The art world is embracing Emirati artists like never before. Abu Dhabi Week caught up with two emerging talents to discuss their latest international exhibition
Artists in Abu Dhabi are making waves overseas with the first-ever group exhibition of UAE contemporary art held at Sotheby’s London recently.
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan and curated by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, the exhibition ‘Three Generations’ showcased twelve different works exhibited by twelve different artists. Highlighting the creative practices of three generations of Emirati artists, the showcase captured a glimpse of the breadth and variety of art being produced here.
Featuring new talents and established artists, Abu Dhabi Week spoke to fresh-faced participants Hamdan Buti Al Shamsi and Shamsa Al Omaira to find out more.
Tell us more about yourselves?
HS: I was born in Al Ain city and am a varied artist, a self-taught photographer, graphic designer and amateur writer.
SO: I am from Abu Dhabi. I graduated as a visual artist and currently practice art and photography at my studio.
How did you become an artist? Was it a natural progression or did you fall
into it unexpectedly?
HS: I have always been fond of the arts and always wanted to become an artist but certainly didn’t think that I would be where I am now! As a kid my mother used to call me “Qurtas” or sheets of papers because I aimed for the colouring book each time I went to the grocery.
As you would be considered one of the younger and emerging artists in this exhibition, how in your opinion, has the art scene changed here in the Emirates?
SO: Many Emirati artists chose to use paintings and photography in the past to express themselves and to capture the region’s culture and heritage and translate that into art pieces. In my opinion this has been changing recently where many artists are starting to appreciate other mediums and introduce other concepts that are not based on culture only, but are more influenced by personal stories.
How did you feel to be a part of this group and have this opportunity?
HS: Feelings are the most difficult things to explain in words, but let me try to give as much as I can within words. I am proud, honoured, happy, overwhelmed, amazed and looking to the future of the art scene in a positive and productive way.
Tell us more about the artwork you exhibited and the inspiration behind it.
HS: The medium used in this piece is a digital collage and I created this piece as an interpretation for the traditional proverb, “Whoever is used to a whole loaf of bread is not satisfied by a bite.” My own interpretation would be of a person who has a goal and a vision that he wants to accomplish in his life who wouldn’t be satisfied with just being where he is. He would work feverishly to overcome the obstacles that he faces along the way.
SO: The piece is acrylic and graphite on wood. It is a series of three drawings portraying the struggle I come across trying to restrain my own personality and the frustration I feel to reveal what people around me would accept. It sums up what anyone would feel if they were asked to withhold their character and limit their reactions to a level that people can tolerate. The lampshade diffuses light that hurts the eye, and in these drawings, it is used to limit my personality – to present only what I choose to disclose.
This exhibition is considered an artistic expression of three generations of time. How would you describe the very loaded term “Emirati Art” in your own words?
SO: Emirati Art is not guided by specific guidelines or a specific school, as we see in any exhibition, no two Emirati artists have the exact same style! Some artists may be inspired by others, but in most cases we see a variety of different mediums inspired by different concepts.
HS: Emirati Art speaks the language of the world, it doesn’t constrain itself with culture or tradition but it speaks a language which everyone can understand and appreciate.
