‘I am who I am’
Under the Patronage of HE Sheikha Dr. Hind Al Qassimi- Chairwoman of
BPW Middle East Company & BPW Emirates Club. Mawaheb - from Beautiful People, Dubai’s only art studio for adults and young people with special needs, in collaboration with Art Couture is opening a new exhibition ‘I AM WHO I AM’ from April18 to May 2, 2015 with an Art & coffee
morning- ‘MEET THE MAWAHEB ARTISTS’ on April19, and the official opening event on Saturday April 25, at Art Couture at the Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai. The Mawaheb Artists are:
Abdulla Lutfi, Adrian D’Souza, Alex Loveday, Ali Alsalhi, Angelina Lawless, Anjali Kakkar, Anjali Gupta, Faran Ahmad, Farzeen Maswala, Gregory Schmarr, Jack Stewart, James Casaki, Keira Thorson, Leila Murgian, Mahek Anadkat, Reyam Omer Ahamed Al Sakaf, Sharan Budhrani, Victor Sitali, Vincent Richter & Zaid Jaffar. Through the eyes and brushes of these uniquely talented artists, the exhibition explores issues of identity and representation, inspired by the iconic contemporary New York artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat. The Mawaheb artists researched Basquiat’s work including his collaborations with Andy Warhol and Madonna. His emotive images still inspire worldwide audiences, challenging us to look at the multiple issues of culture, identity and race with a critical eye and open mind. It is these penetrating motifs which struck a chord at the Mawaheb studios. Alex Loveday an artist at Mawaheb says ‘We are always trying to fit in, trying so hard to be what people want us to be, and on the way we sometimes lose our own identity. One of my favourite Basquiat quotes is, ’believe it or not I can draw’. People didn’t believe Basquiat could draw because he was different and painted in a different way. We are seen as ‘different’ and sometimes people assume we can’t do things, but we can! The ‘I am who I am’ exhibition has helped all of us at Mawaheb to have the courage to find our voice and express it through our paintings, we can’t wait to show the people of Dubai’. Gulshan Kavarana principle art teacher and mentor at Mawaheb studios says, ‘Our artists have profound things to say about themselves and their place in the world, messages which are often unseen and unheard. Using Basquiats’ life story and aesthetic to inspire, they have produced some extraordinarily empowering art works. Through these paintings you can’t help but be moved by their vision of a world where acceptance for being who they are is a human right and not just a dream’.
‘Our job at Mawaheb is to give the artists a platform to show their work and give our community here in the UAE an opportunity to invest and celebrate the depth and quality of the students creative achievements’, says Wemmy de Maaker, Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful People.
‘I am who I am’ is Mawaheb’s third annual exhibition at Art Couture. ‘It gives Art Couture great pleasure to congratulate the Mawaheb students on their continued growth and development into true artists in their own right. They are an example to the world that anything is possible for anyone through persistence, belief and heart’ says Cynthia Richards of Art Couture. Contacts at Mawaheb:
Gulshan Kavarana [email protected]
Wemmy de Maaker [email protected]
Villa 28 Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Telephone: +971 4 3532100
Mobile: +971 50 4213070
