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Acclaimed artists from Bahrain joined painters from around the world in a colourful international festival in Türkiye aimed at celebrating culture through art.
Irina Averinos, a long-time member of the Bahrain Arts Society, joined her Bahraini fine arts and fashion designer friend, Nadia Al Jar, to showcase their creative skills alongside more than 40 painters from 12 countries, including a group of local artists, in the 11th International Art Festival ‘Trabzon through the eyes of world artists’.
“I was invited as an international artist by Şükran Yangin Üst, the head of Femin & Art International Association,” said the 63-year-old Jordanian with Russian roots who lives in Isa Town.
She has lived in the kingdom for several years and represents the Femin & Art International Women Artists Association in Bahrain.
Şükran established it in 2007 to bring together female artists from all over the world to foster art and cultural bridges between countries. Femin & Art started with five female artists in Türkiye and developed six branches with representatives in 30 countries.
The first time Irina participated with the association was in 2013 and she hasn’t looked back. “I like to promote Bahraini residents and artists and have promoted around 15 artists over the years.
“This time I took Nadia with me and we had so much fun. Nadia and I have different styles and backgrounds, but as fellow artists, we often paint and exhibit together. This festival was the second we have attended together.”
During the five-day festival, held from July 1 to 5, Irina and Nadia visited historical and tourism sites, enjoyed local cuisine and painted outdoors in Trabzon’s Meydan, the Central City Square.
“We were surrounded by many art lovers watching us create paintings of 70cm by 70cm,” said Irina, a retired engineer who was an art curator for several exhibitions in Bahrain and abroad and an art group chairwoman for 10 years in the kingdom as well.
Additionally, she has been an art educator for more than 20 years, during which she developed several different art courses for events in Bahrain and Jordan.
“We met with international artists and groups of art students, developed friendships and networks, and were introduced to different art schools and styles,” she added. “It is always lovely to meet artists from different schools, look at different styles and techniques, learn something new and share skills and techniques with them too. This kind of festival gives you many opportunities and inspirations for future artworks.”
Usually, Irina use oils for her realistic paintings based on her love of nature and travel, but at the festival, she painted using acrylics featuring an abstract style.
“Inspiration came from the local colours and picturesque scenery,” said the Bahrain Garden Club treasurer. “I painted a picture under the canopy of a huge Platanus tree, which reminded me of my childhood.
“One leaf fell at my feet and I used it in my painting techniques. The famous Turkish amulets from the evil eye also hung on the trees in the street cafe where we had lunch. I added it to my painting as a finishing touch.”
After the outdoor painting session, the artworks have been put on display at the Hansmizade Ihsan Bey Art Centre Gallery. Trabzon’s Ortahisar Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç inaugurated the art exhibition.
“Some of the paintings that were produced during the festival and are being showcased at the exhibition will be given to sponsoring institutions, sold to benefits of local charities or kept in the association’s archive,” added Irina. “It was an excellent opportunity for artists and a big ‘thank you’ goes out to Şükran and the festival organisers and sponsors.
“It will be nice to organise a similar art festival in Bahrain and if anyone is interested in collaborating and sponsoring it please reach out!
“I would love to stage an art festival here called ‘Bahrain through the eyes of world artists’ where international and local artists could produce paintings of beautiful Bahrain and highlight Bahraini heritage.”
For details, follow
@art.irina.averinos and
@nadia6art on Instagram.
