Bodour graces interactive exhibition for children

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

In the presence and patronage of Bodour Al Qasimi, President of the International Publishers Association (IPA), the House of Wisdom (HoW) launched ‘Frida and Me,’ an interactive children’s exhibition celebrating the life and works of the great 20th century Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.

Marking its debut in the Arabic language, the opening ceremony of the interactive exhibition was attended by Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations (DGR) in Sharjah; Dr Abdul Aziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage; Dr. Nawal Al-Hosany, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and other officials from DGR and HoW.

Bodour Al Qasimi toured the exhibition, organised in partnership with DGR, and observed children gaining hands-on experience and deep insights into the artistic journey of Kahlo, an iconic figure in modern Mexican art. The artist, who drew her subjects from her life and overcame her physical limitations, left an enduring influence on the global art scene and is spurring children’s imagination at the House of Wisdom through the power and magic of her creative works.

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The exhibition, which runs until January 8, 2023, is designed for children aged 5 to 12 and their families and features a series of fun set-ups and interactive devices to help children comprehend various notions of art while playing and relate to the artist's life in an informative way. The 13 interactive devices are a reinterpretation of the artist’s sources on six themes and is an opportunity for children to explore the many influences of her artistic life.

Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, Chairman, DGR, said: “In line with our vision of building bridges with cultures around the world to enhance cross-cultural communication, DGR’s partnership with the House of Wisdom to host this unique exhibition for the first time in an Arab city, marks another step towards realising our goals.”

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi tours the exhibition.

The DGR Chairman added: “Sharjah and Mexico enjoy deep bonds of friendship. Today, the emirate is hosting an exhibition that celebrates the legacy of a renowned Mexican artist while last year, Mexico was feted as Guest of Honour at the 38th Sharjah International Book Fair. This year, Sharjah will introduce Mexico to Emirati and Arab cultures as part of its Guest of Honour celebrations at the Guadalajara International Book Fair 2022.”

Commenting on the exhibition, Marwa Al Aqroubi, Director, HoW, said: “Celebrating inspiring creative experiences from different cultures is entrenched in the goals and vision of the House of Wisdom. We believe that artists and creatives are ambassadors of their countries, and exploring the works of distinguished artists like Frida Kahlo provides a unique opportunity for our young visitors to hone their abilities, ignite their passion and creativity, and expand their knowledge.”

The HoW Director added: “We are proud to host this exhibition in the UAE, which runs in the Arabic language for the first time. It provides an immersive platform to discover oneself and offers interactive experiences for children to dive into the world of arts and unleash their imagination and creativity.”

On the sidelines of the exhibition, HoW will organise a series of workshops, to enable children to advance life skills and broaden their knowledge.

The exhibition is being held in partnership with the Centre Pompidou museum in Paris and its Mexican cultural partner, Arts & Fun.

For more detailed information and workshop registration, please visit https://discovershurooq.ae/houseofwisdom or follow @sharjahhow on Instagram.