VIDEO: Folktales carry emotions that shaped generations, says Bodour

Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Founder and Honorary President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), inaugurated yesterday (Friday) the Polish edition of the “Folktales Reimagined” exhibition, organised by UAEBBY in collaboration with the Polish Section of IBBY at the National Library of Poland, as part of Sharjah’s Guest of Honour programme at the 2026 Warsaw International Book Fair, held under the theme “Two Civilisations: One Language of Letters”.

The exhibition's opening ceremony was attended by Dr Tomasz Makowski, Director-General of the National Library of Poland; Mohamed Ahmed Al Harbi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Poland; Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People; Joanna Piekarska, President of the Polish Section of IBBY; as well as heads of delegations participating in the Sharjah Pavilion and representatives of Emirati and Polish media outlets.

Commenting on the exhibition, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said: “Folktales represent the memory of nations and their timeless human voice. They do not merely preserve stories, but carry the values, emotions, and experiences that have shaped societies across generations. Through ‘Folktales Reimagined’, we seek to reintroduce this shared human heritage through a contemporary artistic language that opens new spaces for cultural dialogue beyond geographical borders and linguistic differences, while giving artists the opportunity to explore how stories, despite emerging from diverse environments, continue to reveal the common threads that unite people through their experiences, dreams, and aspirations”.

She added: “The Polish edition of the exhibition holds special significance as it forms part of Sharjah’s Guest of Honour participation at the 2026 Warsaw International Book Fair, reflecting our belief that culture has the power to build genuine bridges of communication and mutual understanding between peoples. What Emirati and Polish artists present in this exhibition is far more than a reinterpretation of traditional tales; it is a new visual reading that revives folk narratives through the spirit of the present, reaffirming that creativity remains one of the most powerful means of bringing cultures closer together and safeguarding our shared human memory for future generations”.

Marwa Al Aqroubi presented an overview to Sheikha Bodour and attendees on the vision behind the “Folktales Reimagined” exhibition and its journey since inception, noting that the project aims to reinterpret folk tales from different cultures through a contemporary visual lens that allows both artists and audiences to discover the shared symbols and values embedded within them. She also highlighted the artworks featured in the Polish edition, which reimagine Emirati and Polish folk tales through artistic approaches that blend heritage with modern visual storytelling, reflecting the role of art in fostering dialogue and cultural understanding.

Al Aqroubi said: “‘Folktales Reimagined’ is one of the cultural projects through which the UAE Board on Books for Young People seeks to revive folk tales and present them to new generations in a contemporary visual format that speaks the language of today’s art scene while preserving the spirit and human values of the original stories. Since the project’s launch, our goal has been to transform it into an open platform for creative dialogue between cultures, giving each artist the opportunity to explore and reinterpret the heritage of another culture through their own artistic perspective, reflecting the enduring ability of folk narratives to evolve and remain relevant across time."

The Polish edition of the exhibition, launched by the UAEBBY in 2019 as part of the celebrations marking Sharjah World Book Capital, marks a new addition to the project’s previous international editions.

She added: “What distinguishes this project is that it goes beyond simply exhibiting artworks; it invites artists to embark on a journey of research and interaction before audiences encounter the final pieces. Each participant explores the symbols and cultural meanings embedded in the folk tales of the other country, then reimagines them visually through a deeply personal interpretation. In this edition, we aimed for the exhibition to become a living space where collective memory intersects with contemporary art, opening the door for audiences to engage with these tales not merely as stories from the past, but as part of a shared cultural and human identity."

The participating Emirati artists presented contemporary visual interpretations of some of Poland’s most celebrated folk tales, drawing inspiration from their symbolic worlds and mythical characters in ways that reflect the interaction of Emirati imagination with global heritage. Artist AlReem AlMannaee reimagined the tale of “Dratewka The Shoemaker” through a warm narrative visual style highlighting themes of kindness and compassion, while Fatima AlZarouni offered an artistic interpretation of “King Popiel and the Mice”, focusing on the duality of power and punishment through compositions charged with tension and unease.

Khalid Mezaina drew inspiration from the legend of the “The Basilisk of Warsaw”, creating a visually symbolic work infused with mystery and echoes of the old city and its mythical creature, while Safa Al Mazrouie reinterpreted “The Fern Flower” with a focus on the human pursuit of dreams and the price that may accompany them. Naama Al Awadi, meanwhile, reimagined “The Devil’s Paw” through a fantasy-inspired contemporary visual narrative, employing contrasts of light and shadow to reflect the enduring idea of justice within collective memory.

Polish artists present new creations of Emirati tales

In turn, the participating Polish artists offered new visual readings of Emirati folk tales, exploring the local environment and popular symbols that form part of the UAE’s cultural memory. Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka reinterpreted the tale of “Salama and Her Daughters” through an expressive artistic approach evoking the sea as a space of memory and mystery, while Nika Jaworowska-Duchlińska explored the story of “Dinuh and Arbab” through visual treatments highlighting themes of deception and survival, blending influences drawn from both Eastern and European folk traditions.

Joanna Czaplewska presented an artistic interpretation of the tale of “Netifan”, focusing on the hidden strength within marginalised characters, while Magdalena Kozieł-Nowak drew inspiration from “Hamda and Badiha” to create a work celebrating loyalty, friendship, and kindness. Artist Piotr Fąfrowicz concluded the Polish contributions with a poetic reinterpretation of “Al Barmah” (The Clay Pot), reflecting the emotional relationship between people and objects that carry meanings beyond material value, offering a visual reading that evokes the warmth and humanity of folk storytelling.

The exhibition received strong engagement from visitors, who praised the participating artworks and described the exhibition as a rich cultural and human experience that introduced them to aspects of Emirati and Polish heritage through innovative artistic interpretations. Attendees also expressed admiration for the artists’ ability to offer deeply personal readings of the tales, giving the exhibition an interactive dimension that encouraged reflection, dialogue, and the discovery of shared human experiences across cultures.

The Polish edition of the exhibition, launched by the UAEBBY in 2019 as part of the celebrations marking Sharjah World Book Capital, marks a new addition to the project’s previous international editions. Through collaborations between artists from different countries, the initiative seeks to present folk tales from diverse cultures in ways that promote mutual understanding and creative dialogue, while reintroducing community narratives through a contemporary visual framework. Previous editions of the exhibition have been hosted in Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Greece, Russia, and Morocco.