Palm tree and maple leaf: Farida Talaat’s art conjoins two nations

Canadian multi-disciplinary artist Farida Talaat, now based in Dubai, is on a mission to propagate Canadiana in the UAE - and vice versa. Talaat’s heart beats for both the UAE and Canada - at once. A prolific arts career dedicated to the fusion of Canadian and Emirati art and culture, Talaat has been creating art, expressing her love and devotion for the two countries she calls home, for years now. From paintings, embroidery, fashion, buttons, quilts and graphic design, her artwork repertoire is quite extensive. This year, and coinciding with Canada and the United Arab Emirates celebrating 50 years of bilateral relations, Talaat sees no better way to showcase her patriotism than through a look back at some of her artworks she has created over the years.

The flagship of such artworks (no pun intended, says Talaat) is a playful take on the national flag of Canada. Incorporating a rectangular display featuring its characteristic ensign with its iconic 11-point maple leaf in the centre, the piece is adorned with an enviable collection of buttons, beads and bows. A closer look reveals a whimsical world of creative curios, charms and random objects, with references to Canadian elements. It includes an Atlantic lobster, a Calgary cowboy hat, an Inukshuk indigenous statue and the numbers 647, which is the telephone area code for the city of Toronto.

Farida Talaat with Year of Zayed artwork.

The button-embellished flag participated in Canada Day celebrations and arts and culture events that took place at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai in 2017. Following the celebrations in the UAE, the artworks went on to tour the province of Ontario in Canada, eventually being presented to the Canadian Business Council in Dubai at an auction and gala dinner in 2023. The objet d’art was created on the occasion of Canada’s sesquicentennial anniversary in 2017. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi had invited Talaat to become an ambassador for Canadian art in the country, and commissioned her to produce a creative artwork that showcased Canadian artistic creativity and originality.

On the occasion, calling on the powers of embroidery craft, Talaat created a needlepoint artwork featuring a highly intricate cross-stitched reproduction of the official Canada 150 logo, created especially for the event. It consists of a modern maple leaf stylised into equilateral triangles in primary and secondary colours. Over ten thousand cross stitches were carefully hand sewn against a canvas of special perforated fabric. More than seven months of detailed hand work is how long it took her to complete both works, Talaat says. “For this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, I had wanted to express my love and appreciation for my home country through art. I am proud to be Canadian and believe Canadian art is as beautiful and diverse as its multicultural population. Creating these artworks was my way of wishing Canada a very happy 150th birthday.”

Toronto's CN Tower in embroidery.

In Canada, Talaat takes it upon herself to promote Emirati culture and art through a number of artworks. Every year, she creates embroidered pieces in line with that year’s UAE government initiative. In 2018, she created the artwork around ‘The Year of Zayed’, while in 2019, she fashioned one for ‘The Year of Tolerance’. Both cross-stitched monochromatic creations are depictions of each of the logos of the two themes, framed in wooden embroidery hoops. Another historic event, Expo 2020 Dubai, has also won its fair share of art. Talaat created a similar embroidered motif in the Expo logo’s radial rings and concentric circles in gradient earth colours, anchored by a glowing centre. Incidentally, she had once created a similar button artwork of the Expo’s old logo: a hexagonal design in a turquoise shade of blue. Almost all her works have been displayed at group and solo exhibitions that take place across Canada during Islamic History Month in October of every year.

Each work carries a personal experience for the artist and draws on her personal stories and skills. She learned most of her craft-ish hobbies in the UAE. Having lived in Dubai for most of her life, as a student, working professional, expat, artist and philanthropist, she says the city has inspired her immensely. “I have seen it grow from a small metropolis of a city to the truly wonderful destination that it is today,” Talaat says. Another of her creative pursuits is fashion design. Once again, for last year’s Canada Day, she created an abaya, where traditional Emirati style merged with authentic Canadian heritage. It was designed and created in dusty green and gold, with a maple leaf pattern, paying homage to both countries simultaneously.

Talaat’s interest in fabric and fiber art has recently evolved to quilting. Most recently, and in celebration of Canada Day on July 1, 2024, she designed and created a handmade quilt in the emblematic colours of the Hudson’s Bay company logo: green, red, yellow and indigo. It is a colour palette that dates back to 1779. Inspired by textile and thread from east to west, Talaat’s artistic narrative leans to a noble cause: patriotism. “Art is but a medium through which we convey love and loyalty to one’s country,” she says. “The languages of art and culture are universally understood by peoples and nations all over the world. Essentially, we are all one, and live on one planet without geographical borders. I hope my art conveys the values of peace and unity.” Currently, she is looking forward to attending international art shows throughout 2025.