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A new not-for-profit community group of creatives has formed in the kingdom with the aim of staging exhibitions in a bid to encourage aspiring artists, as well as provide a platform for those who wish to join in Bahrain’s thriving art scene.
Interaction Art Bahrain, which is part of the Interaction Art Organisation held under the patronage of Club for UNESCO of Piraeus & Islands in Greece, promotes artists of all walks-of-life and recently staged a one-day exhibition featuring the works of 22 artists from across the kingdom.
Families and friends had flocked to the Interaction Art and Bahraini Artist Brush event, which allowed different painters to showcase their skills, as well as to learn more about the art group.
“We promote artists that are just starting up or aren’t well known, regardless of age and nationality, in Bahrain on our platform and through live art sessions and exhibits,” said Marina Fay, the president of the unregistered group who volunteers her time with other members to make budding artists dreams come true. “The event, held at the Swiss Belresidences in Juffair, was a success with many coming to meet the artists on show and admiring their work. Visitors were very enthusiastic meeting participants and for some of these artists it was their first time even exhibiting their work.
“We are always looking for different spaces to exhibit our artists’ works and hope more talented individuals join us in adding bursts of colours to spaces. There is a lot of talent in Bahrain and we simply want to promote them ... especially new artists. After all, that is what the Unesco Club in Greece is all about, promoting artists, authors, poets and all modalities of art.”
According to Marina, the Club for UNESCO of Piraeus & Islands aims to preserve, rescue, disseminate and protect traditional and modern culture, free exchange and circulation of cultural information and ideas.
It organises initiatives and programmes encouraging cultural development and the promotion of peace, friendship and mutual co-operation and social solidarity of equality which is what Interaction Art Bahrain hopes to continue here.
Najma Eraik, the group’s director of art, displayed three of her paintings using different mediums such as acrylic, oil pastel and gold leaf. Her artistic style is a combination of ‘emotional and realistic’.
“I love to show my feelings in every painting that I draw,” she explained. “I guess you could say I put a little bit of my soul in my paintings.
“This was a wonderful event full of positive vibes. It was such a successful exhibition and I saw so many beautiful artworks. Personally, I believe the most marvellous artworks though belonged to artists Fatima Hasan, Fatima Maraghi and Maha Ghazal.”
Fatima Hasan’s classical and realism artworks using oil paints were crowd pleasers.
She was thrilled to be a part of the exhibit.
“Many people came and saw different and unique art styles and the atmosphere was energetic and positive,” said Fatima. “Najma and Marina did an amazing job organising the exhibition and I can’t wait to see what comes next.”
Other artists involved included Shahira Shabu, Lulwa Ahmed, Linda Askar, Salma Saleem, Aparna Shere, Dr Zainab Redha, Rasha AlNaser, Li Ma Bolholtz, Haleema Yaqob, Navya Adelkha, Fatima Bahar, Nisreen Sammour, Richa Mauryia, Madhvi Dhanak, Nujabaa Bader, Azhar Althawadi, Mariam Alshaikh and Reham Albader.
For details, follow @interactionartbahrain on Instagram.
