Culture & Education | Wednesday 21 March, 2018 7:50 am |

Leading UAE artists converged in Dubai on Monday evening, to showcase some of their finest artwork as they observe the ‘Year of Zayed’.

Some of the artwork included crafts on UAE coins and other paintings with the artwork related to the UAE’s culture and tradition.

The event was officially inaugurated by Her Excellency, Sheikha Dr. Hind Al Qassimi and organized by Sathar Al Karan the proprietor of ArtUAE, in conjunction with Colors for Peace, Ambassador Aurela Cuku, who is also the founder and CEO of Global Agency Mena the brainchild behind Art Unity for Latin American countries.

Several senior dignitaries and VIPs attended the event.

The year 2018 marks 100 years since the birth of the late founding father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The ‘Year of Zayed’ will highlight the role of the late leader in establishing the UAE Federation, and his local, regional and international achievements.

A prominent upcoming Emirati artist, Latifa Ibrahim Ahmed disclosed that art has been her passion, having first ventured into painting world in 2005, after she got inspired from her various travelling itinerary.

Latifa has a vision of opening her own art gallery in the UAE and to provide art courses for inspired children with interest in painting and the arts.

Another interesting artist is Emirati Abdul Rauf who has crafted two large artworks in resemblance to coins, dubbed as “coins of the world” project.  His ambition is to participate in the Expo 2020 Dubai but in a unique way by offering a technologically advanced project, rotating paintings.

He developed the unique style of adaptive art ‘rotating paintings’, which is an innovative piece that can be turned to hang four different dimensions with a variety of options thus showcasing a new work of art on the wall, by simply rotating the paintings.

A guest artist Ahmed Cinar from Turkey also displayed some spectacular themed artisan carpets, that was a crowd-puller of the evening.

Aurela who is a well-known art curator in the Middle East and Europe commended the Emirati artists, adding that the unity of the UAE’s success story showcases the legacy of the Nation’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the people of this peaceful country including the expatriate community who are today proud of this milestone achievement,” says Ambassador Aurela.

Sathar notes that welfare of artists and the promotion of art should be a community effort. He added that ArtUAE will continue to celebrate Emirati traditions and heritage while reinforcing national identity.

Boyd Lindsay, the Founder and managing director of Alpha Mali Consultancy, as the sponsor of the event said he is privileged like everybody else on the unmatched vision of His Highness Sheikh Zayed, who created a strong and flourishing nation for its people.

“As an expatriate community, we are proud to call the UAE our home, no matter what corner of the world we all come from”, says Lindsay.