Women's Art Exhibition

By Citizen Correspondent Kinan Jarjous
Date Posted: 04/15/08 Reader Rating:

Last night I attended the women's art exhibition at Dubai's International Finance Center. It did not have a buzz but it had all the creativity.

I walked in with no red carpet to lead me to a white marble hall, with several waiters lining in a file, patiently smiling and handing out refreshments and a hot wet towels to freshen us up for this small, family-like event.

There was a minimal number of press, and very few attendees. It was mostly the artists, their friends, and their families. A cozy family gathering to celebrate women's art at its finest. From digital photos, to sculptures, to oil paintings and print, there was a fresh piece of work on every corner, within every frame and on every stand and wall.

I spotted my friend, who was one of the top five nominated for best artistic work. I greeted her with passion and congratulated her and her mother - who was with her - on this wonderful occasion. She showcased her pieces to me and explained to me the concept behind her pieces.

I moved on from one artist to another, reading between the lines of text, the contours of images, the pores on sculptures, and those seemingly random blots of paint that often make the canvas the masterpiece that it is.

It was a great night for all attendees, and for the first time in ages, it was a good thing there was not a large amount of buzz around an event. The coziness and the intimacy of the artists and the attendees is what made the event, away from the press, tantalizing interviews, and pretentious attitudes.