Festival of African culture to feature vibrant local art scene, works of rising artists in UAE

An artwork titled The Magnificient Seven by Kristel Bechara.

Palm Jumeirah residents and visitors are bound to have a colourful weekend ahead as an arts festival is set to bring together artists, musicians, painters and sculptors to celebrate creativity.
To be held from December 7 to 8 on the terraces of Golden Mile Galleria, adjacent to Al Ittihad Park, the Cultural Flair will present the African Cultural Pavilion that will give a deep insight into West and East Africa's heritage, while allowing visitors to donate for a safe home for underprivileged girls in Kenya. 
The event will also be showcasing Art Nights, a platform for the local community to connect with established and upcoming artists.
UAE-based artists said the growing art scene in the country allowed them to interact with collectors and enthusiasts from around the world.
Lebanese artist Kristel Bechara, known for integrating expressive colour and graphic design into a painting, noted the yearly "significant growth" of the UAE's art scene through various prominent events like the World Art Dubai and Art Dubai and Abu Dhabi, along with the exhibitions at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
"People in the UAE are culturally diverse and they love art. Because of the incredible economic opportunity that the city presents to majority of its residents, a lot of them can afford to collect art," said the artist, who has been based in the UAE since 2007.
Launching her own 'Beauty in Diversity' collection in October 2017, Bechara has been shipping paintings across the world. "I genuinely believe that I would not have been able to launch a full-time art career anywhere else in the world," she said.
Bechara is exhibiting over 20 artworks from her latest collections 'Beauty in Diversity' and 'Tribute to the Masters'. As an artist, she said she hopes to see a continuing increase in the number of galleries displaying local artists' work across the country.
Indian watercolour artist Bonny Mathew said the country has all the ingredients for art to flourish. However, he said the idea of making art as a first career for sustenance "is still at a nascent stage".
Mathew is a chartered accountant by day and a watercolour artist by night. Inspired by the cityscape, boats and the UAE scenery, he returned to painting after a long break, winning awards from the Dubai International Art Centre and exhibiting his paintings in Vietnam and Italy. 
"For me, not a day passes by without picking up brushes to make some random strokes with colours on paper," he said. "The process is meditative and highly relaxing."
This weekend, he will be displaying watercolour paintings inspired by UAE sceneries, street scenes and the waterfront of Palm Jumeirah.
What 'Mother Africa' has in store for all
The event, to run on December 7-8, will give visitors the chance to have an in-depth look into the African heritage.
>Live Afrobeats, jazz, R&B and hip hop music performances and Soco and Kupe traditional dance sessions
>Fashion bazaar and handicrafts market exhibiting African fabrics, accessories and home decor items
>Runway shows featuring designs by top UAE-based African fashion designers
>Turban-tying workshops where guests can have their hair styled in twists or dreads
>Bracelet-making and wire-sculpting sessions
>An exhibition of artwork, photographs and installations inspired by the continent's culture
>Panel discussions on contemporary Africa
>A limited edition jacket for sale, proceedes of which will go to building a safe home for underprivileged girls in Kenya
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com