Artists, calligrapher, short story writers add significance to ADBF
- Last updated: December 13, 2023 | 10:46
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Young female artists took centrestage at Al Dhafra Book Festival (ADBF) 2023, organised by Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC). They presented their artworks to the public and led art workshops at the Public Park in Zayed City throughout the duration of the festival, till December 10. Artist Aisha Al Mansoori presented a series of paintings on ‘Al Maqasar’, a traditional summer outfit worn by men in the UAE, made of ‘Sharbat’ fabric.
“In an effort to highlight this traditional Emirati style of clothing, I began painting various historical designs on it since 2015,” she said. “The audience here at Al Dhafra Book Festival has responded very favourably to it, as they did for the fabric painting workshop that I led at the event.” Fatima Al Hammadi presented her compositions using various materials, including leather.
Her art, which consists of traditional heritage drawings of horses, birds or gazelles, is painted on handbags and book covers, among other surfaces. She depicts the natural environment of Abu Dhabi, and offered a candle painting workshop at the fest. “The festival gave me a great opportunity and it has always been my dream to participate in it,” Al Hammadi said. ADBF also spotlighted the talent of Maitha Al Mazrouei, a multi-media artist who runs a special arts education centre.
Her most well-known works feature Russian sculpture paste roses; but she also paints on trunks or palm fronds, and is skilled in decoupage, which entails cutting and pasting designs from napkins onto gypsum plates. Her workshops drew considerable interest and participation from the public. Rana Al Massi displayed a collection of paintings in her art corner, depicting animals and birds found in the Emirati environment such as horses, falcons and peacocks.
She combines her experience in multimedia art and sculpture with oil painting and uses a variety of materials on canvas, and uses cement, clay, and recyclable materials in her works. Meanwhile, calligrapher Ali Abdullah Al Hammadi exhibited his creations in various scripts, including geometric and other types of Kufic scripts — which are written with a traditional reed pen — in addition to his painting, ‘Hilya Sharif’. He conducted workshops to teach young people the art of Arabic calligraphy.
A member of Emirates Fine Arts Society (EFAS) and winner of several awards for Arabic calligraphy, Al Hammadi said: “My role in the festival is to promote the culture of Arabic calligraphy through various methods. I write the names of the audience and national or religious phrases in different types of calligraphy that I have studied. Additionally, I explain the secrets of writing to the audience, including the font used and its brief history.”
Al Hammadi’s interest in Arabic calligraphy began 25 years ago, when he started by using Kufic calligraphy, studying its variations. He pursued his education at the Sharjah Centre for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Ornamentation, training under the guidance of renowned calligrapher, Mohamed Farouk Al Haddad, for more than 15 years.
During this time, he obtained 10 licenses in Arabic calligraphy. He emphasised the significance of motivating children to learn the art of Arabic calligraphy, noting that calligraphers have a responsibility to not only showcase the beauty of the Arabic script, but also to promote its art, and encourage future generations to appreciate and learn it.
He has a personal museum consisting of more than 100 rare editions of the Holy Quran, along with manuscripts and thousands of unique pieces related to Arabic calligraphy, dating back to various Islamic eras. ADBF also hosted the winners of the ‘Short Story for Unpublished Stories’ category of the Sard Al Thahab Award in a special interview, as part of an event titled ‘Short Story by Sard Al Thahab’.
Moderated by Egyptian poet, author and playwright Walid Alaa Eldin, the session brought together Moroccan authors Abdelrahim Selili and Huda Al Shamashi, along with Egyptian authors Mahmoud Saeed Mohamed and Rania Ahmed Helal Kamel. Referencing his story ‘Zilzal’ (Earthquake), Selili said: “The story was inspired by pain. It addressed the theme of the earthquake that struck Morocco and the devastation it wrought.”
Mohamed emphasised the significance of the short story in present times, stating that the format was best suited for this era. He discussed his work ‘Ibn Aarous: Almataha wal-Khalas’ (Ibn Aarous: The Maze and the Salvation), focusing on the character of Ibn Aarous. “He began his life as a bandit who disrupts caravans, kidnaps, and steals, before he changed course and transformed from a devil to an angel,” said the author, elaborating on his intricate plot, which underlined the message that every person can have his redemption.
Having won the award for her story ‘Ma Bayn Shiqqay Raha’ (Between Two Millstones), Kamel said that her story revolves around an old mill that was once an integral part of village life. She said that her study of history and love for heritage enabled her to use this traditional device as a medium to describe the village’s atmosphere and construct her world. Al Shamashi said: “Writing, for me, is like screaming — a way of expressing our feelings about events that concern us.”
She added that her winning story ‘Marthiyat al-’Itr wal-Bahr’ (Elegy of Fragrance and the Sea), combines the expulsion from Al Andalus in the past with the clandestine migration to Spain in the present. ALC introduced the Sard Al Thahab Award to honour local and Arab storytellers and narrators of literature and folktales.