Abu Dhabi Week meets Mohamed Kanoo, the owner of Ghaf Gallery, as he explains why Abu Dhabi is so close to his heart ... Mohamed Kanoo is a man with a vision. If realised, it is a vision that will transform Abu Dhabi into the artistic hub of the UAE.
His passion is aimed at creating a haven for young talent that will make the capital the focal point for budding artists throughout the entire region – and the envy of the Gulf.
After years of working hard to reach that goal, his labours are finally bearing fruit.
We meet with Mohamed Kanoo on the rooftop of Ghaf Gallery on a brilliantly sunny morning. The view over the city is stunning, the road below is remarkably quiet; Mohamed’s in a good mood, and it’s easy to see why.
“It’s such an exciting time to be in Abu Dhabi. We’re seeing much more emerging work from local – and young talent. The artists are being ardently supported, plus we have a lot of future plans being developed for the capital. We really have a lot to thank our government for – they are investing in us all,” he explains. “For me, Ghaf Gallery is a little investment back into the community, and I hope I can continue to do it for many years.”
Mohamed Kanoo has been in Abu Dhabi longer than he cares to tell me. It’s clear he’s passionate about the city, and proud to see it developing. “I absolutely love Abu Dhabi”, he says. “It’s a very cultural, proud city and it’s sprung forward in leaps and bounds.
“There used to be a perception that Islam forbids visual conception, but there’s now a far greater understanding of the outside world for our heritage. Oral tradition and literature have always been part of our culture, but we’re becoming far more visual – and Abu Dhabi is a very supportive city. A hundred Louvres in the city won’t change us, but alongside that a greater understanding of our own art will make us stand far stronger.”
And it’s obvious that Abu Dhabi is most definitely home. “You’ll never see me move to Dubai!” he says rather fervently. “If anything, I think more and more people from Dubai are choosing to come to Abu Dhabi. And why not? The lifestyle is better, and the city has culture and a personality it has warmth.”
Mohamed first starting painting in 1989 and confesses to self-taught contemporary methods which over the years he has refined and expanded, using calligraphy, photography, abstract, applied media and landscapes. “I love experimenting and my style has most definitely evolved through the inspiration of pop art.
“I do love exhibiting my own work, but Ghaf Gallery isn’t just about my art it’s for everyone to hang their art in. Really we were the first contemporary gallery in the capital, no matter what other people might say.
“We’ve been going strong for over two years now and we’ve been lucky enough to be able to indulge ourselves, creating this place for a purely selfish, artistic pleasure,” he explains.
Ghaf Gallery sits snugly just the other side of Salwa Zeidan Gallery. This area in Khalidiya is becoming quite a little art hub in the city. “It’s fantastic to see the art scene really progressing in Abu Dhabi, and I think it’s great to be neighbours with fellow artists – the market is open enough to take it,” explains Mohamed. “I’m kept very busy here – to date we’ve had over thirty exhibitions at Ghaf, which is insane!
“We try and hold two exhibitions a month”, he adds. “I want the gallery to continue growing and evolving, to be a stepping stone for Abu Dhabi artists to be noticed. Our gallery isn’t meant to be a fortress with gates and guards – it’s an open door to all art lovers and creators.”
When Mohamed isn’t busy promoting and encouraging the works of other artists, he’s happily spending his time producing and exhibiting his own work, as well as admiring the work of his gallery partner. Jalal Luqman, another prominent artist, shares equal ownership of Ghaf Gallery.
“Jalal and I are really like-minded. When we first met we just clicked,” observes Mohamed. “And we’re still enjoying ourselves just as much as when we first began.”“Jalal’s art and mine are very different so we try not to influence each other too much,” explains Mohamed. “Jalal has the fantastic ability to express the deepest of emotions visually, whereas my work is lighter – it has a sense of fun about it. I love bright colours, they tend to reflect my personality more,” he admits. “I love the works of Lichtenstein and Warhol. To me art should make you smile and tickle the mind.”
“Our gallery isn’t meant to be a fortress with gates and guards – it’s an open door to all art lovers and creators.”

 

 

 

 

[writer]Charlie Kennedy

 

[caption] Mohamed Kanoo: man with a vision, A bold statement: Mohamed Kanoo paints a powerful picture in response to events in Gaza, The Batmobile – one of Mr Kanoo’s many creative canvases

 

 

[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 15]