The Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Fine Arts Festival was established in March 2013 through an initiative of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research. Since contribution to cultural development is an integral part of the Al Qasimi Foundation’s mission for Ras Al Khaimah, the Fine Arts Festival is part of this effort. The festival is a non-profit initiative designed to showcase talented local and international artists, photographers, and filmmakers. It brings together people from all over the UAE, GCC and around the world to present their different works of art in Ras Al Khaimah.
This year will be the 8th edition, where the theme will be celebrating Connected Communities. The Festival will include large-scale visual arts and a sculpture exhibition in Al Jazeera Al Hamra Old Town, outdoor film screenings, community art workshops, and school education programs.
Selecting the artists is a very delicate and extensive process. First, potential candidates submit their applications online. The panel then review and shortlist the final artists whose work will be displayed at the festival.
A person worthy of recognition, who has been working closely on this project is Tara Sillery of PR Passion. Tara told bazaar about the process and her role in it. “I am blessed to have a close working relationship with the team and Director of RAK Fine Arts, namely Suqrat Bin Bisher. He [has been] pivotal in ensuring that my Kuwaiti selected artists receive recognition. I cannot stress enough that there is no favoritism in my nominations and frankly it’s very difficult, as here in Kuwait we have so many unrecognized talented artists.”
We must say that we agree with Tara, Kuwait is full of underrated, hidden yet massively impressive talents. It takes an occasion such as this to truly help our artists display their capabilities in a deserving way. This year, Tara has helped nominate three extremely gifted individuals from Kuwait who will be at the RAK Fine Arts Festival.
When asked about how she came across these three talents, Tara told us about her appreciation for art which lead her to them. During an exhibition early last year, Tara came across her first artist, called Sara Soud. This was the level of talent she had been searching for! Through going to various exhibitions after that, and searching on Instagram, Tara met Ahmad Alhussaini who is a spectacular sculpturer. Through Tara’s extensive search in finding applicable candidates, she also selected Shoug Bahzad. These three were chosen amongst many others.
The festival offers an amazing platform for artists to show their various talents. It helps them discuss ideas, grow within themselves and their work. It also opens many doors for them since they will be able to build connections with other artists and guests attending from all over the world.
Jazeera Airways have sponsored the flights for these three artists who will be flying out to Ras Al Khaimah in representation of Kuwait’s talent. Tara said she is grateful to this Kuwaiti owned airline, and their CEO Rohit Ramachandran for being so supportive in ensuring these artists and Kuwaiti talent get the recognition they deserve. “Jazeera Airways have been pivotal in ensuring the sculpture got to the venue safely,” Tara can’t wait for their future collaborations in 2020.
The selection process for 2021 will commence in April of this year. Any artists interested in being a part of this valuable opportunity, should get their work out there as much as possible to get the recognition they deserve.
Tara also disclosed to bazaar that she keeps a regular eye on exhibitions in search of the gifted, and that artists interested in participating should contact her directly via her social media platform @tarasillery.
We were fortunate enough to learn more about these rare talents who will be representing Kuwait at the RAK Fine Arts Festival.
What is your background?
Sara: I did not study art academically, but I started this when I was young and focused on it more two years ago. I took courses with artists in Kuwait and outside and continued to train to better my skills. [This happened] with continuous training and educating myself in art books and art history.
Ahmad: [I’m actually an] art teacher.
Shoug: I’m a director at the Ministry of Information and I give portrait [and] oil painting classes at my studio. My whole life is about art.
What kind of art do you make? on what kind of canvas?
Sara: Acrylic painting, oil painting, coffee art, watercolor and pencil on all kinds of canvases.
Ahmad: Sculpting and dark surrealism art. [The] canvas sizes of my paintings vary from 60 by 90 cm and they reach to 1.5 by 1.2 meters.
Shoug: I make portraits and the medium that I use is oil colors on cotton canvases.
How did you stumble across your love for art?
Sara: I’ve always loved art from a young age. My journey began with difficulties, but I continued on to the path of success.
Ahmad: It’s a funny story. When I was young, my father used to make me [go to bed] early and I used to get mad because I don’t like sleeping early, so I would turn the lights on in my room every night and draw until I fell asleep.
Shoug: It was by accident, I didn’t know that I knew how to draw. I was sitting in my media directing class and I was bored, so I started to sketch and the sound of the pen scratching the paper made my classmate notice the flower I was sketching. He then asked me to draw him. I told him I’d never drawn a person. He told me to try. So, I sat in the classroom and sketched him live. It wasn’t perfect but it looked like him. He asked our classmates, and [they all agreed it looked like him]. I felt happy and I told him I’m going to take a portrait course and I’m going to draw you. I took the course and I was shocked that everybody told me that I’m talented. From that day [I discovered my gift], up until now, I still haven’t drawn him yet.
How would you describe your style of art?
Sara: My paintings are divided between realism and impressionism.
Ahmad: [I would say that it is] new to Middle-eastern culture because dark surrealism is different [with] our people.
Shoug: Classic art, I love realism. So, when I start drawing I wanted my paintings to look real and I love the classic style and I’m using it in my paintings. So, my art is realistic classic.
How long have you been pursuing this professionally?
Sara: I’ve been focused on [this path] for the past two years.
Ahmad: Four years.
Shoug: From April, 2019 when I started to give art courses.
What do you hope to achieve in this field?
Sara: I hope to become a well-recognized, high quality Kuwaiti, Arab and international artist.
Ahmad: Spread my art all over the world, make art more joyful and looked at differently in our culture.
Shoug: I hope to give huge lectures about art and portrait and I hope to have my own art school one day.
How does it feel to be selected to participate in RAK? What does this mean to you?
Sara: It means a lot to me because this is my first participation outside of Kuwait. I am proud to be in RAK2020.
Ahmad: The participation in RAK would be a new experience to me in this field. I am looking forward to see the different styles of art and making connections with artists from around the world. It is always an honor to be a representation of Kuwaiti talent.
Shoug: It is a new experiment for me and I’m glad to be one of the selected artists.
What will you be showcasing in the festival?
Sara: It is an oil painting about “The old man- Memories don’t go away, People do”
Ahmad: Wood sculpting sized 110 by 30, titled “embracement”.
Shoug: My portrait painting of a sad young girl. To show how she is trying to be strong while she is keeping her pain inside of her.
Who are your biggest influences?
Sara: Giovanni Segantini, an Italian painter and Édouard Manet, a French modernist painter.
Ahmad: The world known Kuwaiti artist, sculpture, and painter Sami Mohamad, his work made me fall in love with sculpting.
Shoug: My friend, who is also an artist. His name is Abdalrahman Alhmili.
Can you tell us about some current art world trends?
Sara: The art world is large and everyone has a different artistic taste and a different artistic message, so there is no single trend, there are many of them. Some of them support classic art and some of them support modern art.
Ahmad: Contemporary, digital and line art. Abstract in painting and sculpting and classic art.
Any final words or advice to artists in the region?
Sara: Be you and do what you love. Do not change your style so that people will like it, because if your art is not from the heart, no one will arrive.
Ahmad: Never let anything stop you from doing what you love and never quit. With patience, hard work and dedication eventually you will reach your dreams one day.
For more information, follow the official account of the RAK Fine Arts Festival @rakfinearts. Candidates interested in learning more about o applying to the RAK Fine Arts Festival can do soon the website rakfinearts.ae. Photos by Tareq Alaskar @Urbanq8Films at CEE Kuwait @ceekuwait.
