Art4you Gallery celebrates 50th UAE National Day with twin shows

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

To celebrate the 50th UAE National Day, Art4you Gallery has organised two art exhibitions, which includes the presentation of works from 50 nationalities by 50 artists. Titled Celebrating Unity, the first show is being hosted at The Mall Jumeirah (Nov. 29 – Dec. 10). It focuses on the leading role played by the Arabian Peninsula as a place of cultural exchange since earliest times.

“The exhibition reveals that though we come from different cultures and have diverse personalities, art portrays the beauty of this country through lives lived together in harmony,” says Jesno Jackson, co-founder of the gallery. The works are the presentation of a journey through time and space, from prehistory to the present day.

The theme celebrates the creativity, inspiration, cultural heritage, and art made by 15 artists from UAE. It also gives a glimpse into the country’s history and diversity, while considering significant contemporary questions of heritage and identity. Showcasing Arab culture and heritage, Celebrating Unity was officially inaugurated by Laila Rahhal El Atfani, CEO – Business Gate, in the presence of Yaqoob Al Ali, Chairman of Al Ali Group of Companies.

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“We would like to pay tribute to His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE and the principal driving force behind the formation of the UAE, its past, present and future,” says Jackson.

She is a passionate art activist and artist from India. A recognised art worker, she has dedicated her life to bringing positive social change by channeling the message of empowerment, through art and artistic initiatives.

A composition from the Art4you Gallery show.

The second exhibition was opened (Dec. 1 – Dec. 8) at Picasso Gallery Dubai that celebrates Unity in Diversity, by 13 artists. It is divided into seven themes, showing the unity of artists in diversity, and deals with many themes from different cultures from diverse nations.  Unity, Nature, Urbanism, Portraiture & Identity, Religion & Spirituality and Calligraphy and People, sum up the offering. The themes have been projected in different styles, mediums, techniques and traditions. The exhibition was inaugurated by Abdulla Al Mubarak, owner of the  GCC Group of Companies, in the presence of Isha Farha Quraishy and Hamda Almurr Almheiri.

Participating artists in both exhibitions are Roa Al Madani, Elyazia Abdullatif Aljassmi (UAE), Elena Polupanova (Russia), Dr Soumaya Askri (Tunisia), Sumaya Ali (Pakistan), Sreerekha J, Sumana Malakar, Marya Adnan, Kumar Chadayamangalam, Ismail C P, Mankush Srivastava, Anju Mehta, Sahana Sen Paul (India), Rania Elsalamony (Egypt), Romeo Robis, Charlie Villagracia, Zyleeka Lee Pasaporte (Philippines), Yuliya Solomennaya (Belarus), Cathy Deniset, Chris Barley (France), Ansam Alawam (Syria), Ang Jing-Jing (Japan/China) and Yoshita Ahmed (Sri Lanka). “The UAE is one of the blessed countries in the world that has earned success in a few decades,” Jackson says. “This shows the determination and hard work of the Rulers who dreamt of making it so.

“The best thing about the UAE is that it never left its heritage behind, though it has become a cutting edge hub for several countries around the world to invest and do business.”

An artwork from the Art4you Gallery exhibition.

The shows are open to the public and welcome art lovers and artists alike. On October 19, Art4you Gallery also hosted an exhibition titled Bridging Cultures — UAE & Africa. Spanning a range of disciplines, including mixed media, acrylic, batik and oil, the show opened in Intercontinental Hotel Dubai Festival City, Dubai, in collaboration with Voice Achievers Award 2021. Artists working in various genres and mediums presented their works in the show. Emirati artist Roa Al Madani celebrated local culture and heritage, through portraits of UAE Rulers. Deserts are synonymous with the United Arab Emirates and are equally loved by the locals, residents and visitors to the country. Sri Lankan artist Thisara, shared his love for UAE through his art with deserts and camels, presented in a realistic style.

Dubai-based Russian artist Anna Wyborn pushed the boundaries of batik paintings in silk and cotton, with themes on Arabic culture. Other artists who presented their works included Megha Manjarekar, Kumar Chadayamangalam, Rafah Abdulrazzak and Svetlana Kreventsova. “These artworks were a tribute to the people of UAE from different nationalities,” Jackson said. “The creations connected people of different nations and backgrounds, in a captivating manner. “Each artist gives the viewer a point of connection with culture. Their process evolves after a period of intense thoughts, where emotions are released and set free to completion.”

The exhibition was supported by Laila Rahhal, who congratulated the artists in an opening speech and said that “this art exhibition is a wonderful representation of the diverse talent in our local art community. “It provides artists with the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, bridging cultural differences and building on community strengths, echoing our nation’s commitment to the arts and to the principles of tolerance. It also furthers cultural exchanges.” The exhibition was curated by Jackson with eight artists and 22 artworks. Renowned Emirati artist Abdul Qader Al Rais was a special guest and Khalil Abdulwahid, Director, Fine Arts Department, Dubai Culture, was also among the visitors.