The art of friendship

It’s a double delight for Bahraini friends Ghada Khunji and Eskander Dawani who have displayed their finest works in a joint show for all art lovers to enjoy, write Julia Cassano and Mai Al-Khatib Camille.

They have transported their personal studios to Al Riwaq Art Space in Manama, offering members of the public a rare glimpse into the creative spaces that have nurtured and kindled their imaginations for years.

The exhibition is titled Representation and the Significance of Imagination.

“It initially wasn’t our idea to have the joint show,” 56-year old Adliya-based photographer and artist Ghada told GulfWeekly.

The concept came about when Al Riwaq’s director of educational programmes and exhibitions William Wells spotted the striking similarities between the works of both artists after visiting their studios, and thought it would be a great idea for the pair to collaborate in a joint event. 

“Not everyone gets the chance to visit an artist’s personal studio, so by opening up ours to the public, guests are given a real perspective not only into an artist’s work but also their lives,” said Ghada, a graduate from the Parsons School of Design and the International Centre of Photography’s Documentary Programme, both based in New York, USA.

“The brain behind the exhibition, William, did such a great job organising this event, which not only exposes our art but also shares a unique concept,” Bahraini-British 52-year-old Eskander said.

“It was an honour to have my artwork next to Ghada’s at the exhibition,” added Eskander, who described his friend as ‘art royalty’.

The two studios, which were relocated to Al Riwaq in just two days, border the shared artists’ imagination and aim to inspire a public conversation between both sets of works.

Ghada’s most recent piece explores her innermost feelings, thoughts and identity as a woman.

She explained that many people often wonder what it’s like to be in an art studio, and realised that it would be a great idea for each artist to display their works together in the middle of the gallery – to ‘mirror’ each other.

“Showcasing our work together represents an artistic conversation between us,” said Ghada.

The middle gallery is a shared space and it showcases three pieces of art, as well as a video of Eskander made by Ghada.

Eskander admitted to a healthy competition between the two talented artists, and added that they ‘try to outdo each other’ in a positive manner.

“We didn’t have a lot of time, so we pushed each other to do our best, and I think it worked out great,” he said.

“Although Ghada and I have similarities in our work, there are differences, which makes it interesting for guests who get that special glimpse into our personal spaces.”

The show has received a positive response and the artists hope to inspire more conversations around the exhibits.

Eskander gained his life-long passion for drawing after he studied International Baccalaureate Art at the Bahrain School in Juffair, which led him to continue his passion at the American Academy of Art College, in Chicago, USA.

While he tends to portray different mediums and styles, ranging from cartoons to portraits, Ghada is known for depicting landscapes and people from all over the world to capture the inherent dignity of the human element.

The pair, who have been friends for 10 years, honour each other through their work.

At the joint show, Ghada has displayed a portrait of Eskander, after he surprised her with a stunning painting of her in 2020.

“Shows like this bring out the best in artists and creating portraits of each other signifies our respect for one another as an artist, as well as our love for art,” Eskander explained.

“The aim of our exhibition is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance,” said Ghada who began her career as a freelance photographer in the fashion industry in New York in the early 1990s. She is the recipient of a litany of awards including the Lucie Discovery of the Year (considered to be the Oscars of photography, American Photo magazine’s Image of the Year Award, as well as the Golden Lights Award for Travel.

“Moments like these inspire us to make more work, and I can’t wait to reveal what I have in store for next year,” she added. 

Ghada is currently exhibiting in a group show called The Sea of Life: Modern and Contemporary Art from the Kingdom of Bahrain at the MEI Arts and Culture Centre in Washington DC, US.

She is also exhibiting at the Women’s Pavilion, also in a group show titled Resonating Tides at Expo City Dubai as part of COP28.  The exhibition will run until January 20.

For more details, follow @alriwaq, @gkhunji and @iskander.dawani on Instagram.