What’s On Dubai – July 2019

CULTURE

54 _What’s On_07.2019

D

id you know that you can

visit the world-famous artist

eL Seed at his studio in

Dubai? The artist – who was

born and raised in Paris to Tunisian

parents – spent his artistic career

developing his own signature style of

Arabic calligraphy, which he paints as

murals in public places or, in recent

years, turns into turning and twisting

sculptures. Here’s where to see some of

his murals around the country.

Five places to see

celebrated Tunisian

artist eL Seed’s art

in the UAE

1 Ajman

A blue, black and white mural adorns

a tower block at the junction of Badr

and Al Ittihad Streets in Ajman’s Al

Bustan neighbourhood. It’s a quote

from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al

Nahyan, the founding father of the

UAE, which says: ‘‘On land and in the

sea, our forefathers lived and survived

in this environment. They were able to

do so because they recognised the need

to conserve it, to take from it only what

they needed to live, and to preserve it

for succeeding generations.’’

2 Sharjah

This snaking multi-coloured mural on

a building in Sharjah’s Bank Street was

painted as part of a public art initiative,

launched by Maraya Art Centre. The

words are from a poem by 19th-century

Iraqi poet and calligrapher Ahmed Bu

Sneeda, who lived and worked for most

of his life in Sharjah. It says: “I speak to

you but you do not reply; I visit but you

do not visit me.” It was a popular song

for residents of Sharjah.

(^3) Abu Dhabi
The artist collaborated with 20
schoolchildren in Abu Dhabi to
produce the capital’s first mural on the
wall of the Abu Dhabi Municipality
Building. Together they painted
verses from a poem about the Mother
of Our Nation, written by Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid. The project
launched The Art Movement by the
Abu Dhabi-based Fatima bint Hazza
Cultural Foundation, which is involved
in bringing literacy and education to
children in the Emirates.
4 Dubai: The Green Planet
In silver paint, the mural on the side of
Dubai’s Green Planet spells out a poem
of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid titled
Positive Spirit. The central couplet
reads: “A positive spirit resides in our
soul. It demands our attention and
plays a strong role.”
5 Dubai: Dubai Opera Gardens
At 30 metres long and over three-and-
a-half tonnes, this sculpture of pink
stainless steel is called Declaration
and is an ode to Dubai, the city that he
loves. The words come from a quote by
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid: “Art in
all its colours reflects the culture of the
nations, their history and civilization.”
(^6) Dubai: His studio
You can visit the world-famous artist eL
Seed at his studio in Dubai. It’s located
at Warehouse 75, Alserkal Avenue.
q elseed-art.com
Calligraphy king
ART
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Photo: John Falchetto