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His Excellency Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of the DIFC, said:
"With her distinctive artistic voice, Azza Al Qubaisi has done much to promote the UAE in the world of the arts. DIFC is keen to promote local art and artists as part of developing Dubai into an even bigger hub for art and culture. By hosting exhibitions like this, DIFC is reaffirming its commitment to fostering excellence in art."
The highlight of the exhibition includes two collections of Azza Al Qubaisi's works titled Sustainability and Seeking Identity.
The Sustainability collection is based on an environmental theme inspired by the artist's experiences while attending the Solar World Congress in Beijing, China in 2007. Sculptures in this collection highlight the urgent need to use renewable energy sources to combat rising pollution and climate change. The sun, one of our key sources of alternate energy, is a core motif in her work.
The Seeking Identity collection consists of a series of sculptures that depict the cultural challenges encountered by UAE nationals as they cope with the transformation brought by rapid economic growth. The Ghaf and date palm trees are symbols that run across this collection. The endangered indigenous Ghaf tree represents the UAE's traditional values while the date palm is an important symbol of the country's national identity.
Abdulla Bin Sougat, CEO, DIFC Lifestyle said:
"Azza Al Qubaisi's creations have been an inspiration to the artistic and cultural community in the UAE. Drawing both from the UAE's cultural traditions and contemporary artistic language, she has crafted some exquisite works of art. We are keen to support art exhibitions such as this because they contribute immensely to our effort to integrate art and culture into the social life of both DIFC and Dubai."
Azza Al Qubaisi said: "Each piece has its own message but broadly my collections seek to direct people's attention towards critical environmental and cultural issues. Art has the power to engage people and connect with the human spirit. It is a universal language that can unite people to work towards change. Through my work, I have tried to create greater awareness of some of the challenges that our society faces today."
Born in Abu Dhabi and educated in London, Al Qubaisi studied at the Chelsea College of Art and Design (Diploma of Foundation Studies), London Guildhall University (Jewellery Design and Allied Crafts B.A., Honours), and the HRD Institute of Gemology in Antwerp, Belgium. After completing her studies, Al Qubaisi created and launched the Arjmst brand and established the Voice Gallery to spread awareness of art through jewellery.
The exhibition also displays the work of outstanding UAE and international artists including Dhabia Jumaa Lamlah, a 68-year-old Emirati woman artist, her son Mattar bin Lahej, Rashid Al Mohannadi, renowned Qatari photographer, Liz Clay, the UK-based award-winning textile artist, Jere Hietala, an award-winning Finnish professional photographer and Sinikka Ahokas-Gröhn, a Finnish artist who creates paintings on silk.
The exhibition will run from the 24 July - 14 August 2008, between 10 am and 8 pm every day at the Lobby of Building 5 in DIFC.
Posted by Siba Sami Ammari
