Weighty works

Two Bahraini painters have used vibrant and whimsical cartoon art to discuss serious topics in two murals featured at the Muharraq Nights Festival, being held along the Pearling Path.

The colourful pieces by Hana Maki and Noora Alrumaihi are among 15 murals curated by Al Riwaq Art Space, as part of a public art series titled Salmeen Ghanmeen (‘safe and sound’ in Arabic).

Hiding behind these pretty pictures and
 bold colour palettes are weighty issues.
Hana’s artwork warns about the looming threat of rising sea levels, land reclamation and ecological collapse.

“The piece is about my relationship with the ‘bahr’, or sea, in Bahrain,” the 29-year-old illustrator told GulfWeekly.

“I have a very strong connection with the sea – it’s where I go to ground myself.

“I’ve created a myth about a possible future, as Bahrain is at risk of drowning. It’s just me and a cat from Muharraq submerged in the water, looking at each other and reflecting on the irony of what we’ve come to.”

Although it was given the straightforward title My love for the Bahr in Bahrain, Hana uses the painting to construct an image of a dark future which must be avoided at all costs.

Spray-painted on the shutter of a boutique’s storefront, the mural shows a girl and cat, both drowning and surrounded by dying, winged fish ascending to heaven.

Hana adds that the flying fish reflect the colossal number of marine species tragically driven to extinction due to the actions of humans, with the number of surviving species reduced to a fraction of what it once was.

Meanwhile, Noora’s mural titled City of Pearls takes a more contemplative approach, reflecting on the ancientness and ‘timelessness’ of Muharraq, and the new generations that continue to carry it forward.

Somewhere between doodle and painting, the mural is illustrated directly on a grey, unpainted wall, without a border, depicting several, overlapping, cartoonish but expressionless figures.

“The concept of this mural touches on themes such as ‘spirits from the past’ and ‘old stories’,” the artist said, adding that it ‘acts as a tribute to the spirits that once inhabited this district’.

“Walking around the Pearling Path and exploring the area allowed me to conceptualise the idea. One of the things that stood out to me was how unique every detail was, every wall seemed to hold a story,” the 26-year-old artist from Riffa said.

“The walls remember the spirits of those who once walked those same streets – the place is made eternal with their memories and past stories. The more I wandered around, the more I uncovered a deep sense of belonging in me.

“To balance the heaviness of these subjects, I chose bright and playful colours to make the work feel less serious, light-hearted and inviting. They reflect Muharraq’s youthful spirit without forgetting its historic roots.”

She added that she also chose the colours to convey the emotions of the characters since they lacked facial expressions.

Hana can be found @paperboatdoodle while Noora can be found @artbynura_ on Instagram.

The third edition of Muharraq Nights, taking place across the neighbourhoods of the old city, celebrates art, design, fashion, crafts, music and food. The festival has brought to life venues, squares and historic homes along the 3.5km Pearling Path, beginning at the Pearling Path Visitors Centre and ending at the ancient Qal’at Bu Mahir.

Organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities as part of ‘Celebrate Bahrain 2024’, the event will remain open until December 30.