Art show to teach tolerance to students

A total of 32 students of eight nationalities took part in the Emergence Student Art Exhibition - an art event in line with the country's proclamation of 2019 as the Year of Tolerance - to gain a better understanding of each other's culture, backgrounds through their art works.
The exhibition showcases paintings on the culture and heritage of the UAE and the beauty of the world and its different people from different cultures. The art festival is being held at the Cartoon Art Gallery, Dubai until December 22.
The exhibition, curated by Jesno Jackson, founder of Art4You, was inaugurated by artist and fashion designer Sultana Kazim in the presence of calligrapher and Emirati artist Ali Mohamed Al Amiri, music composer Ebrahim Juma Al Madani, artist Ahmed Rukni Al Awadhi and Peter Gressman, founder of Artforumuae.
Hosting her fourth exhibition, Jesno said that for this show she simply wanted to focus on self-taught student artists of different nationalities, giving them exposure and bringing out their hidden talent. Students from the UAE, Oman, India, Spain, Italy, China and Pakistan presented about 60 artworks based on their observance of life. They were encouraged to create masterpieces using their creativity and familiarise themselves with the world of art.
"The year 2019 is considered as Year of Tolerance. We depicted it by bringing students of different cultures, habits and even beliefs, and respecting their artworks, seeing their ideas and giving them opportunity to exhibit and experience at the exhibition. Art and culture represent one of the few areas in our society where people can come together to share an experience even if they see the world in radically different ways. Bringing the kids together to share and discuss a work of art can make us more tolerant of difference and of one another, " Jesno said.
Avigyan, a 16-year-old artist residing in Oman, said: "The fact that I got this opportunity to showcase my artwork is in itself surreal and phenomenal. Although I have displayed my paintings in India, participating in this international exhibition has given me the exposure to other cultures that I had never experienced before."
On his part, Ali Amiri said: "Through arts .the students gain a better understanding of one another and positively influence human lives in ways that no other academic discipline can possibly duplicate."
saman@khaleejtimes.com