Ocean to Gulf: Dubai’s Mondoir Art Gallery hosts Maldivian artist sisters
- Last updated: September 4, 2025 | 11:03
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Mondoir Art Gallery in Downtown Dubai will soon be hosting an upcoming exhibition (Sept. 13 – 30), supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Maldives in UAE. The show, titled Cracks & Bloom, presents the work of artist sisters Raya and Raniya Mansoor. Cracks & Bloom is a visual dialogue between the two sisters — an intimate exploration of identity, memory, and emotional growth.
Though each artist’s voice is distinct, their works unfold in tandem, reflecting a shared journey shaped by parallel experiences and personal transformation.
The exhibition attempts to capture what it means to grow alongside someone: evolving through closeness and distance, tension and empathy. The paintings navigate layered and binary emotional terrains — self and other, connection and separation, inheritance and change.
Together, the works invite viewers to reflect on their own shifting identities and the quiet, subterranean relationships that shape who we become. Raya Mansoor is an Economics graduate and self-taught artist from the Maldives; she is represented by Oevaali Art Gallery. Her work blends abstract, expressionist, and contemporary styles, creating a visual language uniquely hers.
Her early work explored the beauty of ocean life. As her artistic journey evolved, she shifted towards more expressive and bold uses of colour, creating pieces that evoked energy, movement, and emotion. Raya’s work invites viewers and collectors to experience the profound connection between nature and feelings through colour. Raniya is a Politics graduate and a self-taught contemporary artist, also from the Maldives. Her practice moves between two distinctive styles: symbolism in vivid ultramarine, where blue, form and texture explore themes of memory, identity, emotion and belonging; and abstract expressionism, where layers and marks search for balance, clarity and resolution. Both approaches are guided by an intuitive process, referencing feeling and lived experience.
Her work is rooted in her Maldivian heritage and is a personal journey of wellness, channeling reflection through mixed mediums, with a minimalist and structured finish. She is the co-founder of Oevaali Art Shop, the Maldivian studio dedicated to fine art and design. Oevaali Art Gallery is a curated space for Maldivian fine art, where collectors and guests can encounter meaningful works, shaped by island life. From sunlit days to monsoon skies, from coral reefs to quiet rituals, each piece of art on show captures the soul of the Maldives through brushstroke, texture, and form, says the gallery. “This is art deeply rooted in heritage, shaped by thought, and alive with the spirit of a thousand scattered islands,” it concludes.
Representing both established and emerging voices, Oevaali offers art aficionados and collectors the opportunity to engage with the evolving language of Maldivian art. Each work carries the impressions of land, sea, identity, and belonging, inviting reflection, connection, “and the chance to own a part of a story that is both timeless and transforming.” Now housed in the heart of Singapore’s Kampong Glam, Oevaali Art Gallery is still rooted in the Maldives islands, yet reaching across the seas.
Located in the heart of Downtown Dubai, Mondoir Art Gallery is a well-known destination for art enthusiasts. Founded by art collector and self-taught artist Amir Soleymani - also known as Mondoir - the gallery presents a diverse range of traditional and digital artworks. Mondoir Art Gallery is at the forefront of the contemporary art scene, thanks to a commitment to fostering creativity and embracing technological advancements.
Its spaces is where art and technology intersect, reinforced by Soleymani’s expertise in the Web3 space. “At Mondoir Art Gallery, the belief in the transformative power of art and technology is central,” he says. Carefully curated exhibitions feature a blend of traditional masterpieces and cutting-edge digital artworks, reflecting the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of the UAE’s and the global art world. Gallery displays range from captivating paintings to immersive digital experiences, with each piece telling unique stories, challenging perceptions, and inspiring further creativity.
Originally from Iran, Amir Soleymani moved to the UK in 2011 and is currently based in Dubai. A deeply introspective artist, his work delves into the complexities of identity, resilience, and the enigmatic nature of existence. Born into a world of cultural contrasts, Amir’s identity as an immigrant has profoundly shaped his artistic voice. The tension between belonging and displacement, tradition and innovation, is woven into the fabric of his work. “I explore the fluidity of identity, peeling back layers to reveal the self in its raw, unfiltered form,” he says. “For me, painting is a dialogue between the subconscious and the canvas, where each stroke is a discovery.” His creative journey is driven not with the intention of conveying a specific message, but to give form and shape to fleeting emotions, anxieties, and discoveries that surface during the act of creation.
Here is what Oaga Art Resort, Maldives (oagaresorts.com), says about Maldivian culture and art. “The Maldives,” Oaga says, “is more than just turquoise waters and overwater villas — it is a nation with a deep cultural heritage shaped by centuries of trade, migration, and local craftsmanship. Maldivian culture is a blend of influences from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; yet it retains a unique identity reflected in its traditions, arts, and way of life. Positioned at a key maritime crossroads, the Maldives has long been a hub for traders from India, Sri Lanka, Persia, and the Arab world. These interactions shaped the country’s language, cuisine, and artistic expression, creating a culture rich in diversity, while maintaining strong local traditions.”