The Promenade Culture Centre commenced its third residency earlier this year in January. The goal of the residency is to foster creativity and community, by creating a space where artists from multiple disciplines can develop their artistic practice and inspire others. The past two residencies culminated in gorgeous murals around the mall, which are a definite must-visit. This year the Visionary lab residency program is different from the two previous ones as this time the artists worked in a designated space to develop their work.
It is no secret that the goal of the Promenade Culture Centre has been to support the artists seeking a space for showcasing their artistic ability and sharing their messages with the public, as well as to provide our audiences and visitors with contemporary artistic offerings. Residency programs are spaces of support and continued education; they grow the artist and leave a mark in the space they are created in. Since the very first residency, the Promenade Culture Centre has worked with Shahad Bishara, a curator and founder of Visual Therapy. The Promenade Culture Centre credits Shahad’s experience and keen eye in helping them choose the artists who submitted the best proposals and in identifying artists that need a boost to showcase their creativity.
This year, the artists were invited to respond to the theme relating to the concept of ‘identity’ through the exploration of their roots. The focus was on how the interconnection of tradition, ancestry, culture and community shape our identity. The two artists that were selected for the residency program are Dana Al Rashid and Mohammad Al Hemd. Dana is an architect and visual artist, and she specializes in historic building preservation and themes on historic buildings have often been referenced in her works. Mohammad Al Hemd is an interdisciplinary artist who obtained a BSc in Civil Engineering from University of Colorado and a BA in Graphic Design from AUK. In recent years, he has primarily focused on art.
Dana tells us that “I create artworks that I have coined ‘Modern Miniatures’, which are paintings done in ancient Islamic style depicting contemporary and relevant topics. As the theme of the residency is ‘identity’, my take on the subject is how our faces are our tangible identity that we show to the world, representing both our unique features and our ethnic ancestry and lineage. Nowadays, this facial identity is ‘under attack’ –so to speak- by the current unrealistic beauty standards. So, I tackle this systematic erasure and distortion of the identity through the normalization of plastic surgery and immersion in consumer culture.”
Of the artwork she has created, Dana says “I hope the artworks will help the viewers reflect on just how much consumerism and rigid views of beauty have shaped our life and pushed us further away from ourselves, and the absurdity of it all. I do realize that the topic is a little controversial, but I suppose art is meant to help people question their reality rather than being merely an aesthetic experience. Nonetheless, I hope people will engage with the artworks and enjoy viewing them as much as I have enjoyed making them.”
Dana shares that she has been given so much care and support during the residency that has helped her project grow. She has loved having the studio space for her to work in whenever she needed and found the feedback of Shahad (the curator) and Mohammad (her residency colleague) invaluable. She shared that “it’s great to see such an initiative in Kuwait and I hope more culture hubs follow suit and support the local artists.”
We caught up with Mohammed, who shares that with his art “Usually, I try to create a conversation or shed a light on topics people neglect or shy to discuss and to push the people to talk about it, open their eyes. I want change for the better.”
Of his art, he tells us that “I want the artwork to trigger intelligent, interesting dialogues and make the visitors think deeply about their identity and its definition to them. The location of the exhibition allows my art to be introduced to those without an artistic background and educate them to a new form of art (art installation) not the typical art (painting and sculptures).”
It is clear that the Promenade Culture Centre has been taking leaps and bounds in supporting the art community in Kuwait. The center is deeply embedded in the community and they strive to answer the needs of the community. The previous topics of the residency such as socializing and transition came after the time of confinement and isolation after covid. With each residency, the Promenade Culture Centre wants to add beauty, encouragement, and hope to audiences.
A final outcome will be presented in an exhibition early in April. While it is emphasized that the prime focus of this residency is the research itself, the artist is expected to produce some tangible results that will be presented to the public during the final exhibition. If you are as intrigued as us, you can visit the exhibition at the Promenade Culture Centre.
To stay up to date with how the Promenade Culture Centre is transforming the culture scene in Kuwait, and to find out more information about their latest art installations, follow @pcckuwait. You can follow the artists to track their journey in this residency, To track the artists’ journey in this residency, you can follow them on Instagram: Dana Al Rashid @kw.miniature and Mohammed al Hemd @m_alhemd.
