THE GREAT LOCKDOWN EXHIBITION

2020 has proven to be one of the strangest years in my memory. The covid-19 pandemic, affecting the whole world at the same time, has brought us together, unhappily, in a simultaneously shared, global experience of uncertainty, lockdowns, social isolation, illness and even death. Uncertainty is one of the central most disorienting aspects of the times. Uncertainty around the virus, its impact and how we should live our lives. Uncertainty around the future – when will this be over and when can we go back to our normal, pre-pandemic lives, if ever?

Economies have slowed down and we are working from home, if we are lucky enough. There are those less fortunate. Many of us, whose lives are built around travel and international mobility for work and to keep in touch with loved ones, have found themselves simply stuck, myself included. This will be the first exhibition that I curate and produce completely remotely, my home office in Singapore.

The culture and arts sectors world-wide have been heavily affected by the covid-19 pandemic. And venue-based sectors, like museums, cinemas and theaters have been hardest hit1. The cultural landscape post this crisis may not look the same as it did before covid struck. UNESCO estimates that in May 2020 95% of the world’s museums were closed. And 13% may never reopen2. Some cultural and creative sectors, such as online content platforms, have profited from the increased demand for cultural content streaming during lockdown, but the benefits from this extra demand have largely accrued to the largest firms in the industry. And also, let us not forget that 46% of the global population remains offline altogether.

Amongst this mayhem, economic decline and the severe restrictions to our personal lives, what indeed is the role for culture and art? Many of us will recall with outrage the result of a June 2020 survey, which named artist as the top-most non-essential job3. Published in the Art Newspaper, interestingly enough the survey was taken in Singapore. It says much about value systems and culture but also addresses the never-ending dilemma the arts find themselves in: are we essential, non-essential and how far down the rung-ladder exactly are we? Needless to say, I am of course convinced of the undying importance of culture and the arts in expressing what makes us fundamentally human – the ability to step out of ourselves and appreciate and reflect on our personal and general condition and the world around us. Whether the format be sound and music, word and poetry, the body and dance, theater or the visual arts. This exhibition is a case in point. It tries to bring us together as a community of artists and appreciating audience, reflecting and sharing creative endeavors dating to a unique and extremely difficult time of our lives.

Looking at the artworks in “The Great Lockdown Exhibition,” with its tongue-in-cheek reference to the great international world fairs and exhibitions of the late 19th century, it is clear that artists have met the situation variously. Some have used the opportunity to study and further their knowledge of theory and practice. Some have been active in their studios and isolation, some not. In curating, I have tried to avoid looking for obvious patterns of artistic production in this period in favor of organizing with a light hand and an eye on finding echoes and resonances within a group of over 80 artworks by 40 plus artists. Incredibly, there were over 100 submissions to our open callout for the exhibition, a testament to the importance of art in Bahrain.

Areej Rajab’s and Noor Al Sairafi’s abstractions entice us with their sheer beauty and vibrancy of colors. This contrasts with the devasting loneliness of Ria Torrente’s Metamorphosis (A Portrait of a Solitary Woman). Khalid Al Abbas’ hilarious diptych “Bananas” and accompanying text reminded me of the urgent need to let go and just laugh out loud. Thus is the power of art. Photography emerges again as the unique medium that allows us to record and document the momentary. Beautiful photobooks by Camille Zakharia, Rasha Yousif and Nahid Sultana as well as many individual photographic projects comment on lives lived in unusual circumstances during the covid-19 pandemic.

Is this exhibition a slice of normalcy? We wish. At the very least it can provide a venue for personal expression, a vehicle for social bonding by sharing, letting off steam and maybe laughing a bit.

Melissa Enders-Bhatia

Curator, Director of Art and Exhibitions Programming

Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture and Research

October 2020

NOOR AL SAIRAFI

“The essence of transformation can be witnessed in the most fragile creature: a butterfly.

Across civilizations, traditions, religions and various spiritual backgrounds, butterflies are a representation of change: metamorphosis. Watching a butterfly in its complete form, one must understand that change is a cycle that moves constantly, from a silent dark cocoon to a beautiful creature with full wings that dances in little waves of joy. In the wing’s color equation, its contrasting colors are an invitation to express oneself more fully, to show true colors of one’s soul.

This magical creature teaches us that change brings about growth; to shed the old and come forth into the new. The butterfly emerges from its cocoon only when the conditions are right; so will our true potential self only flourish when the time is right. This is the true force of creation”.

Noor believes art comes naturally for anyone who sees beauty around them. As a child she enjoyed art. A self-taught artist, she recently rekindled her passion with art and embarked on a journey to reveal the magnificence of nature surrounding us. She is currently infatuated with beauty found in nature at a macro level; using a variety of mediums to magnify the splendor of god’s creations.traveler she has come to love the essence of a country, people and their way of life.

MAYASA AL SOWEIDI

“A banquet resplendent with cheery colors that we missed during a period of forced isolation. The colors celebrate our upcoming gatherings that are full of joy, flowers and a longing to reconnect with loved ones and the hustle and bustle of life following the lull of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Art was the savior during this period. It was a golden opportunity for creative types to spend time alone and focus on producing more works, whether written or artistic. I stayed for as long as I could in the studio with my colors, surrounded by the tranquil monotony of a world that ground to an almost complete halt. In that state of isolation, the paintings were my friends, and the colors brought to life the many paintings I produced during this period; witnesses to a tough ordeal that became a chance to make these artworks.

The two paintings were repainted in that time of isolation with vibrant colors that conveyed a profound longing for that banquet with loved ones. That is why I named one of them “Overflowing Gathering” and the other is “The Flower of the Gathering”.

Born in Bahrain, Mayasa bint Sultan Al Soweidi, is an academic at the University of Bahrain with a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Grenoble in France. She began her artistic career in 2005 and went on to exhibit her works in Bahrain and abroad in countries such as the United States, Britain, France, India, Italy, and many Arab capital cities. She held her first solo exhibition on the art of tea in Paris in 2019 in parallel with the launch of the book “The Legend of Tea”. She also won several prizes in fine arts, the most noteworthy of which was the Audience Choice Award from the Sovereign International Art Foundation for her painting “The Whisper of Tea” in 2016 which was subsequently sold at a Christie’s auction in Dubai during the award ceremony.

HALA AL KHALIFA

“These giant paintings came to life in the most exceptional of times, a time of lockdown, uncertainty and disconnection. These colors and shapes belong to a deep dark place, an urgency to be translated from thoughts to images and symbols that forced their way out from my subconscious.

These long canvases mark a new place for all these images to be placed out and in the open, these canvases offered them a new home, out of mind and onto the surface.

Like a disturbing dream, the lung, hip bone, the amputated leg versus the beautiful yet grotesque shades of red and flesh tones these all appear to tell the story. All of these shapes occur to shape my visual language, no place for rest amidst them, they are in a continuous state of turbulence”.

With degrees in Fine Arts from Tufts University (Boston, USA) and Slade School of Fine Arts (London, UK), Hala Al Khalifa’s artistic repertoire includes multiple media, ranging from painting to installa- tion and video. The artist has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions in London, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. In Bahrain her work has been shown at the Bahrain National Museum, Al Riwaq Art Space and the Bin Matar House. Her solo exhibition “Sea” (Bin Matar House, Bahrain, 2013) was a mile- stone in the artist’s oeuvre, exploring the legacy of pearly diving in Bahrain’s heritage and national identity through gigantic and interactive fishing net installations and video.

HESHAM AL AMMAL

“This is part of a project was photographed during the covid-19 lockdown period. But, it was the first project that was exclusively shot using analog photography, and due to the lockdown was also developed at home by the photographer.

The work is a reflection on the cost of modernity on the city of Muharraq. It capture life in the city during lockdown, and center around the “sitting step” at the heart of the old Muharraq Souq, the dependence on the sea, and the ever encroaching need for land and buildings. The images are a contrast between human-scale existence within the Souq, and the mega scale of the modern city with its destruction of the sea”.

Hesham Al Ammal is a documentary and fine art photographer. His projects cover various themes that include art, landscape, and documentary photography. The topics of the projects examine the relationship between the modern and the traditional, as well as topics such as identity, the environment, and authenticity. His work has been exhibited in several galleries and exhibitions in the Gulf region and published in various books and magazines. He graduated from the University of Warwick and currently teaches at the University of Bahrain.

HISHAM SHARIF

“Sharif’s works play along the themes of violence, destruction, and recreation. The current year has seen the rise of a pandemic, injustice among societal classes, devastations and controversies covering all corners of the globe.

Guided by both emotion and technique, Hisham Sharif‘s paintings builds a structure of spacetime, searching for the mood of the painting. Whereas abstracted light reflects on inner emotion, the concrete light ‘color’ remains a curtain of illusion.

Moving between daily scenes and memories of his heritage, he combines time and collapses recorded visual images with pictorial memory. It is this complex build-up of consistently evolving imagery that finds itself in his painting”.

Hisham Sharif, an up and coming Bahraini artist, presents his art in a black and white palette, exploring the depths of these two colors to make a statement.

Hisham’s participation in art exhibitions include the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Show, ‘The Nest’ at Al Riwaq Art Space in 2017, ‘Diversity’ at Saatchi Gallery in London. He has also participated in exhibitions in Paris, New York, and Singapore.

He held his first solo show titled “Frightening the Dark” at Bahrain Arts Society in 2017 and was awarded with a recognition award for Outstanding Work at the 45th Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition.

HUDA AL SAIE

“I consider my garden my refuge. I find much of my artistic inspiration amongst the colors of the flowers and plants and tonal contrast in the shade of the palms and leaves that mark my pathways.

One day, while gardening, I thought about the amount of work it takes to keep beautiful fragile things alive (my flowers), but also what it took for them to really flourish - as beautiful fragile things us humans also need constant tending to, so that we could once again be a thriving society - one garden full of diversity, peace and beauty”.

Huda Al Saie is a graduate from The American University of Beirut in Mass Communication/Fine Arts. She studied the art of porcelain painting in Geneva in the early 80’s and started teaching porcelain painting lessons in 1986 in Bahrain.

Huda is known as the leading pioneer of porcelain art in Bahrain. For the last three years she has transitioned from the fine, detailed work of porcelain painting to expressions in bold acrylic color and abstracted gestural scenes on canvas. Alsaie is inspired by the unique and ancient architecture of Bahrain and the island Kingdom’s flora and fauna.

ALI HUSSAIN MIRZA

“This artwork is an attempt to create a state of communication within a painting. I try this space as a place of expression through body gesture. I don’t know what made me focus on the body. It is a state of engagement that has been going on for years, perhaps because the body is the common human language. It is more likely that my interest in the world of the theater has a big impact on that. At this point in my life, I believe that the existence of the human body is necessary in the work of art. The scenes of life cannot exist without the actors. There may come a day when I get convinced that going without the body in the painting is possible. Then I’ll take out all the actors to keep the stage with their trace only”.

Ali Hussain Mirza is an artist and theatrical scenographer born in Bahrain in 1987. After graduating from high school, he chose to study theater and earned a Bachelor’s Degree (with Honors) in Scenic Design from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Kuwait in 2010.

His passion for fine arts and theater inspired him to research and experiment in his works. He utilized open spaces as avenues to express the ideas and issues that he wishes to reflect upon and discuss in a different way.

OMAR AL RASHID

“Art is a noble message. And with the pandemic spreading across the world and confining us within four walls for months on end, members of society dealt with the situation in different ways, each according to his or her capacity. We as artists were no exception.

The Bahraini community has many wonderful customs and traditions, the best of which is the connection and bond between family, neighbors and friends and the familiar cordial gatherings that keep these relationships strong. To move from that to suddenly having no visitors knocking on your door is something we miss dearly. We miss their faces, their stories and them checking in on family and loved ones. As an artist, I tried to showcase those faces that we have missed in my artwork.

Another of the beautiful customs and traditions that we missed during this pandemic is Gergaoun, an occasion very near and dear to us, especially children. It allows them to interact with one another and visit neighbors and spread their youthful joy. Now they are housebound longing to get outdoors like before, singing and chanting through the neighborhoods and returning with bags loaded with all kinds of delicious nuts and sweets.

As an artist, I tried to touch on this social aspect in a modern fashion, using a touch of realism and mostly white and black colors to create two paintings that allude to a sense of solitude. Through the colors and facial features, I documented the memory of those whose visits and social interactions we dearly miss”.

Born in Muharraq in 1966, Omar Al Rashid as 13 solo exhibitions to his name in Bahrain, Dubai, Jeddah, Sudan and Kuwait. He has participated in many local art exhibitions and all government annual fine arts exhibitions in addition to many group exhibitions in GCC countries, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, Uzbekistan, China, Rome, France, London, India, Moscow and Singapore. He is the recipient of a number of appreciation prizes from Egypt, First Prize in the Youth Exhibition of the GCC in Kuwait and Bahrain, the Frond Award in Sharjah, the Grand Prize - Al-Kharafi International Biennial for Contemporary Arab Art in Kuwait, and the Arab Gulf Festival for Contemporary Fine Arts – Riyadh.

His works are in various museum and private collections.

ALI KHAMIS

“My works are inspired by the memory of time and space that is firmly rooted in photography. I employ manual printing techniques in my artworks as well as natural colors to produce colored, geometrics, and abstract works. Relying on one’s visual memory to form colors and shapes is truly a wonderful thing, for this is the color of life; the color of the sky. I am also very keen on showcasing the splendid heritage and filling in the void of time and space within the memory of man with colors. It is a memory born of presence and coexistence, and I try to assemble all that in an abstract expressive work dominated by square forms and geometric shapes. By making use of hand-printing techniques, together with colors of nature, I try to gather every expressionist abstract black and white motifs into different sized components”.

Ali Khamis is a Bahraini artist and member of the Bahrain Fine Arts Society. He studied under the late great Bahraini artist Dr. Ahmed Baqer. He produces artworks inspired by time and space that recall his experiences in photography.

He has participated in many local and international exhibitions and has won several awards for his paintings, prints and photography.

ALI MUBARAK

“Ali Mubarak uses transparent spaces as incidental backgrounds for his works. He expresses simple everyday symbols in abstract ways using simple coloring tools such as wood and wax colors. He generally works on compositions inspired by landscapes to express them in a metaphoric from. Shapes are sparsely distributed across the painting, with no central element to draw the observer’s eye.Ali relies on letting the colors spread across the surface of the artwork in transparent layers of color to create an emotional connection with the viewer. He analyzes the overall landscape and assembles it in his own way using bright colors. The work also features simple spontaneous pencildrawn shapes. All the elements in the artwork are borrowed from the tools used in everyday life”.

Ali Mubarak is a Bahraini abstract painter and printer who first emerged in the art scene in the mid 1990s. His first solo exhibition was held at the Bahrain Arts Society in 1995. That same year, the artist participated in the Swiss Triennial Graphic Exhibition and the Norway Triennial Graphic Exhibition. 1995 also marked his first participation in the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition. Since then, he has had several local, regional, and international participations including exhibitions in China, Jordan and Morocco.

CAMILLE ZAKHARIA

“While I avoided wearing the face mask for as long as possible, it was mandatory on April 10th, 2020 to do so in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

I recall entering that day Cafe Lilou, Adliya branch, to order my regular cappuccino to go. I was welcome by a huge sheet of plastic covering the large poster of the cancan dancer, which I have always admired. She was gazing at me behind the plastic sheet, intrigued, and I reciprocated her with a similar look behind the mask I was wearing. We both felt suffocated and helpless.

That was the day that I felt the seriousness of the Coronavirus.

“Restaurants of Bahrain - Corona Times” is a documentary project, reflecting on the impact of the virus on one of most vibrant facets of Bahrain, its restaurants, which are well known for their richness and variety. They were empty, with a ghostly atmosphere.

I photographed over 60 restaurants that I was familiar with, ranging from popular ones to small shawarma shops, all silenced by the virus, empty from customers.

A selection of photographs are included in an Artist’s Book of approximate dimensions 100cm width x 70cm height”.

Camille Zakharia’s work has been shown at the Venice Art and Architecture Biennales in 2010 and 2013. He also exhibited at the V&A Museum, Canadian Museum of Civilization, FotoFest, Musee du Quai Branly, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Florida National Museum, Wichita Center for the Arts, Chobi Mela, Sharjah Biennale, Ithra and National Museum of Bahrain.

Zakharia’s works are part of the public collections at LACMA, Canadian Museum of Civilization, V&A, Musee Suisse de l’Appareil Photographique, Clarinda Carnegie Museum, Wichita Center for the Arts, National Museum of Bahrain, Barjeel Art Foundation, Jameel Foundation, Dubai International Financial Center, and Ithra.

LULWA AL KHALIFA

“I am a self-taught painter. I have never had a formal education in art, but I have always had a deep passion for it. My work encompasses contemporary figurative and abstract works. I paint alla prima and my paintings are always oil on canvas because I love the depth, texture and richness of color in oil paint. I try not to overthink my process and I paint what I feel when I’m facing the canvas.

Painting to me is an intimate visceral expression of a moment communicated through creativity.

What I love most about art is that every opinion is valid and no expertise is absolute”.

Lulwa Al Khalifa is a self-taught artist with a BA in Literature from Boston University. Al Khalifa is known for her vibrant colors and dynamic textures that lend life to her works. Lulwa Al-Khalifa has exhibited locally at ArtBAB and the annual Bahrain fine arts exhibition at the National Museum. She has also exhibited internationally at the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Saatchi Gallery in London and The Grand Palais in Paris. Al Khalifa has also exhibited at Scope Miami Beach and Art Wynwood in Miami, New York, Amman, and India. Her works are acquired by private international collectors and museum.

GHADA AL KHUZAEI

“This artwork was done at the beginning of the quarantine period during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. It is the result of my own interaction with the living conditions during that period. The artwork expresses the world’s appreciation for the efforts of the medical staff and other frontline workers as the so-called ‘white army of angels’ that lead our right against the coronavirus, and that staying at home is the best thing we can do to support them in this struggle.

This sculpture is a hand thrown ceramic shaped using the slice technique using an earthen clay heated to 950 degrees celsius. It was painted with underglazes topped with a transparent glaze at a temperature of 1050 degrees celsius”.

Ghada Al Khuzaie is an artist and potter specializing in ceramics. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts, Ceramics, from Egypt, and has worked as a ceramics teacher. She has participated in the fine arts exhibitions organized by the Bahraini government cultural sector and won the First Prize in HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Ceramic Contest in the Artist Category, received the Distinguished Production Prize in ceramics in Bahrain schools, was hosted by Kuwait in the 2nd Watan Ceramics exhibition. She has participated in exhibitions in Tunisia, Oman and the Paris Biennial. Her works are in local and international art collections.

Her artwork is characterized by modernity and its connection with Bahraini culture and heritage. Ghada Khuzaei seeks to further develop Bahraini ceramics both in concept and execution through modern techniques.

FARIS AL GOSAIBI

“The last couple of months have provided an opportunity to experiment. From a photographic perspective this gave me an opportunity to focus on different processes. Specifically, I ended up spending a lot more time shooting and developing analog film. I shot more film rolls and experimented with different types of film such as infrared, BW, and color. As well as different types of developer some of which i made using household ingredients.

These are three photographs taken over the last couple of months. They were all taken in Manama and show directly or indirectly the effect of covid-19.

1). Social distancing. The image of a cat with other black items on a clothing line that mirror each other and are seemingly adhering to social distancing. (color film)

2) Lone Prayer. A man prays alone and wearing a mask.As the mosques no longer offered prayer services, praying alone has become more common. (color film)

3). Fish Hook. A man wearing a mask walking in front of a famous Manama landmark. The image was shot on BW film and developed using chemicals that had been overused. This resulted in a extremely grainy and contrasty image with a unique texture”.

Faris Al Gosaibi is a Bahraini photographer with a background in Information Technology. He has been on a journey of photographic discovery that has served as a technical and creative outlet since 2009. Although primarily a street and documentary photographer, Faris has also worked on photographic fine art projects and has also extensively documented much of Bahrain’s competitive martial arts scene.

His work has been shown in Bahrain in several exhibitions and open calls, and his works have been used by major on-line media outlets across the world including the BBC, CNN, The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, and many more.

MONA MOATAZ

“These days, we expect art to lift us from time and space and take us to other horizons. With this global pandemic, at first glance, a person starts to see the days as unchanged and frozen. It forced us to adapt to new habits, like wearing masks, social distancing and staying at home. We had two options during that period, the first is stagnation, and the second is continuity and progress. Personally, I chose the second option, which is to advance. In those challenging moments, I chose art. My days resulted in new artistic experiences, including two artworks participating today, Spiritual Solidarity. These are monoprint on paper with size 50 x 35 cm using special printing inks, where the two artworks depict the solidarity of spirits with each other despite the social distancing imposed on us. With spiritual solidarity, we can grow again..”.

Mona Almoataz is an Architect and self-trained Artist.

She concentrates her artistic methods on the merging of women into the spatial society we live in. She pursued an optimistic view of the world where there are no limitations to the soul of the human if widely expressed as part of the social fabric.

She started her art journey in 2016 and works in mixed media and printmaking.

Her work has been exhibited in Yalla Banat Art Expo in 2018, Bahrain Contemporary Art Society exhibition in 2019, BahrainBab exhibition in 2019 and group exhibition “Lines of Light” Bahrain Fine Arts Exhibition (2020), ArtBAB, Bahrain (2019).

MARWA AL KHALIFA

“Quarantine - Within Four Walls”

“In these times of covid-19 we must face reflecting on our own lives within the four walls of our homes. How do we interact with the outside world from the inside, and how to accept life within the space we call home. Is this confinement? Or the space from which to grow and learn? We each have had our own challenges with only our four walls within our spaces to bear witness to all that is unraveling around us. Time is testing our patience, are we able to cope with the daily news of the covid-19 cases, the constant weekly updates on rules and regulations?

Fourteen days of quarantine feels like a waiting game, the anxiety building day by day till the days all blend into each other. The calendar marks the passage of time however the dates all look the same - as if Time stood still.

When will we see the light at the end of the tunnel? The answer does not appear within the four walls”.

Marwa Rashid Al Khalifa is a mixed media artist and photographer. Marwa pushes her boundaries, incorporating different materials and techniques, to create works broaching a spiritual aura, inviting the viewer to meditate and embark on a personal journey.

Marwa Al Khalifa has exhibited locally and internationally. She was selected to exhibit her art at Assilah 2014, among a group of Bahraini artists for being one of the young artists who have stepped outside the boundaries of a canvas.

Marwa received second prize for her work at the 44th Bahrain Fine Arts Exhibition 2018.

MASHAEL AL SAIE

“Project I: Self Portrait As My Family”

The recent pandemic outbreak has prompted a universal stay-at-home mandate. Like many, I have temporarily moved away from the COVID-19 Hotspot, New York, to live with my family in my childhood home in Bahrain. Throughout this indefinite, disorienting transit of time, the isolated interactions with my immediate family members have provoked me to reflect upon my selfhood shaped by my environmental upbringing. This photo series consists of self-portraits wherein I performatively stage myself to embody my ‘imagined selves’ and my selfhood within my family unit. I dress up like my mother, my father, and as imagined ancestors in order to display my ease in occupying multiple roles within the demarcated traditional family roles. I oscillate between mother, child, female, body, and person, attempting to occupy as many psychological “selves” as I can. In an attempt to nuance the historiography and methods of imaging, my present work showcases a series of performative self-portraits wherein I reclaim authorship of my womanhood.

Mashael Al Saie is a Bahraini photographer and video artist. Her work disassembles the compounded ideologies that have shaped her understanding of womanhood through the roots of her Arab heritage.

In doing so, she confronts not only the nuanced narratives of women in the Middle East but also the history of regional representation and visual culture. Her video installation form fractured narratives that reflect critical thinking about femininity, ritual, and representation. Recently, Al Saie’s work has featured in group exhibitions at PS122, New York (2019); Bahrain Fine Arts Exhibition (2020), Art BAB, Bahrain (2019).

NAHID SULTANA

“A Day of a Car Wash Man”

“I have documented the daily life of a section of the marginalized people in Bahraini society, whose lives have, arguably, been affected the most in the covid-19 pandemic. This project is dedicated to those people who are suffering the consequences of the pandemic but have kept their hopes high and worked harder than ever without having the luxury to worry about the disease. In every street in Bahrain, there is at least one if not a number of people with their bicycle waiting on the roadside to find a customer. Sohel Mia’s story is not very uncommon among the migrant workers - “I used to earn quite a lot before, but my income has reduced due to corona. I still want to send a decent amount of money home, so my son can go to university!”

Nahid Sultana is an amateur but ardent street and documentary photographer based in Bahrain.

Having grown up in the hustling, bustling city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, streets have always interested her. After moving from Australia, the hidden beauty in the streets of Bahrain, local villages and souqs; the contrast between the sand and beautiful sunset made her pick up the camera one day. Since then, she has been documenting daily life in Bahrain! Being a frequent traveler she has come to love the essence of a country, people and their way of life.

JAFFAR AL ORAIBI

“This artwork is about the state of human exploration as it pertains to mankind’s unending journey and its ability to adapt to various challenges. This is shown by altering the human form to appear as other forms, indicating man’s ability to find solutions to any crisis.

The work also shows mankind’s need to connect with other people. Man is a social being by nature, and this trait can be seen through the detailing of the two sides located at the edges of the painting which merge with the shape of the bird to indicate the desire for connection and exploration.

For me, the current pandemic is nothing but a stage in mankind’s ongoing journey of exploration. The pandemic has changed the form of the relationship between people, and we do not know whether this change will prove to be a temporary one. This is not the first pandemic we face and it does not mean that life has to grind to a halt. Human beings have always been able to overcome crises with smart solutions that always bring with them an added cultural dimension and new knowledge”.

Jaffar Al Oraibi is a Bahraini painter who works mostly with oil on canvas. His paintings depict looming men and animal forms, and they revolve around social pressures and expectations of men and women. He has participated in many exhibitions at the local, Arab and international level. In 2010 he held an exhibition at Al Riwaq Art Space in Bahrain titled “Man”, and followed that up with two exhibitions at Cuadro Fine Art Gallery (Dubai, UAE) in 2011 and 2012, and again in Al Riwaq in 2014.

Jaffar Al Oraibi participated is artist residencies in P aris, London and New York.

He participated in numerous regional and international group exhibitions. In 2020, he won the First Dana Prize at the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition.

TAMARA AL PACHACHI

Delicate

“The raging pandemic which has killed over 1 million people globally as of September 2020 is further exacerbated by war, natural disasters, and the state of the economy.

People were in a perpetual state of confusion and conflicted on what to believe or how to act. ‘Wear a mask // masks have no effect // shut down all public places // open places for business-sake’ etc.

Fear and safety ultimately equated to being isolated at home, especially in Bahrain’s hot / humid summer meant outdoor spaces activities were extremely limited. Fresh delicate flowers, to lift our spirits, were the only thing ‘alive’ entering our home.

The already delicate flowers would usually live for a week, after which I dried them as they gracefully died. The repetitive cycle of living and dying, beauty and destruction; served as a reminder of the delicate state of our lives now.

The various sized (A3 and A4) artworks are black and white monoprints of dried flower remains collected during lockdown isolation at home in Bahrain'.

Bahrain-based artist Tamara S. AlPachachi (originally Iraqi, b. 1978) was raised in Kuwait, Austria, and the UK. The residual experience of her multicultural upbringing allows her to see Arab culture and society from differing perspectives. She works in various media including photomontage / collage, painting, and printmaking. Archival research, oral histories, visual references (drawing or photographs) and her own experiences, form the base of her multi-layered dialogue across all mediums. Current projects she is working on highlight social fabric dynamics (past / present), vulnerability in relationships between people, and the delicate nature of memories, highlighting issues through her work.

JAMAL AL YOUSIF

“The coronavirus pandemic impacted people differently across age, socioeconomic status, and personality gradients. When governmental orders are offered in such a way that they’re modified each day, with subjective versus goal measures, this creates an equivalent to that of insecure attachment.

For individuals that have already got a trauma history such inconsistency and turbulence causes a sense of insecurity and an absence of safety. Additionally, as public health officers firmly state, frequently in soaring vocal tones at press conferences, with a harsh cadence to “stay calm” this creates a blended message for trauma survivors everywhere.

Essentially, the message/question is “I’m being instructed to remain calm, but yet there’s this individual in authority with this harsh tone, so is it really safe for me to stay calm?”

Jamal Al Yousif was born in Manama, Bahrain, where he lives and works. He studied Electrical Engineering and Minored in Art with emphasis on Sculpture from Cogswell Polytechnic School and Santa Clara University, San Francisco, USA.

As an artists he has numerous art exhibitions and participations to his name:

2020 - Artdubai participation with W adi Finan Galler y, Jordan

2019 - Solo Exhibition, Albareh Art Galler y, “Nostalgia“, Bahrain

2018 - Group show at Albareh Art Galler y, “Conversations with Self ”, Bahrain

2018 - Solo Exhibition at Mashq Galler y, Bahrain 2016 // International Biennial Print Exhibit: 20 16 ROC

2015 - Doha International Mini Art Exhibition 2, Qatar

2015 - Tokyo International Mini-Print Triennial, Japan

ISHAQ MADAN

“Time Will Tell” is a three part series that visualizes statements often heard during the lockdown as millions were kept away from each other, breaking the fabric of normalcy in our daily lives as 2020 took a turn for the unprecedented; “Stay Home, Stay Safe”, “Everything Is Going To Be Alright”, and “I’ll See You Soon” documents themes of emotional and psychological impacts through visual cues and tones that encompass these statements of assurance during uncertain times, creating an ecosystem of intimacy and familiarity. The images were captured via the medium of photography during the critical period of social distancing as movement was limited to one’s own home”.

Ishaq Madan is a self-taught published Bahraini photographer. His work often combines natural light techniques and unusual perspectives that aim to create painting like photographs which portray subtle visual story telling. Moreover, his inspiration is heavily drawn from his desire to bridge the gap between Bahrain and the world through visual storytelling. Ishaq Madan work has taken him around the world as he has been featured in numerous exhibitions ranging from the Paris Biennial 2019, Sharjah Art Foundation’s Vantage Point 5, and most recently the kingdom’s reputable 46th Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition.

AREEJ RAJAB

“I believe there is a continuation to every object, alive or not, and every object is a continuation of another object. Everything around us is a highly fluid and ambiguous construction of beautiful lines, magical strokes, contrasting colors and clever hues that fade in and out of our sight.

Gestural yet abstract, I want to convey a strong sense of emotion. I use layers upon layers of dynamic brush strokes, shifting planes of color and pulsating forms to underscore human interconnectedness and the interdependence between man and nature.

“Nature’s Weave” is intended to symbolize not only how much stronger we are when we are connected, but also how vulnerable we become when separated from one another.

This series is also a demonstration on using color and the physical qualities of a medium to express feelings about the subject rather than simply describing it in a naturalistic fashion. This collection depicts the natural beauty of flowers, their vibrant colors, and the miracle of light”.

Bahraini born and raised, Areej Rajab was an artist at birth and remains one to this day.

As a child, Rajab began to learn about color, materials, techniques and application. Rajab studied Business and General Management at the University of Bahrain, but always had a love affair with color that, as an adult, shows no signs of waning. That passion took her to the London College of Art where her true talent revealed itself fully.

Areej has exhibited extensively throughout the Middle East, and internationally.

KHALIFA AL ROWEI

“There is a well-known stigma in Middle Eastern society revolving around mental health. The fact of the matter is that it was brushed under the carpet so much that I truly believed that mental struggle and issues were not real.

There is a long-standing connection made between the mentally ill and the lack of connection to God. When people are struggling to cope, they have historically been told to ‘pray’ and have had Islamic Clerics called to ‘bless the house and expel the devil.’

My work is a visual statistic of contemporary belief surrounding mental health in the region.

In two test groups consisting of people who have been treated for their mental health versus people who have not, I asked them to give their responses as to which treatments they considered the most effective. This work is the results of that survey”.

Khalifa Al Rowaiei is an architect and photographer from the Kingdom of Bahrain. He has a passion for art, design, film and photography. He uses these mediums to tell stories and capture moments.

KHALID FARHAN

“True beauty is having harmony between the purpose and form. In this sculpture, artist Khalid Farhan tries to embody the focus of beauty by harmononizing forms and shapes. His work relies on the shape of a repeating geometric unit like a musical melody”.

Khalid Farhan was born in 1977 in Muharraq, Bahrain. His artistic talents manifested themselves at an early age and Farhan pursued his study of Fine Arts in Egypt in 1997.He has exhibited prolifically throughout the region, Europe and Asia and is a regular participant in international sculpture symposia. Farhan’s works are held in numerous public and private collections. His most famous work, ‘The Legend’, a wooden sculpture over 10 meters long, is on display at the main entrance of the Bahrain National Museum.

Khalid Farhan has participated in numerous exhibitions in Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, France, Portugal, Turkey, Dubai, Japan, and China.

RASHA YOUSIF

“A breather”

“With rising temperatures, limited outdoor options, people found refuge at the sea. Summer 2020 was unique. Malls, playgrounds and restaurants are closed. Bahrainis and expats living in the island turned to the sea for a breather.

Over more than two months I documented life at seashores on different parts of Bahrain at sunrise and sunset. This documentation of activity around the sea were spontaneous moments of mothers keeping a close eye to their children at the sea, men praying, teenage cool kids on bikes, horses and donkey rides.

I intend to showcase my ongoing project in a physical photo album displaying different themes like symmetry and mode of transportation”.

Rasha Yousif is a Bahraini Documentary photographer passionate about culture, architecture, and traditional ways of living. Rasha shoots in digital and in analog format. Rasha traveled to 100 countries and aims to visit all countries of the world. Her curiosity and love of exploring and re-visiting places is reflected on her work. She contributed to many magazines like CN China, Brownbook, Alef, GOOD magazine, and National Geographic. Rasha has participated at Alwan photography exhibitions in Bahrain and the Gulf.

ASMA MURAD

“#Dear Diary is a compilation of comic strips from a popular character figure from my childhood, Lulu.

Each comic strip represents the inner dialogue I was having with my inner child as I struggled to cope with the covid-19 restrictions imposed by the health authorities to contain the virus: washing my hands, staying at home, wearing a mask.

Such guidelines that were given by the health authorities reminded me of guidelines my parents gave me when I needed to behave. My inner child, like Lulu, rebelled and found it difficult to accept these guidelines, but ultimately grew to accept it and acclimate”.

Asma was born and lives in Bahrain. A civil engineer by profession, Asma has been actively engaged with photography since 2009. She has curated a book called “Bahraini Cowboys “.

Asma has participated in numerous exhibitions on the island since 2009 - at the Bin Matar House, and the annual fine art exhibitions 44, 45 & 46 and others.

Internationally, she participated with the Bahrain Photography Club in the 33th and 34th FIAP Black & White Biennial Exhibitions in Seoul, 2016 and 2018 in South Africa and in 15th World Photography Day 2019 - Kolkata. This year she participated in the project “Ramadan in Quarantine” of the Sekka online magazine.

KHALID AL ABBAS

“Bananas, Bananas, Bananas. The paintings are simply bananas, just Bananas. You might be wondering then why on earth would you exhibit them? Well the answer is quite simple. Though they are not the best paintings I created, the two paintings are very dear to me, the process of painting them was more than satisfying and therapeutic, if you’re an artist reading this, go ahead paint or draw a banana, I’m pretty certain you’ll enjoy the process. They say that art teaches us lessons, so this is something I learned from painting these two: sometimes we all need a break stop our minds from running wildly, stop the complicated thoughts and simply get your tools and start painting bananas and have fun doing so. Maybe try different styles like my realism banana and the contemporary banana”.

Art somehow speaks to me differently, ever since I was very young, I remember having a notebook with me wherever I went, I was always inspired as a youngster by different characters and stories, whether from reality or from TV. What amazed me was the artistry in making these characters and stories, hence I always wanted to replicate them onto papers, and that’s how I started my art journey. As a 20-year-old Bahraini artist who is in his last year of studying banking, I believe that even after becoming a banker, I will identify myself as an artist.

RIA TORRENTE

“I acknowledge my failure to release emotions that betray like the waves of the ocean.

“Metamorphosis (A Portrait of A Solitary Woman)” is a series of diptychs pieced together to illustrate the different planes of existence I occupy and levels of isolation I endure during this pandemic period. While the world is limited in its movement and our physical bodies are confined within the boundaries set by rules and distance, the mind has an unlimited power to conjure imageries that can make up for lost experiences and senses brought about by this unfortunate event.

Nature provokes a strong sense of connection with the self. Each individual has different coping mechanisms to maintain her or his rationality to keep up with today’s changing world. I am able to hold my own sense of self amidst isolation and unwanted emotions by creating visual metaphors while at the same time collecting documentations of real world experiences of myself and others in order to connect and create a balance between my dreams and reality.

I am metamorphosing and going through a slight agony of maturing in a place I don’t belong and longing for familial and organic connection that is distant at the moment”.

Ria Kristina Torrente is a Filipino photographer and writer. Her personal photography practice involves creating visual narratives and expressions exploring memory, solitude, existence, truth and identity through approaches ranging from landscape, portraiture, street and conceptual photography. She was recently a part of Safer Spaces Virtual Exhibition organized by The Art Space last July. She is a recipient of VII Academy’s Photojournalism and Documentary Scholarship for South and Southeast Asian Participants under the mentorship of Christopher Morris.

ZUHAIR AL SAEED

“In this work titled “Curtained Light”, the artist explores themes of darkness and anguish during the current pandemic as well as hope.

Al Saeed reminds us that life springs forth from even from something as harsh as death, from places and instances unexpected. With the new realities faced by the world today the artist recognizes the need to rekindle positive affirmation in our lives, to seek better days, and hope, that this too shall pass.

These works by Zuhair Al Saeed aim to dispel the notion of hopelessness propagated by the media, by rhetoricians, and ultimately by ourselves”.

Zuhair Al Saeed was born in Bahrain in 1980. A young artist with a long trajectory, Al Saeed has been previously engaged not only with color fields and abstract painting, but also with photography, drawing, watercolors, performance and installation. His art is in the collection of the Bahrain National Museum, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities , and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kuwait and private collections in the Middle East, Europe and US.

Al Saeed is the winner of the 2008 Zain Dream Innovation Initiative, and in October 2015 received the Palme d’Or at the Visual Arts Forum in Doha, Qatar.

SAFIA AL KOOHEJI

“The vivid colors of these works are inspired by the island of Bahrain and its charming beachy nature. The acrylic paints used capture the charm, beauty, and natural scenery of crashing waves and delicate reflection of the sun, as well as adding deep meaning that reflect the artist’s ideas and inspirations. As the color associated with the sky and water, the blue shades denote calm and serenity. Purple adds a splash of elegance, beauty, sophistication and luxury as a symbol of strength and great passion, while yellow radiates optimism. These varying qualities and characteristics, much like the unceasing ripples upon the water, are a metaphor for the human soul itself, always fighting to to overcome challenges and reach the destination and leave a lasting positive legacy. Through her marine life paintings, the artist seeks to expressively and indirectly convey the importance of preserving the environment, as well as draw attention to the beautiful scenes that God Almighty has created for us in this vast universe”.

Safia Al Kooheji is an artist born in 1994, in the capital of Bahrain, Manama, in which she spent her childhood and began her artistic career. Her artistic tendencies emerged from a young age and she participated in her first art exhibition in 2011 while still a secondary school student. After graduating from high school in 2012, she enrolled in the College of Arts at the University of Bahrain to study English Literature and participated in an exhibition organized by the Arts Club at the university in 2015. Through her colors, she expresses her passion for nature and its beauty, using them as vehicles to convey the importance of preserving the environment and drawing attention to the natural beauty all around us.

ZAIN ZUHAIR

“The pandemic has affected everyone in different ways. To an introverted, socially awkward person as I am, the pandemic has granted me a chance to spend most of my time in my comfort zone - alone in my room, as is portrayed in “Thinking”. This has encouraged endless days of reflecting, or even ruminating on memories while contemplating my purpose or lack of purpose on this earth. Sometimes simple interactions with people like engaging in eye contact or talking can feel overwhelming at times and exhaust so much of my energy. The act of wearing a mask and sunglasses has satisfied my fantasies of being somewhat invisible to people, as it blocks anyone from reading one’s facial expressions. This can get in the way of human connection since a big part of communication is based on nonverbal cues. While this has caused me to feel safe to a certain extent, it has also made me feel a bit lonelier and more isolated from people. “Busy,” is an edgy painting that reflects on such internal conflict when it comes to the need to appear as socially and emotionally unavailable as much as possible while also foreshadowing fears of being close and vulnerable”.

Zain Zuhair is a Bahraini artist who is currently studying Visual Design at Bahrain Polytechnic. Alongside from taking several drawing and painting classes at Drury University, Zain has been practicing drawing human anatomy, shape and form amateurly since 2013. Her fascination with people and understanding human connection has been her main recurrent inspiration for portraiture. Throughout her portrait work, she often attempts to capture the essence of the portrayed individual and their emotions.

SALMAN AL KHALIFA

“The oryx (‘maha’ in Arabic) is a type of antelope. Its name in Arabic also means ‘sun’ and it is one of the Arabian Peninsula’s rare animals. I chose to draw this animal due to its beauty and high status among Arabs, so much so that it was the subject of many Arab poems which noted the graceful symmetry of its body and large black eyes. A widely used symbol of the desert environment in which it lives, I try in this artwork to express the oryx’s importance and the need to protect these majestic beasts.

The artwork was done with graphite and charcoal”.

Salman Ahmad Al Khalifa was born in 1990 and is a graduate of Ibn Khaldoun National School, New York College and Shaikh Isa Military College. Drawing is a hobby, with a focus on nature and animals. His first participation as an artist was in school exhibitions. He also participated in the Arabian Horse Cultural Festival in 2019 and looks forward to participating in future exhibitions.

SALMAN AL NAJEM

“EJTMA3YAT Small Paintings” is a continuation of Salman Al Najem’s EJTMA3YAT series, where he creates miniature paintings that continue the conversation of his lager ‘EJTMA3YAT’ series.

The series aims to act as a platform for documenting and representing our current time through events that we see around us. The paintings try to do so by documenting prevalent ideas, landscapes, cultural motifs, ways of dress and most importantly to cosmetically depict the Arab man and woman in a contemporary painting.

The series is a playful commentary on contemporary Middle Eastern culture, the paintings exhibited comment on themes of: love and loss, friendship, companionship, material culture and materialism. The paintings are painted on Shemagh fabric as a way to bring the conversation to and on a locally familiar plane.

“EJTMA3YAT” refers to the word "إجتماعيات" which is the word used for Social Studies class in schools”.

Salman Al Najem’s work is a dialogue that questions parts of the human experience, aimed to redirect humankind’s attention from mortal desires, fascination with material wealth, luxury, mediocrity, vanity, idolatry, corruption and the environment. In an optimistic attempt to illuminate the importance of the-self, mastery, spiritual connectivity, mindful-sensitivity, righteousness, virtuosity and environmental sustainability.

Inspired by his childhood, Salman composes a battle between good and evil as he vacillates between shiny and matte, light and dark, soft and rough, vibrant and dull. The opposites are displayed and identified to tempt the viewer to feel, question and choose a side between the two.

AHMED AL KUWAITI

“In the photographic series “My Fourth Roommate - My Aunt,” I documented my fourth roommate, after four years of living abroad and experiencing life with three different roommates.

I moved back home and then this unexpected pandemic happened. As a family, we decided to welcome our single aunt to live in our house. We wanted to make sure that she is amongst us, safe and sound. My room had the extra bed, and now this is our fifth month of being roommates. My aunt spends nine hours during weekdays all alone at home. All of us are busy with work from the morning till sunset. In this set of photographs, I documented her in different areas around the house, where she spends most of her time - everyday with a colorful outfit, wearing her favorite golden accessories, feeding and cleaning our bird cage. This project is ongoing as the story did not end yet”.

His latest and first short fiction film “A Time to Pray” - which he wrote and directed discusses the internal conflict of universal morals and religious conformation. He has also contributed to other works as a director, photographer, videographer, editor, producer and writer. Al Kuwaiti finds his muse in documenting everyday life, especially through street photography.

AYSHA HAFUZ

“This series consists of mural reliefs that complement each other. The repetitive abstract faces in the artworks, with their prominent noses, resemble the letter ‘alef’ (A), the only letter in the Arabic alphabet that doesn’t contain any curves. The figures stand tall, determined to persevere despite life’s tragedies, from calamities and the covid-19 pandemic to graves and coffins. They may appear as ghosts or apparitions, but life force pulsates within them and with resilience the human forms stand steadfast against these obstacles, much like the letter ‘alef”.

Sculptor Aysha Hafuz has numerous solo exhibitions to her name, including an exhibition in Kuwait hosted by the National Council of Culture titled “The Beautiful are the Beautiful” in 2016, an exhibition at Al Bareh Art Gallery titled “The White in the Rainbow,” also in 2016. She also had a solo exhibition in Rome titled “She is Bahrain” in 2016” and an exhibition at the Bahrain Art Society (“The Forest of the Beautiful,” 2017). In 2019, she held the exhibition “The Neutrality of White” at Al Bareh Art Gallery. She has participated in many group exhibitions in Bahrain.

THE GREAT LOCKDOWN EXHIBITION

Is this exhibition a slice of normalcy?

We wish. At the very least it can provide a venue for personal expression, a vehicle for social bonding by sharing, letting off steam and maybe laughing a bit.

Melissa Enders-Bhatia

Curator, Director of Art and Exhibitions Programming

Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture and Research

October 2020

HALA AL KHALIFA

These long canvases mark a new place for all these images to be placed out and in the open, these canvases offered them a new home, out of mind and onto the surface.

HESHAM AL AMMAL

HISHAM SHARIF

Hisham Sharif, an up and coming Bahraini artist, presents his art in a black and white palette, exploring the depths of these two colors to make a statement.

THE GREAT LOCKDOWN EXHIBITION

Is this exhibition a slice of normalcy? We wish. At the very least it can provide a venue for personal expression, a vehicle for social bonding by sharing, letting off steam and maybe laughing a bit.

Melissa Enders-Bhatia

Curator, Director of Art and Exhibitions Programming

Shaikh Ebrahim Center for Culture and Research

October 2020

NOOR AL SAIRAFI

“The essence of transformation can be witnessed in the most fragile creature: a butterfly.

HUDA AL SAIE

“I consider my garden my refuge. I find much of my artistic inspiration amongst the colors of the flowers and plants and tonal contrast in the shade of the palms and leaves that mark my pathways.

MAYASA AL SOWEIDI

MONA MOATAZ

Mona Almoataz is an Architect and self-trained Artist.

She started her art journey in 2016 and works in mixed media and printmaking.

NAHID SULTANA

“A Day of a Car Wash Man”

Nahid Sultana is an amateur but ardent street and documentary photographer based in Bahrain.

MARWA AL KHALIFA

“Quarantine - Within Four Walls”

When will we see the light at the end of the tunnel? The answer does not appear within the four walls”.

Marwa received second prize for her work at the 44th Bahrain Fine Arts Exhibition 2018.

MASHAEL AL SAIE

“Project I: Self Portrait As My Family”

Mashael Al Saie is a Bahraini photographer and video artist. Her work disassembles the compounded ideologies that have shaped her understanding of womanhood through the roots of her Arab heritage.

CAMILLE ZAKHARIA

“While I avoided wearing the face mask for as long as possible, it was mandatory on April 10th, 2020 to do so in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

That was the day that I felt the seriousness of the Coronavirus.

I photographed over 60 restaurants that I was familiar with, ranging from popular ones to small shawarma shops, all silenced by the virus, empty from customers.

A selection of photographs are included in an Artist’s Book of approximate dimensions 100cm width x 70cm height”.

LULWA AL KHALIFA

Painting to me is an intimate visceral expression of a moment communicated through creativity.

What I love most about art is that every opinion is valid and no expertise is absolute”.

GHADA AL KHUZAEI

FARIS AL GOSAIBI

These are three photographs taken over the last couple of months. They were all taken in Manama and show directly or indirectly the effect of covid-19.

1). Social distancing. The image of a cat with other black items on a clothing line that mirror each other and are seemingly adhering to social distancing. (color film)

2) Lone Prayer. A man prays alone and wearing a mask.As the mosques no longer offered prayer services, praying alone has become more common. (color film)

ALI MUBARAK

OMAR AL RASHID

His works are in various museum and private collections.

ALI HUSSAIN MIRZA

AYSHA HAFUZ

ALI KHAMIS

He has participated in many local and international exhibitions and has won several awards for his paintings, prints and photography.

SALMAN AL NAJEM

“EJTMA3YAT Small Paintings” is a continuation of Salman Al Najem’s EJTMA3YAT series, where he creates miniature paintings that continue the conversation of his lager ‘EJTMA3YAT’ series.

“EJTMA3YAT” refers to the word "إجتماعيات" which is the word used for Social Studies class in schools”.

SALMAN AL KHALIFA

The artwork was done with graphite and charcoal”.

SAFIA AL KOOHEJI

ZAIN ZUHAIR

ZUHAIR AL SAEED

“In this work titled “Curtained Light”, the artist explores themes of darkness and anguish during the current pandemic as well as hope.

These works by Zuhair Al Saeed aim to dispel the notion of hopelessness propagated by the media, by rhetoricians, and ultimately by ourselves”.

Al Saeed is the winner of the 2008 Zain Dream Innovation Initiative, and in October 2015 received the Palme d’Or at the Visual Arts Forum in Doha, Qatar.

KHALIFA AL ROWEI

My work is a visual statistic of contemporary belief surrounding mental health in the region.

Khalifa Al Rowaiei is an architect and photographer from the Kingdom of Bahrain. He has a passion for art, design, film and photography. He uses these mediums to tell stories and capture moments.

KHALID FARHAN

Khalid Farhan has participated in numerous exhibitions in Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, France, Portugal, Turkey, Dubai, Japan, and China.

RIA TORRENTE

“I acknowledge my failure to release emotions that betray like the waves of the ocean.

I am metamorphosing and going through a slight agony of maturing in a place I don’t belong and longing for familial and organic connection that is distant at the moment”.

RASHA YOUSIF

“A breather”

I intend to showcase my ongoing project in a physical photo album displaying different themes like symmetry and mode of transportation”.

KHALID AL ABBAS

TAMARA AL PACHACHI

Delicate

“The raging pandemic which has killed over 1 million people globally as of September 2020 is further exacerbated by war, natural disasters, and the state of the economy.

The various sized (A3 and A4) artworks are black and white monoprints of dried flower remains collected during lockdown isolation at home in Bahrain'.

JAMAL AL YOUSIF

Essentially, the message/question is “I’m being instructed to remain calm, but yet there’s this individual in authority with this harsh tone, so is it really safe for me to stay calm?””

As an artists he has numerous art exhibitions and participations to his name:

2020 - Artdubai participation with W adi Finan Galler y, Jordan

2019 - Solo Exhibition, Albareh Art Galler y, “Nostalgia“, Bahrain

2018 - Group show at Albareh Art Galler y, “Conversations with Self ”, Bahrain

2018 - Solo Exhibition at Mashq Galler y, Bahrain 2016 - International Biennial Print Exhibit: 20 16 ROC

2015 - Doha International Mini Art Exhibition 2, Qatar

2015 - Tokyo International Mini-Print Triennial, Japan

ISHAQ MADAN

JAFFAR AL ORAIBI

Jaffar Al Oraibi participated is artist residencies in P aris, London and New York.

He participated in numerous regional and international group exhibitions. In 2020, he won the First Dana Prize at the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition.

AHMED AL KUWAITI

“In the photographic series “My Fourth Roommate - My Aunt,” I documented my fourth roommate, after four years of living abroad and experiencing life with three different roommates.

Ahmed Al Kuwaiti is a Bahrain-based storyteller and content creator. Following his passion for film, art, culture and media, he moved to the UAE in 2013 and studied Digital Production and Storytelling in addition to Middle Eastern Studies at the American University in Dubai. His latest and first short fiction film “A Time to Pray” - which he wrote and directed discusses the internal conflict of universal morals and religious conformation. He has also contributed to other works as a director, photographer, videographer, editor, producer and writer. Al Kuwaiti finds his muse in documenting everyday life, especially through street photography.

ASMA MURAD

“#Dear Diary is a compilation of comic strips from a popular character figure from my childhood, Lulu.

Asma was born and lives in Bahrain. A civil engineer by profession, Asma has been actively engaged with photography since 2009. She has curated a book called “Bahraini Cowboys “.

Asma has participated in numerous exhibitions on the island since 2009 - at the Bin Matar House, and the annual fine art exhibitions 44, 45 & 46 and others.

AREEJ RAJAB

“Nature’s Weave” is intended to symbolize not only how much stronger we are when we are connected, but also how vulnerable we become when separated from one another.

Bahraini born and raised, Areej Rajab was an artist at birth and remains one to this day.

That passion took her to the London College of Art where her true talent revealed itself fully.

Areej has exhibited extensively throughout the Middle East, and internationally .