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Two of Bahrain's celebrated artists - Anas Al Shaikh and Camille Zakharia - are showing a selection of their work in a major lens-based international exhibition entitled 'Kan Ya Ma Kan' meaning 'Once upon a time' in Muscat, Oman.
The expo features three other leading Arab artists - Manal Al Dowayan from Saudi Arabia and Budoor Al Riyami and Hassan Meer from Oman - highlighting the changing skylines of the Gulf states.
Organised as part of the Bait Muzna Gallery's 10th anniversary celebrations, the exhibition brings forth the artists reflections on the impact of these changes on daily lives and consequent changes in the social structure.
From nostalgic perspectives to disappearing ways of life the artists deal with the theme in different ways using video projections, large scale photographs and composite images.
Mr Al Shaikh uses a variety of mediums and materials in his works. His body of exhibits that includes photographs and video installations will include some that will be displayed in public for the first time.
He said that this exhibition was important to him for its contemporary feel and concept. Anas added: "It is showing a different kind of art which is not related to aesthetic understanding as much as conceptual perception.
"This kind of art is new in the Gulf region and I can say that it is not very acceptable from most of the official, private art institutions and audiences. One of our aims is to be a positive part in this world by showing, expressing and reflecting our understanding, beliefs and our attitude towards life, humanity, identity, globalisation, multiculturalism, democracy and all kinds of human rights."
His black and white photographs entitled 'Death of Landscape' is an analytical and critical work that reflects his beliefs on the consequences of modernisation that is gradually taking people further away from the natural, innate, spontaneous and humane things.
He added: "As we feel that the global world is becoming closer there is an increased feeling that we are isolated in our places and our societies. We have by force to adopt ourselves, our beliefs and our souls to live an artificial life in contradiction to our traditions, identity and language, and between the subordination and imitating the consuming ways, lifestyle, culture, identities and beliefs of western societies."
'Energy Rituals' is a video that Anas said is a reflection of our complicated life today.
Mr Al Shaikh sets the start of his work as an installation artist in 1994, when he was the only one in Bahrain. He therefore has tried to encourage younger artists in his country to be more open and experimental.
Together with them, he has looked at and discussed projects by other artists in books, catalogues and on the internet.
Mr Zakharia, a Canadian artist born in Lebanon, who lives in Manama, is showing 11 colour prints from three separate projects attempting to capture the remains of a fading way of life, memories of a place and reflect on the emerging culture from Bahrain, Sharjah and Qatar.
He said: "As a photographer primarily interested in urban landscape, it has been the changes in the shape and size of a city that has fascinated me the most. I believe in the importance of the international language of visual communication that bridges the gap between cultures and is the need of the moment."
Mr Zakharia's images that have been shot on medium format Rolleiflex cameras with standard lenses and some have been selected from his earlier exhibitions - 'Double Vue' and 'Transformation of Memories'. The images from Sharjah reflect on the fast changing way of life in Sharjah.
He was recently short listed for the prestigious Jameel international art prize, touted as the Islamic art world's equivalent to the Turner prize and his work was on display at London's Victoria and Albert Museum last summer.
He has a major solo exhibition scheduled to open at Bin Matar House in Muharraq on January 31 at 7pm. The exhibition titled 'Chaos into Order' gathers for the first time collages from seven projects completed in the last 15 years. All are welcome. The Muscat exhibition is on until February 25.
