Art and culture fest Bahaar ushers in spring of optimism amidst the winter of discontent
- Last updated: May 6, 2026 | 08:54
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Art and Culture Festival Bahaar (Spring, Urdu), was hosted by art and culture maven Sultana Farooq Kazim on April 25. Organised by art curator Shilpi Dutta, co-founder of boutique art firm CreaSHions, the event was held at the Kazim-owned Falcon Villa on Al Wasl Road.
The one-day festival at the palatial private mansion welcomed more than 500 visitors, including an ensemble of dignitaries, diplomats, artists, collectors, and art lovers. The cultural gathering comprised of an exhibition of artworks, vendor stalls that presented varied products, live art and dance performances, and multiple fashion shows, adding to the glamour quotient of the evening.
Falcon Villa’s spacious halls played host to guests and art lovers of all ages, ranging from teenagers to octogenarians, enjoying the huge cultural do. It was no glitzy commercial extravaganza, but a play of canvas, couture, rhythm, and valuable conversation. The chief host of the evening, Sultana Farooq Kazim, a prominent name in the art circles of UAE, is the Global Ambassador of UNESCO IAA, President of IAA UAE and Designer at International Haute Couture. She is also an eminent artist and collector of artifacts.
Welcoming the guests, she said that “through this celebration of the festival of Spring, we want to plant something, the seed of togetherness, of hope, of creativity and passion.” She displayed a designer collection created by herself, which won audience appreciation and applause. Organiser and curator of the event, Shilpi Dutta, who is also a veteran of the Dubai art scene, spoke about the importance of such an event, which encouraged creativity, community gathering and the solace of art, amidst the turmoil of events of recent times. She introduced every vendor who displayed their home made products and artifacts, including handicrafts, sustainable products, bags, artworks, jewellery, fashion clothing, home décor items, gift and food items.
Bahaar heralds the planting season with its hope for new creation, germinating seeds of growth, announcing prosperity and evoking belief in the generosity of nature. Shilpi said that “Dubai’s talent doesn’t need importing: it simply needs nurturing and amplifying. Bahaar is an attempt to do just this, giving a platform to talent. It has always been my attempt right from the time I entered the art field in Dubai.” The guests enjoyed the spectacular display of quality artworks displayed all around the imposing walls of the palatial villa, by UAE artists. The collection included works in acrylic on canvas, oil on canvas, mixed media and water colour paintings.
The inauguration was followed by a series of vibrant fashion shows. The main feature was a ramp walk down the grand staircase of the Falcon Villa, with models adorned in the traditional 12-yard outfit of Indian women, the “sari”, and “lehengas”. In line with the central concept of Bahaar, saris carried a variety of hues, colours and themes. Alongside the fashion show, a fine art performance - a live art show - by Cuban artist Reiner Chirino Sanchez, also took place. He created a striking artwork on the canvas on a local scene, in a matter of a few hours. A story-telling dance performance was presented by UAE-based Kathak dancer and choreographer, Swarashri Sridhar, based on the Bahaar theme. The audience was riveted by her precise movements and accurate rendition.
The dance performance was followed by a second fashion show, which displayed the original creations of Sultana Farooq Kazim, involving a collection of Western themed dresses. A third and final round of fashion show and ramp walk displayed traditional Middle East attires, with the models clad in striking abayas. The fashion shows and ramp walks were organised and choreographed by UAE-based beauty pageant, model and choreographer, brand ambassador of DXB24LIVE, Tasnuba Raisa Raka and Apurbo Abdul Latif, CEO, DXB24LIVE. On the sidelines, guests were treated to an endless supply of delicacies, provided by the host herself. There was also music that moved from ghungroo beats (musical notes made by anklets tied by South Asian dancers) to Western notes and Middle Eastern tunes.
Bahaar brought much-needed relief after the tensions of the preceding period. The Dubai residence of Sultana Farooq Kazim, shaped by the vision of art curator Shilpi Dutta, turned the villa into a vessel which held over 500 souls for around eight hours of cultural delight. Art played the role of transforming tensions into treats. Multiple artists from different nations, who call the UAE their home, let their hair down. Clenched fists changed to ones that exchanged artifacts, brushes and paints. “The community canvas grows one brushstroke at a time,” said Shilpi Dutta. “This is not an escape, but an engagement of a higher order. A reminder that when conditions narrow, we widen the room, by the simple act of sitting beside one another.”
An AI Overview notes that art for peace initiatives use creative expression — painting, dance, music and photography — to promote nonviolence, heal trauma, and bridge cultural divides. “Art acts as a therapeutic tool for individuals in post-conflict zones to process trauma and visualise a future without violence,” it says. “For instance, studies in Bosnia, Lebanon, and Colombia use arts-based methods to strengthen community resilience.” Programmes in India and Pakistan use art to encourage youth to step away from conflict and build understanding, with exhibitions acting as a “stare at the face of the war mongers”, providing a platform for artists to protest atrocities and advocate for peace, connecting people across different cultures.