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Creatives from across the kingdom will be sharing a message of peace with Bosnia in October as part of an artistic festival that aims to unite and celebrate culture.
The ‘Art for Peace’ festival was announced recently by the Bahrain and Bosnia Herzegovina Friendship and Business Society chairman Jawad Al Hawaj and renowned artist Abbas Al Mosawi who is organising the festive fun in a number of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Through art, people of all ages can connect and guide the future with light and beauty,” Abbas had told GulfWeekly. “That’s the message of this art festival.
“Artists of all kinds – painters, musicians, thespians – are welcome to be part of these festivities and join us for this festival which is a universal message of peace and gives artists the opportunity to communicate their part in achieving peace everywhere around the world.
“This project is also an extension of the peace-building initiatives participated by around 100 artists since 1993 from Bahrain and referred to as ‘Alwan Al Sharq’ (the Colours of Dawn).”
During the conference, Mr Al Hawaj thanked the society’s members, the artist group and media for their efforts. He also expressed his confidence in the success of the art festival, which will be the first collaboration of its kind between the two countries.
The festival is set to take place from October 5 to 12 and a total of 200 artists – 100 from Bahrain as well as 100 from Bosnia and Herzegovina – will take over Novo Sarajevo Boulevard on October 9 with live-painting pieces for the eight-day festival.
Alongside the festival, there will be children’s painting workshops, a session to create art from recycled wood and more hands-on looks at various art forms. There will also be a cultural tour to introduce visitors to Bosnian heritage and art.
Abbas will also exhibit his art and Bahraini artist and architect Mahdi Al Jallawi will showcase his photography during exhibitions from October 9 to 11. The exhibitions will take place at the Sarajevo Cultural Centre.
Meanwhile, canvases in the shape of doves featuring aspirations for unity and world peace by Bahrain and Bosnia’s artists will be the centrepiece of the festival.
