This month Art Couture Gallery is celebrating colour and calligraphy by hosting two very different exhibitions featuring works by UAE-based women artists. “Colourmania”, which opened on September 1, presents a series of vibrant paintings by Dubai-based British artist Chris Robb. The second exhibition, opening on September 17, is titled “Women in Calligraphy” and showcases calligraphic works by 10 Emirati women artists alongside works by master calligrapher Khalid Ali Al Jallaf. The exhibitions have been organised in collaboration with Capacity World Media.
As the title of her show indicates, Robb’s paintings are bursting with colour, energy and positivity. The artist, who is of English and Irish origin, was born in Gibraltar and educated in the UK. She moved to Dubai in 2005 and was deeply inspired by the perpetually sunny skies, the architecture and the diversity of cultures she encountered here. A few years ago she discovered the work of well-known artist Marianne Y. Naerebout, and was so captivated by her use of colour that she also began using a more colourful palette to develop her own style.
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New Year’s Eve at Burj Khalifa by Chris Robb |
Robb’s paintings are inspired by her surroundings. “Dubai and the UAE are filled with the most spectacular architecture and picturesque sights. I find endless inspiration in the beauty of the desert, the awe-inspiring skyscrapers, mosques, dhows, camels, vegetation and the people of different nationalities,” she says.
All these subjects appear in her paintings, presented in her unique way. In “Camel Train” a caravan of pink, blue and green camels strides across a landscape dotted with famous Dubai landmarks such as the Palm Jumeirah, the Burj Al Arab and the Burj Khalifa, all rendered in vivid colours. The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is seen with yellow and orange domes, and she has depicted the New Year celebrations at the Burj Khalifa with an explosion of colours in the sky around the iconic building.
Other subjects include a majestic, multicoloured Arabian horse, with a blue flowing mane galloping across a bright, sunny, yellow background. The canvasses are also decorated with intricate Arabesque patterns in bright colours.
Robb creates each painting entirely by hand, and she also mixes the pigments herself to achieve depth and vibrancy in her artworks. “Through my art I want to pay homage to my surroundings and the wonderful life I enjoy in the UAE. The vivid colours in my paintings reflect not only my personality and mood, but also my appreciation for the great experiences I have had here. My paintings are a celebration, and a manifestation of positivity and happiness. I create them with a smile on my face and I hope that they have the same uplifting effect on the viewers,” she says.
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Rabakomaalambikom by Eman Bashir Al Muhairi |
The second exhibition showcases the work of a group of Emirati artists who share a love for Arabic calligraphy. These include Fatima Althanhani, Fatima Juri, Thuraya Ibrahim, Shikha Mahboob, Fatima Salim, Nada Al Maazmi, Maryam Ali Al Farsi, Eman Bashir Al Muhairi, Aisha Al Hasani and Zainab Mohammad Ali. Most of these women are members of the Emirates Arabic Calligraphic Society, and have spent many years learning the history and the art of Arabic calligraphy and its expressions in various Arab and Islamic cultures.
The artists have explored different styles of calligraphy and a variety of subjects. While some have taken inspiration from Quranic verses, others have expressed their own thoughts and feelings through the letters, or addressed contemporary issues such as the role of women in society. The delicate strokes, graceful curves, subtle ornamentation and the aesthetic compositions of the paintings speak about the years of practice, discipline and patience invested by these artists in mastering the techniques and traditions of this ancient, complex and spiritual art form.
The show will also present the creations of master calligrapher Al Jallaf, who is the chairman of the Emirates Arabic Calligraphic Society, and has represented the UAE at various international exhibitions and art events.
The artists will be present at the opening of the exhibition, and will give live demonstrations of their art. They will also share their knowledge and experiences of learning and teaching Arabic calligraphy with visitors.
Mornings steeped in art
Art Couture organises monthly “Art and Coffee” mornings featuring talks by artists, art professors, curators and experts from other art-related fields at its open concept space surrounding the golf club’s Tee Lounge. It also regularly organises artist-led gallery tours, art and wellbeing mornings and art seminars that are open to all art lovers. For information about the schedule for the current art season, write to art@artcoutureuae.com
Jyoti Kalsi is an arts-enthusiast based in Dubai.
“Colouramania” will run at Art Couture, Al Badia Golf Club, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City until September 15.
“Women in Calligraphy” will run from September 17 until October 3. The gallery is open from 10am to 10pm.
