Najmeh Delara’s portraits celebrate Spirit of Union at Faridah Perfumes

A striking collection of charcoal portraits by young Iranian artist Najmeh Delara, also known as Maral, was displayed for the first time (Jan. 17) in Dubai under the title The Spirit of the Union, celebrating UAE leadership and unity. The one‑day exhibition was hosted at the luxurious Faridah Perfumes boutique in Al Wasl, Jumeirah; it is a place where fine art meets culture and creativity seamlessly. The exhibition featured portraits of the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and were chosen by the artist for their symbolic representation of unity, vision, and stability.

“The leaders of the UAE became the subjects of my portraits because they represent unity, vision, and stability,” Delara said. “Their leadership has shaped a nation built on coexistence, tolerance, and shared values. Portraying them is my artistic way of honouring this collective spirit.” The presentation explored themes of unity, identity, leadership, and human connection.

She added that “the exhibition is titled The Spirit of the Union because it reflects the soul of unity that connects the leaders, the people, and the future of the UAE. Through these portraits, I aimed to capture not only faces, but the spirit that brings a nation together.”

Work titled Architect of Dreams.

Delara is a self‑taught artist, active since 2001, renowned for her realistic and hyper‑realistic charcoal portraits, as well as digital paintings. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in Turkey and other global art platforms. She says that through her art, she seeks to “capture human emotions — the unseen stories behind every face. Each piece I create is not only a visual expression, but also a reflection of empathy, strength, and beauty.”

She was featured in the official publication of the 20th International Call for Art Migracion: Vidas, Suenos y Pesadillas in Venezuela and received a Merit Prize at an international illustration competition in Hong Kong, focused on climate awareness. The Spirit of the Union was her latest solo exhibition. Commenting on the exhibition, Faridah Ajmal, Founder & Director of Faridah Perfumes, said: “I want to encourage this young artist and the powerful theme of The Spirit of the Union. Beyond that, my goal is to support and encourage women entrepreneurs and creatives who, in their own way, are contributing to this country, which we proudly call home.”

Explaining her choice of medium, Delara said that “I chose charcoal because it allows me to express depth, honesty, and timelessness. Black and white removes distractions and directs the viewer’s attention to emotion, character, and inner strength. For me, charcoal is a language of truth and respect.” The works in The Spirit of the Union stood as a tribute to leadership, cultural harmony and artistic dialogue, while highlighting the role of women creatives and entrepreneurs, in shaping the UAE’s vibrant cultural landscape.

Shared Horizons is the title of this work.

Delara has won multiple awards in her career. She was honoured with the Golden Wing of Peace Influencer award by the Global Peace Institute – United Kingdom, during the Global Peace Hospitality Summit & Awards 2025, held in Dubai. The recognition acknowledged her continuous commitment to promoting peace, love, and humanity through art and communication. The award also underlined her inspiring influence and creative role in spreading the message of compassion and unity.

She was a recognised artist in the Art on Climate International Competition 2025. Her work was among the 23 artworks selected from over 3,500 international entries “standing out for its emotional depth and poetic interpretation of environmental awareness.” She was a participant in the Kurdish Culture Group Exhibition held in the city of Bukan, Iran, in 2023, spotlighting drawings created with the black pen technique. The exhibition explored themes of Kurdish identity and authentic Iranian ethnic culture. She also took part in the Bodrum Art Fair, 2022, and in a group show in Tehran and New York, in 2022. Through her artistic and media presence, Delara continues to advocate for global harmony — using art as a universal language to connect hearts and inspire hope.

Artwork called The First Embrace.

An AI Overview notes that charcoal is a versatile, ancient, and expressive drawing medium “beloved for its deep black tones, rich texture, and ability to create dramatic, quick, and often, large-scale drawings.” It enables a wide range of tonal values — from soft grey smudges to intense blacks — ideal for capturing light and shadow, or chiaroscuro, the Overview adds.

“As a forgiving medium, it is excellent for both bold, swift gestures and intricate, blended details.” Highly expressive, fast, versatile, excellent for studying light/form, and forgiving to correct, charcoal has been used for centuries, from prehistoric cave art to Renaissance studies by masters like Albrecht Durer, and continues to be a staple for contemporary artists, for both drawing and mixed-media work.

Faridah Ajmal (left) with Najmeh Delara.

In the West, artists have used charcoal for sketching or as preliminary studies for final paintings. Wikipedia says that charcoal art dates as far back as 28,000 years ago. It points out that many indigenous people from Australia, parts of Africa and Asia, Pacific Islands, and others, still practice body painting with charcoal for rites of passage including child birth, weddings, spiritual rituals, war, hunting, and funerary rites.

The link between art and perfume is deep and multifaceted, with fragrance frequently described as a form of “invisible art” that shares the same emotional, creative, and intellectual goals as visual or musical art. Fragrances have been described as “liquid art”; the design of bottles as sculptural objects also organically joins art and perfumes (AI Overview).