UAE's art, culture showcased in Paris

The cultural performances and talks during the four-day UAE Cultural Week in Paris showcased the rich Emirati heritage and how it blends with the French culture and other inspirations from across the world. - Supplied photo

The local culture and art scene of the UAE was recently flown to Paris in a four-day event that featured distinct Emirati creations and masterpieces, along with talks and film screenings. Driven by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development as part of the 2018-2019 UAE-France Cultural Dialogue, the UAE Cultural Week was wrapped up on Sunday.
It was attended by one of the youngest art patrons in the country, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, chairman The UAE Cultural Week is an important platform that exemplifies a long-standing friendship between the UAE and Franceof UAE Unlimited.
"The UAE Cultural Week is an important platform that exemplifies a long-standing friendship between the UAE and France, showcasing creative energies of the young talents," said Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.
"It has established new avenues for collaboration in the cultural and creative sectors while exposing the French public to our rich heritage and culture. We truly believe that culture is a force that transcends borders and creates constructive intercultural dialogue and we look forward to building on this partnership to promote not only our bilateral ties but our human connections as well."
From the artworks exhibited to the performances and talks that were held, the four-day event showcased not just the rich Emirati heritage but also how it blends with the French culture and other inspirations from across the world.
"Cultural dialogue is an integral part of the overall vision of the UAE Unlimited, which has created opportunities around learning through collaborations across the UAE," said Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, chairman of UAE Unlimited.
"Art has an important yet varied role in the evolution of the whole art scene in the UAE," he added.
The week provided an opportunity for a number of cultural institutions from across the country to come together and highlight a wealth of creativity from the region.
Dubai Design District (d3) featured 'UAE Design Stories: The Next Generation from the Emirates', an exhibition displaying contemporary design from Emirati designers, which was showcased at leading international design fairs across the world. Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, CEO of d3, said: "It's vital for the continued growth of Dubai's creative scene to support initiatives like these and showcase the best of the region's creative talents."
 'Co-Lab: Contemporary art and savoir-faire', on the other hand, presented artworks by four artists based in the UAE and another four leading manufacturers in France.
Saif Saeed Ghobash, undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi, said celebrating the UAE Cultural Week in Paris was an important milestone in promoting the contemporary design aesthetic of local artists and designers.
Discussions on graphic design and typography were also part of the week's programme, featuring speakers like Salem AlQassimi, principal and founder of Fikra, and Léa Rolland and Redouan Chetuan from Radiographique.
 Other talks showcased the art movement in Abu Dhabi and how art is democratised for the youth, as presented by the Fatima bint Hazza Cultural Foundation; the influence of cities on art by UAE Unlimited; Co-Lab: inspiration and creation, by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi; as well as Dubai: a thriving arts scene, which depicted how the UAE has become a regional arts and culture hub over the past two decades, by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.
An evening was also dedicated to a classical concert at the University of Sorbonne in Paris, in the memory of the UAE founding father, titled the Art of Zayed.

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