Everything under the sun: many styles mark DIAC affordable art summer show
Mehboobeh Shanavas’s composition.
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
The Dubai International Art Centre (DIAC) is hosting the DIAC Summer Art Show (Affordable Art Sale) at Gallery 76, DIAC, on July 13. On view till July 27, the exhibition showcases more than 100 artistic creations spanning various genres, created by artists from over 50 nationalities. The opening night attracted an enthusiastic crowd of artists, art lovers, buyers and collectors. The event was inaugurated by well-known personalities of the arts community. Khalid Abdulwaheed of Dubai Culture was the chief guest; his presence underscored the importance of arts in community enrichment. Joining him was distinguished Emirati artist Faisal AbdulQader, guest of honor, whose support highlighted the significance of the exhibition.
Special guests included senior Emirati artist Ahmad Al Awadhi Rukni, MRK Contemporary founder Meena Kamal and co-founder Rayad Kamal Ayub, and Zayaan AlMukhani, founder of Art Dao, each contributing their unique perspectives and adding to the educational side of the event. The presence of Khalid Al Shamsi, Emirati celebrity and veteran UAE-based artist Anjini Prakash Laitu, further emphasised the drawing power of the exhibition. The inaugural was accompanied by significant art sales. Many artworks found new homes as collectors and art lovers alike seized the opportunity to acquire them at affordable prices. “This event not only supports local artists but also provides a valuable opportunity for the community to invest in and appreciate art,” said Sahira Ameen, DIAC Manager. “It’s a testament to Dubai’s vibrant arts scene and the dedication of the Dubai International Art Centre to promote accessibility and engagement with art.”
Participating artists in the exhibition include Amna Mohammed Ameen; Alia Amin Abdul Karim; Anjini Prakash Laitu; Besolova Alina; Anam Javid; Alem Goshime; Amancia Sandra Menezes; Amruta Ketkar; Asma Seyed; Avijit Majumder; Beena Samuel; Debra S. Mascarenhas; Deepa Rajesh; Deepa Dev; Deleep Subramanian; Diyali Bhalla; Iman Tahir; Irudhayanathan Thangaraj; Erum Afzal; Jax Hall; Kshama Agarwal; Lita Mathews; Mehboobeh Shanavas; Mahi Wasfy; Mary Ann Pascual; Mario Curtis; Mahnaz Rafiq Javid; Mridu Srivastava; Nithin Umesh; Nahida Beshara; Neelam Nagarale; Osama Afnan; Pegah Rezaeirad; Pari Sagar; Radhika Arya; Renuka Sanjeev; Prasanth Chandran; Sabah Anees; Rooma Eejaz; Dr. Sangeeta Parashar; Sahira Ameen; Sakina Farhat; Susmitha Dhruva Chitradurga; Saumya Tripathi; Smitashree Balaji; Sneha Rajesh; Sandeep Soni; Tumpa Banerjee; Tammanna Faiyaz; Yun Kusanagi and Yoshita Ahmed.
A few words about a few artists. Anjini Prakash Laitu came to the UAE in 1996 and for a few years, worked as a textile painter. He joined Sharjah Art Institute and in 2008, completing a three years course in art making. “During this period, I started painting canvasses, which, even at an over-80 age today, is still being continued every day for three to five hours. I am a member of prestigious Emirates Fine Art Society and having been having a regular independent stall at World Art Dubai for many years. I am also having solo and group shows regularly in India, Nepal and the UAE. I am very active on Facebook as well. Fortunately, Art is not my livelihood; it’s my passion. Since I have a wonderful time with colours and the canvas, the price of my work is already recovered. Rest what I get, is bonus.”
Iranian artist Asma Seyed shows the majesty of a horse and the melody of colours in her work, which has a sweeping presence in a corner of the hall. For Beena Samuel, “Art is a bridge to unite humanity. I consider my style as abstract, lyrical, exuberant and unpredictable, as nature itself. I find poetry in things that could often be overlooked.” Deleep Subramanian had his education and training in MFA Creative Painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Baroda, a famous art college in India. A participant in numerous exhibitions, he is working as a freelance artist in the UAE and India.
Lita Mathews says she is “a trainer by profession, biologist by academics and an artist by choice.” Originally from India with a childhood spent in Bahrain, as a girl, broken or discarded objects always caught her attention; they were transformed into objets d’art by her later. Her love for jewellery, sculpting and painting brought her to the perfect medium - clay. She makes wearable art inspired by Nature, tribal crafts, Yemeni jewellery and Indian terracotta with ethnic and contemporary designs handcrafted in clay. Photography is also one of her dearest passions. Mathews has been working with clay since 2009 and runs workshops in jewellery making, clay crafts and mix media for kids and adults at DIAC.
Iranian artist Mehboobeh Shanavas is showing her hyper realistic oil painting of a child, while Indian artist Pari Sagar showcases the transformative power of colours and how paintings serve as examples of the way art can be a source of healing and empowerment. Sabah Anees, born in Bhopal, Central India, is a self-taught artist. Her oeuvre includes painting and jewellery design and she has painted on glass, fabric, canvas, paper and wood, among other mediums, though she works mainly in acrylic and oil. But whatever the medium, light and colour pervade every aspect of her creations. Rooma Eejaz’s artistic style is rooted in Fauvism; she tackles social issues with vivid compositions. Yun (Youness) Kusanagi is originally from Morocco and is an abstract expressionist. His art is a compendium of raw street energy, in acrylic paint. “I am inspired by everything around me, be it nature, conversations, experiences, smiles, songs, happy or sad moments,” he says.
