Islamic art inspired from the Holy Quran.

“It is not just handwriting, but it expresses feelings in the movement of the letters to make an impression,” she said.

A masterpiece called 1,000 Metres Above the Ground by artist Abdalla Al Mulla of the UAE.

MIRHAB, a piece by Khalid Zahid and Ali Chaaban of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, paints a room green.

A guest is amused as he looks at himself from several angles through an artwork named Truth-Fake by artist Kaz Shirane.

SOL-LUNA, — Photos by M. Sajjad A visitor takes photos of a piece by Takahiro and Fumiko from Japan, at the SIAF on Wednesday.