RAMADAN GATHERINGS جلسات في رمضان: With "HALF EMIRATI" Film maker, "POLICE OFFICER" and "THE QUILLING QUEEN".

Khaleejia said: This time our Ramadan gathering was in a beautiful place decorated specially for Jalsat in Ramadan tents.



Invited by the only Emirati Quilling Queen - the very first accredited Emirati quilling artist Farah al Fardh who also launched her new accessories collection,
organized a beautiful gathering for us in the World Trade Center in Dubai where we met amazing people from differnt fields of Art, Media and film making. 

Our Jalsa was really nice and informative, people who were with us have unique personalities and global achievements, it is kind of school where you can learn life from all aspects in details.

 We discussed the new collection launched by Farah and her student presented us her own quilling artwork, it was so cute and even inspired me to try. Seemed that Farah got happy to know that her army of fans is growing. We had a great chat and conversation about Autism problems,  film ideas and how they were filmed. Strories behind the scene like one boy who lost his father during filming and needed financial support. New coming Gulf film about a girl who wants to ride a bicycle but in KSA it was not allowed so she joined the Quran competition to win money prise to buy a bicycle. We talked a lot but the most interesting was who we are and here is our story:

The Emirati Quilling Queen:
Farah is a very intelligent, beautiful and talented lady who discovered her interest to quilling back in 2004 when there was none in the UAE who even knew about it. She is saying "Until 2007 when I published my artwork on an online forum that I realized no one had even know about it, there wasn't even a name for it in Arabic! So I gave it the arabic name 'Fan laf al-warq', which means 'The art of rolling paper'." She saying that the beauty of paper quilling. Just like any other art, it leaves you with no limits as to what you can create. All you need is a few equipment & an imagination let loose.And wouldn’t it be a pity if the world doesn’t realize that such an incredible art exists?" So she started her campaign of promoting quilling art in UAE, GCC and the Middle East. Now she got her accreditation in this art, built her own website, started participating in the National project and even teach quilling anyone who is interested in it. Now her sister Amnah Al Fardh preparing to get the Guinness World Record for making 1145 quilling technique paper dolls. link to the news on 18 July 2013. Farah is excited about her sister but still is very humble and doesn't pretend to be mentioned in her sister's achievement. Well she has her own! She became the UAE's regional representative of the Quilling Guild, a UK organisation, and started to exhibit her works at home and abroad. She was further recognised in 2009 with the Tamaiaz Award for Entrepreneurship and again last year with a Sheikha Shamsa Award for Creative Women. Al Fardh took her skills to Jordan  to teach orphans quilling techniques, supported by the Jordan Joud Foundation, a children's charity. Their artwork was then exhibited at the Jordan Quilling Exhibition. Her students saying they are so happy to get to know quilling and thanks to Farah who actually did a great job by  spreading this good art among the nations and countries. Visit Farah's site: http://www.farooha.net

 AMAL AL AGROOBI :Director of "Half-Emirati" and a Founder of emirates Cancer Foundation.

Among invited was one of the most popular Emirati film maker and founder of  Emirates Cancer Foundation  AMAL AL AGROOBI.  Those who may have not heard about her, definitely heard about the moot point film "Half Emirati" who raised a huge interest of the local society and discussed world wide. Being a director of this film she disclosed a problem of those who are half emirati half other nationality. Watch trailer to "Half Emirati" .Being herself UAE national with Syrian mother she consider herself Emirati and saying  " I think what  means to be an Emirati it is not the khaleeji dialect you speak, passport you have or dress you wear but it is when you would live and fight for this land, you would contribute to society, this society, in a positive way and ultimately, you know, sacrifice your life for the land in which you inhabit."  Her passion to what she does  gives a lot of value to what she present. Working on another film that featuring Autism will show the problem from different aspects and angles and attempt to find a solution.
Please visit her websites: www.iloveuae.ae
www.cancer.ae

Beautiful & Strong Shatha Abdullah
Another amazing guest was Shatha Abdullah originally from KSA but who lives in UAE and work as Public Relation in Media. Fabulous, fashionable, stylish and successful woman who shocked me by saying that she is a single mother of two beautiful children while she was the initiator of the divorce.Woman who came out of "the man's world" often have different attitude to the divorce but she proved us that woman is able to be responsible and self-sufficient not only for her self but for her family as well the same time being a good model of the arab lady in the modern world.

HUDA Police officer with a Big Heart 
Now i will tell you about Huda, Farah's sister who has the most incredible story you may expect to hear in such place.  She is covered and wearing abaya, very sweet, easy going and educated lady.It was enough to know that this humble lady is a Police officer and moreover she works at the prison. Our chat was so normal, we laugh and joke about many things  unless she said, "You know, I have a Russia child". I though it is kind of a joke, and just replied her "you were joking", but she said, " No, i am serious, i have a daughter and she is a Russian, now she is playing there in Modhesh". A date stuck in my throat. "Huda, what are you talking about? you are an Emirati and your husband an Emirati, so  how come?" Then she said "Yes but ex-husband. He left me once i took the decision to adopt this girl. I promised it to myself. I knew i will face a lot of problems, but the decision was made." After she told me her story. Huda did a very brave act of kindness by becoming a mother for Russian child who lost her parents after birth. Knowing what kind of problems she would face by doing it she went for it despite everything. Getting nationality for the child was one of the biggest problem, but she managed with it by giving her Comoros passport. Huda said: The girl look like Russian but she speaks like us, Emiratis. I put henna on her hair to look more "acceptable", despite everything i love her so much and can't now imagine my life without her. Though the girl knows from where was her original mother, she anyway calls me "Mama". I am happy.

Farah was very smart to offer us best snacks in the world: Lugaimat and Mkasarat.

An Emarati artist Khalid Al Banna

                                          

Khaleejia said: Today i would like to tell you about my friend Khalid al Banna, an Emarati artist who attempts to preserve traditional taste of the youth through his art works. This interview was prepared by him for the Kashya gallery. I asked him to show up in my blog and he happily agreed :) I love his artworks, because they feature national heritage of the khaleej and UAE partiularly. Each artwork is a masterpiece and Khalid definitely has been gifted. His artworks are absolutely unique and the most important thing, his love to the heritage gave him idea on how to demonstrate its pieces in the different way to keep it alive for the new generations.

Visit his site: http://khalidalbanna.com (We are looking for a webdeveloer support to keep his brand site up-to-date, please contact us you re interested and really willing to help khalid@khalidalbanna.com or khalidalbanna@yahoo.com)

Facebook group that reveals the past of the UAE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/431661066844904/

          Some prehistory:

 Khalid Al Banna was born in Sharjah in 1975.He graduated in 1993 with a degree in Architecture Engineering from Emirates University. This background has encouraging him to consider forms and spaces and has enhanced his sense of mass and dimension. In 2002 Al Banna began his apprenticeship with artist Yasir Al Duwaik, who inspired Al Banna to delve into the world of etching and taught him the principles and techniques of that art form.

             

 Read this inspiring interview to know what ideas lies behind the artworks and what/who motivates this talanted Emirati artist in his work.

          What inspired you to become an artist?

I started drawing since my childhood, it was as a hobby that evolved, deepened and entrenched over the time. I got encouraged that i have a talent for drawing and decided to develop it and refine.

 When you say you trained with etchings does that mean you use this technique in all of your work?

 I began  with an etching technique, It was a very difficult technique and unique in the Emirates, I used to produce art work with etching, unfortunately I did not continue with it due to lack of materials and knowledge about it, beside that it needed time to produce art works.I consider it as one of the most difficult technique in the art. 

What training did you receive that influenced your career?

 I got trained in oil, acrylic, coal, and sculpture in Emirates Fine Art Society. 

Who have been your mentors or teachers? 

Yasir Al Dweek, the a Jordanian pioneer of etching is my teacher, I have been  influenced  by different  Artists in Emirates such as Abdul Raheem Slem.

 It would appear the black and white work are more a reference to the dark politics in the Middle East the colorful sculpture work are more a reflection of the social trends that exist now. Can you expand on this.What influences your work most? Politics, Current events? 

Basically my work was influenced by the dramatic events in the Middle East such as the 1^st and the 2^nd Gulf War along with terroristic attack on 11 September in New York City back in 2000.Those periods were dark and gloomy that determined my choice of black color for the paintings as it is commonly associated with sadness and depression.

The fabric materials reflect a result of the rapid development experienced by the UAE.

Within just 30 years since establishment of the Union, lots of new things have appeared that have changed social life and the same time many of customs and traditions have disappeared.

Human behavior have been changed from a simple to complex life in the UAE as well.I tried to use raw cloth which have roots in the history of the UAE, as a way to link the past with the present. It is my attempt to revive these materials before they disappear once and for ever.This fabric works clearly demonstrate the economic impacts on the Arab Emirates nationals, showing feelings and emotions that exposure as a result of the economic crisis.

                                      

Do you work simultaneously with both series of work? (sculpture and B&W?)

 I work all the time on the idea, I may use either black or white or fabric techniques, that assist me to produce that art work which based on my idea.Sometimes I combine two techniques at a time.

  Do you feel it opens up more possibilities?        

The experience, repetition and research push an artist  to open new horizons fields  and get new ideas.

Sometimes while I am working I get an idea generated by another work of art. It is a series of interrelated ideas that are sequential.

 Do both bodies of work reflect personal experiences you have had or are they more reflective of your perceptions of change in the UAE?

Some of art work reflects personal experiences and some of them are a reflection of perception on changes in the UAE. 

                              

 Do you view your work as giving a historical context to the fast changing UAE?

My art works has their history that came through the old materials that are used used primarily in the garment of the Emirati dress (“thoub”). The row materials have historical roots which associated with the local Emirati heritage. Now a days, new generation become more interested in the modern fashion trends that leads them far away from everything that represents our local heritage and traditions. I got an idea to make this old materials as part of my art work, as an attempt to protect this fabrics from its extinction. 

Have you ever lived outside of the UAE?No I have not tried this experience yet. Does your work make any reference to your own identity and any persona struggles you have experienced?

 In some works I imagined the suffering of some friends affected directly by the economic crisis and in some works I give an idea of ​​the suffering of others from the experiences of wars and crises.

P.S.Everyone who got interested, you have a unique chance to buy Khalid's artworks through his site.

With love by Khaleejia

UAE got talents! Khaled al Jabri

Meet the next Emirati talent who turns to be more and more popular among those who can think and be critical at first to themselves and then to others!
I was amazed by his creations, works and the whole idea! I must say that such people brake the routine of reality and help us better see ourselves from a side.

خالد سالم الجابري / Khaled Salem al-Jabri Was born in Abu Dhabi 1978, graduated from the University of United Arab Emirates specialty mechanical engineering in 2004, A presenter of a new generation of educated and widely thinking youth of GCC.
This is his story..

“I worked for Al Khaleej Newspaper which was part of the youth program and worked at Istirahat Al Jumaa' as a comic artist for several years. I had also made many contributions with other Newspapers like Al Bayan, News of the World and some e-Magazines.
At the moment I write for my own site www.dristna.com and share my work on my Facebook page because I feel that the internet and social media are better tools to spread news these days than traditional newspapers.
My talent for drawing emerged during childhood, but the interest for comical art emerged at a later stage. During my university years at Emirates University and through socializing with other students I leaned towards drawing comical art because it reflected my personality.
Expressing a subject through comical irony, whether it be direct or indirect, has a greater effect on people than any article would do.

Talent for drawing was noticed  in childhood, but the real inclination towards drawing the caricatures was at the university when life was characterized by friction between the university and students. I felt a great inclination towards the cartoon because it reflects my personality and ironic that i was expressing via a complete idea   and indirectly influence that more powerful than any article.
Topic started explicitly in housing  students in the University of the UAE, where were the decisions taken by the administration of housing but we opposed it, so I draw comics that were expressing our opposition and sticked them  onto the board to display and  advertise in the housing, but the management of housing, remove the cartoons after several hours when discovered caricature, I was ready to it and printed advance copies of the same cartoons and  put them  in other places!
And then I started developing  the subject and draw for the rest of the negative aspects of housing that were prevalent at that time in the restaurant, the mosque and buses, etc., and then teamed up with Gulf News, and there was the real beginning.
For the comics, the most important elements that concentrate in any cartoon is the power of an idea and the strength of a question. I mean for example if we pick up an expensive oil price as a problem, the first thing I think about is how I bring this topic up? Is it street I shall walk the donkeys down? (Expression of the dispensing car ride!) Or I will make the oil treated with gold and silver (evidence of excessive high price) or I I’d search for  another? I think the idea is - finding innovative means completing 50% of the same cartoon as a whole.
The second thing satirical characters or features, which prefers to be very cynical, Caricature exaggeration intended to show what the aim of ridiculing him.
And a beautiful thing in the caricature is that it has a style of indirect discourse, for you can put a sensitive subject but in a manner most intelligent readers can perceive.
I have plans for future, but it is still in the process of study, including plans to develop the site to become more communicative with the public, including trying to enter the field of cartoon characters and the subject of  distinctive tradition and close to the heart of the UAE society.”
So, we wish you all the best! Keep your work up and bring more smiles to people faces while thinking about any problem)
P.s. Khaled is working on the English translation to his arabic language caricature. so be-up-dated))

Here are some of  Khaled’s cute caricatures. enjoy!
The first pic ,i guess ,represents Khaled himself who is sitting on the magic carpet that hovers over the hectic reality of where all the details of modern life are well visible to him.    mini abaya))
  LOL



خالد سالم الجابري، مواليد ابوظبي 1978، تخرج من جامعة الامارات تخصص هندسة ميكانيكية عام 2004، عمل في جريدة الخليج في ملحق شباب الخليج واستراحة الجمعة كرسام كاريكاتير لعدد من السنوات وله مساهمات في جرائد ودوريات اخرى كجريدة البيان وجريدة العالم ومجلة حطة الالكترونية وغيرهم. حالياً اكتفي بنشر اعمالي في موقعي الالكتروني www.drishtna.com وكذلك على صفحتي في الفيسبوك، وذلك ايماناً مني بأن تأثير الانترنت في عصرنا الحالي صار يضاهي تأثير الصحف والدوريات الورقية.
موهبة الرسم ظهرت في مرحلة الطفولة، ولكن الميل الحقيقي نحو رسم الكاركاتير كان في المرحلة الجامعية التي كانت تتميز بحياتها الجامعية والاحتكاك بين الطلبة. فشعرت بميل كبير نحو الكاريكاتير لانه يعبر عن شخصيتي الساخرة ولانه يعبر عن الفكرة كاملة وبشكل غير مباشر وبتأثير اقوي من اي مقال.
بدأ الموضوع صراحة في سكن طلاب جامعة الامارات حيث صدرت قرارات اتخذتها ادارة السكن وكنا نعترض عليها، فكنت ارسم كاريكاتير يعبر عن اعتراضنا واعرضه على اللوحة الرئيسية لعرض الاعلانات في السكن، وكانت ادارة السكن تزيل الكاريكاتير بعد عدة ساعات عندما تكتشف الكاريكاتير، ولكني كنت اطبع نسخ مسبقة من نفس الكاريكاتير واضعها مكان الكاريكاتير المفقود!
ومن ثم تطور الموضوع وصرت ارسم عن بقية سلبيات السكن التي كانت سائدة في ذلك الوقت في المطعم والمسجد والباصات وغيرها، ومن ثم تعاونت مع جريدة الخليج ومن هنا كانت البداية الحقيقية.
بالنسبة للكاريكاتير، فأن اهم العناصر التي اركز عليها في اي رسم كاريكاتوري هو قوة الفكرة وقوة طرحها. يعني مثلاً لو كنت اتناول مشكلة كمشكلة غلاء البترول، فأن اول ما افكر فيه هو كيف سأطرح هذا الموضوع؟ هل سأعبر عنه بشارع تمشي فيه الحمير؟ (تعبيراً عن الاستغناء عن ركوب السيارات!) ام اني سأجعل البترول يعامل معاملة الذهب والفضة (دليل على ارتفاع سعره المبالغ فيه) ام اني سأتناول طرح اخر؟ اظن ان ايجاد الفكرة المبتكرة يعني انجاز 50% من الكاريكاتير نفسه ككل.
الشيء الثاني الشخصيات او الملامح الساخرة والتي يفضل ان تكون ساخرة جداً، فالكاريكاتير القصد منه المبالغة في اظهار الشيء بقصد السخرية منه.
والجميل في الكاريكاتير هو انه يملك اسلوب الطرح الغير مباشر، حيث ان بأمكانك طرح موضوع حساس ولكن بأسلوب ذكي بأمكان اغلب القراء ادراكه.
لدي مخططات مستقبلية، ولكنها مازالت في طور الدراسة، منها مخططات لتطوير الموقع ليصبح اكثر تواصلاً مع الجمهور، ومنها محاولة دخول مجال الكارتون بشخصيات مميزة وموضوع مميزبعيد عن التقليد وقريب من قلب المجتمع الاماراتي.

UAE’ got talents! Khalid Al Ali

Meet Khalid Al Ali BuNahayan a 26 year old Emarati who turned his hobby to be a photographer  featuring all the most interesting events that  take place around the UAE with passion and great goals.

“Hello to all, I am Khalid Al Ali

In 2003 I started with HCT  as a student of the major electronic engineering technology program, and after I was graduated  I started with scholarship in the ADNOC company. Later, I came back to HCT again to study Mechanical engineering technology ...
Photography was my hobby from the very beginning and only since 2003 i started working as a photographer  covering  lots of different events and even became a volunteer with other people to organize these events and earn some leadership experience thorough these activity .
During this period I have attended more than 50 events till now... such as Dubai air show , UAE rally with UAE FJ Team.. Dubai festival for youth theater and also The National Day event with bicycles race and the walking people at Sharjah Men’s College and also lots of other college events.”

The next are some of  those events that were taken by Khalid: hope you will enjoy with me)
  

 


: ( Khalid Al.A.:(left) with his friend-  Abdullah Ismail (Noor Dubai TV presenter):(right)).
Facebook to Khalid ‘quick-shot view’ link

By Khaleejia