DUBAI: Curators all around the world have taken advantage of the opportunity to think beyond the box, resulting in the organisation of several interactive art gatherings.
It’s really interesting and exciting to realize that involvement was never confined to a single issue, but rather that participants were given a variety of innovative subjects to pick from, each more engaging than the last.
The assistance provided by emerging and professional artists has broadened the scope of recognition for all galleries and opened various golden doors that lead to novel experiences and opportunities while keeping high standards of execution and overall serenity.
‘Faces – Portraiture’, an art exhibition by Art4you gallery, was developed with the goal of revealing the past, experiencing the present, and preserving for the future, and has received widespread recognition from the art world. The artworks were tastefully displayed based on the nature of the creation demonstrating the gallery’s expert curating talents.
As we have seen in a number of exhibitions over the years, Art4you Gallery is renowned for its excellence, inventive ideas, and prominence in execution. They also make sure that a certain element of surprise is maintained, which is what makes each subsequent event unique and enthralling for both the artists and the art enthusiasts.
‘The Faces’ was an exhibition hosted by Art4you Gallery, one among the prominent galleries in the UAE, on August 20 and this was the second in the series of portrait exhibition designed and presented by Ms Jesno Jackson, curator and founder of Art4you Gallery. ‘The Faces’ was a collection of portraitures by renowned artists from across the globe. 50 paintings and 4 sculptures by 14 artists of 12 countries adorn the walls of a Picasso Gallery built and situated suitably at the ‘The Faces’.
The portraits of the United Arab Emirates’ monarchs took centre stage, bringing a new depth of realism to life with soft and precise strokes of mixed media. Abstract, contemporary, encaustic, photography, realism, hyperrealism, digital, pop art, sustainable art, versions of known and unknown figures astounded the art world as the artists’ innovations successfully integrated their creativity by relating to various aspects of nature and current social issues, which enhanced the beauty of their imagination manifold.
The featured artists were Andrew Scanlan – Britain, Aimee Sarah George – India, Abir Ouertani – Tunisia, Dr Rasha Meaad – Egypt, Hessa Alzaabi – UAE, Joy Najm – Lebanon, Khuloud Almhairi – UAE, Lene Pieters – South Africa, Mahboobeh Shahnavas – Iran, Neethu George – India, Rand Alkishtaini – Iraq/Bahrain, Rania Abdelrahman – Sudan, Roa’ Al Madani – UAE, & Una St Tropez – France.
Portraiture played an important role prior to the invention of photography because it carries a centuries-old legacy and was not limited to only being a creation but also as a strong representation of an individual, that echoes its physical appearance, emotions, and character in multiple mediums such as painting, sculpture, and so on through the brilliance of an artist. Even in the 20th century, when we have all the latest tools supported by contemporary technology that can capture all of your expressions and feelings with a single click, artists have never forgotten the age-old practice of portraiture and the uniqueness associated with it.
To ensure the visitors’ comfort and the continuity of their viewing experience, the 54 artworks shown in ‘Faces – Portraiture’ were divided into three parts in the exhibition area. The curator selected all of the artworks to ensure the highest standards, and when the artist explained the stories and factors that influenced them to create the artworks, the gathering realized the works were not just pieces of art, but they held a life force within them, a force that could converse with its spectator.
Dr Abdulla Al Shabani (Charter of Loyalty and Belonging to His Highness presented of UAE) inaugurated ‘The Faces’ with H.E. Yaqoob Al Ali (Executive Director & Private Advisor – Office of His Highness Sheikh Juma bin Maktoum Al Maktoum) in the presence of H.E. Laila Rahhall (Goodwill Ambassador, Founder & President of Business Gate, Woman Business Circle), Lara Tabet (TV presenter, realtor, luxury brand ambassador, Founder Arab Fashion Preneur), AbdulAziz Ahmad (CEO – Safeer Corporate Services Ltd), Hind Sultan Almarzooqi (Director of Culture Office & Acting Director of Marketing – Ajman Tourism Development Department), Abdulaziz Hamad Almahri (Director of Legal Affairs Office at Ajman Tourism Development Department), Abdullah Gohar (Business Development Advisor – Chairman for Ajman Tourism Development Department) and Mohammed Ali.
During the opening talk, VIP Guests shared their perspectives on portraiture and emphasised the significance of this art form. All of the attendees expressed their thoughts on ‘The Faces’ and complimented the Art4you Gallery and all of the participating artists on a fantastic display.
“A portrait is a representation of a specific person that dates back at least to ancient Egypt, where it flourished around 5,000 years ago.”
Prior to the development of photography, the only means to record someone’s appearance was through a painted, sculpted, or sketched portrait. Portraits, on the other hand, have always been more than just a record. They have always been used to express the sitter’s authority, importance, virtue, beauty, riches, taste, learning, or other traits. Portraiture has always been flattering, and painters who refused to flatter had their work rejected.
Portrait painting for commission, or on order, has become more unusual among famous modern artists. Even as portrait painting flourished in the 1990s, artists began to use video to create living portraits.
This art gallery exhibition features the work of 14 artists ranging from veterans to emerging artists. The concept of this exhibition, which attempts to bring together work from several genres, has been straying from the standard notion of portrait art.
“We wanted to bring portrait artwork to the forefront because it is a type of work that is underappreciated. We have included 50 artworks in this show that includes various subjects and styles. While you travel through the gallery you will notice that the themes and styles in this event clearly justifies that the portraits allow for a breadth of expressiveness, a scrutiny of the person, and the occasion to connect with those around us,” curator Ms Jesno Jackson said.
The exhibition was successfully closed on October 24 at Picasso Gallery.
