Abu Dhabi residents are paving the way for unique items
Paris, New York, London, Abu Dhabi. The capital is fast becoming associated with big names in the art world. Largely due to the government’s push to develop the city as one of the premier cultural and art districts in the Middle East. But when you step out into the streets, you’ll find that there is also a thriving community of homegrown talent eager to share their passion with the world. Abu Dhabi Week sets out to find out more.
The Artist
Where there’s smoke there’s fire. Cornelia Baciu is an aspiring artist who left a full-time career in the recruitment field to dedicate more time to her passion – painting. The Romanian artist, who is entirely self-taught, hopes to transform her hobby into a career.
Using unique methods, she already is garnering attention for her dreamy ‘Fire Illustrations.’ Painting with ‘fumage,’ as it is called, sees artists make impressions upon canvas or paper with the smoke of a candle or kerosene lamp. After learning about the surrealist technique in an art class, Baciu used additional research and experimentation to master the skill.
“I’m fascinated by the impulsiveness and freedom of the process and the unpredictable nature of the medium. I use different brushes and tools to handle the smoke traces on papers, in some I enhance certain effects using gold leaf and other unconventional materials like silicone, creating intriguing textures,” says Baciu.
Living in the emirate since 2008, Baciu hopes to see artists receive more support from the business community. “Abu Dhabi has a flourishing art scene but I consider there is a need for more platforms for artists, more venues and events dedicated to art where art creators, collectors and art lovers would have the opportunity to interact.”
The mixed media artist also creates sculptures, illustrations and functional wearable art. To find out more visit:www.facebook.com/corneliabaciuillustration
The Artisan
Pooja Peswani is an Indian expat who has called the capital home for 15 years. An avid artist from an early age, Peswani gave up her day job to open up a shop selling her handmade goods and products.
Peswani explains, “My husband and I have created a business out of a hobby which most people consider as a pastime. We both saw the potential in this work and gave up our jobs to follow our dreams of having a handmade and self-made product shop.”
Located on Hamdan Street, the shop features a hodge-podge of products. From cards, magnets, bookmarks, journals, candle holders, wall hangings and more Pooja is inspired to create new things using various techniques and styles, often resulting in entirely unique and unusual pieces of art.
Using mostly recycled materials for her products, Peswani adds, “I believe ‘handmade’ can never go out of style and will always be in demand, more so in the times to come because the advent of technology has made today’s generation stop using their hands to make and create things. There can be a very strong local art market if it’s provided the right exposure.”
To find out more visit Pooja Handmade Souvenirs and Gifts inside the Al Sayegh Centre on Hamdan Street. For more information call: 050 720 6590.
The Storyteller
Dr Joseph H. Helou came to Abu Dhabi three years ago. Passionate about storytelling, the English university professor works on his writing in his spare time.
Originally from Lebanon, Dr Helou wrote a 109 page novel without using the letter ‘e.’ The challenge, to omit the most used letter in the English language, came about when chatting with his university colleagues.
“I’m a big fan of the English language,” Dr Helou says. “One staff member mentioned that no fully fledged story could be written without the letter ‘e’. I tried to analyse what he was saying and discovered I could not be beaten at my own game.”
Using lipogrammatism – or deliberately omitting one letter – proved difficult, but not impossible. Dr Helou adds, “I deprived myself of the most used and most needed letter. I had fewer words in the basket to manipulate and manoeuver with. Rather than repeat words, I had to come up with far-fetched words that would encourage the reader to improve his language.”
After self-publishing his novel, Jack and Mary, in 2004 Dr Helou is keen to encourage reading here in the UAE. Hoping to spread his love of words Dr Helou certainly is inspiring his students, one letter at a time.
To find out more email: [email protected]
Sawaiba Khan
