artdivano PRESENTS LOCAL TALENT One of Bahrain s newest art initiatives, ArtDivano, will be taking part in the highly anticipated ArtBahrain 2015, in a bid to help catapult local artistic talent onto the world stage. FACT learns more about what ArtDivano has planned for the fair 43
The best opportunity to meet the Art Divano ladies and learn more about the services they provide as well as to admire the work they will be showcasing, is to visit them at stand number 32 at the ArtBahrain fair. Art Divano the passion for art is the brainchild of Afaf Zainalabedin (Managing Director) and Marion Labani (Art Consultant) and was established in Bahrain as a unique concept to combine the services of an Art Consultancy, an Archival Print Studio and an Online Gallery for Middle Eastern and International Art. Art Divano s concept and philosophy is based on taking work by Arab artists and artists who have chosen the Arab world as their home, or who are translating the world s heritage and culture into a unique language of colours and materials, onto a new level. The Divan envisions the traditional way of storytelling in the Arab World and so Art Divano endeavours to spread the story of art by, and from, the region, carrying the tradition from the past into the present and future. Art Divano will proudly showcase a collection of latest works by three leading Bahraini artists and two international artists residing in Bahrain. Art Divano would like art lovers and alike in the region and internationally to explore their art collection and services and engage with them to enrich their lifestyle. The best opportunity to meet the Art Divano ladies and learn more about the services they provide as well as to admire the work they will be showcasing, is to visit them at stand number 32 at the ArtBahrain fair. Art Divano will proudly showcase a collection of latest works by three leading Bahraini artists and two international artists residing in Bahrain. Amongst the work on display will be original paintings and calligraphy, sculptures and the in-house produced Fine Art, and Fine Art Photography Reproductions in Limited or Unlimited Editions of selected works. We get a closer introduction to these artists by Art Divano s Marion Labani 44
Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known. - oscar Wilde. ABBAS ALMOSAWI Abbas Almosawi is no doubt one of the most influential artists in Bahrain. His body of works is irresistible in colour and distinctive in its way of brush stroke and manner of composition. His paintings, and the way that he is painting, are simply the work of a great master. Recognisable all over the GCC, his work is deep rooted in his way of seeing his home country, Bahrain, from the days he was a child growing up in Muharraq, where Pearl Trading had its beginning and became part of tradition. In his more than four decades of having dedicated his life to painting and contributing to world peace with several internationally recognised projects, he became, and continues to be, a true master of colours and is one of the most celebrated and beloved artists in Bahrain. ArtBahrain will showcase his latest works of beautiful, powerful and magical Horses in mixed media on canvas. Art Divano is highly appreciating Abbas being a part of our artist portfolio for ArtBahrain. We are honoured to cooperate with him in various projects as well as representing him on our upcoming website www.artdivano.com. ArtDivano is highly appreciating Abbas being a part of our artist portfolio for ArtBahrain. 46
Good art is art that allows you to enter it from a variety of angles and to emerge with a variety of views. - Mary Schmich. ABBAS YOUSIF Abbas Yousif, born in 1960, is one of the finest calligraphers within the GCC. His works are highly acclaimed and celebrated by many awards dedicated to him in appreciation of his life s work achievements in writing, silkscreen printmaking, painting and calligraphy. His work is with collectors and museums all over the world. His love for Arabic Literature and Poetry and his master skills in calligraphy by not using any computer generated programme, but purely working with his hands; has inspired ArtDivano to commission a series of works depicting famous Arab Writers and Poets as a source of expressing the Arab identity, tradition and heritage in the most genuine way. The series Beloved Poetry, Lyrics & Fairytailes is executed on Fine Art Paper in Ink by Handwriting in 40x40cm. Poetry of Khalil Gibran, Qassim Haddad and Jalal Aldin Rumi will be showcased for the first time at ArtBahrain in Original and Limited Editions of Fine Art Reproductions which has been produced in ArtDivano s in house archival print studio in Bahrain. ArtDivano is proud to hold Abbas within our artist portfolio, where his works shall soon be available worldwide with the help of our upcoming website www.artdivano.com. 48
A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires. - Hedy Lamarr. AMAL DEYHLE Amal was born in Lebanon in 1964 and speaks fluent Arabic, English and German. Married to a Diplomat she travelled extensively and has seen the world through many layers of life, such as life as a Arab woman in Arabia, life as a Arab woman in Europe, life as a wife and mother, life as a spouse of a Diplomat and last but not least the life of a travelling female artist. She took residence in Bahrain in 2014 with her husband, who works at the Embassy of Germany. ArtDivano has been mesmerised by her beautiful works in oil on canvas. Just like the many layers of life she has experienced, there are just as many layers in her work. Carefully layered over each other they always seem to hide a mystic secrecy deep in between the texture and structures, which the eyes of the viewer are seeking to unveil. The way she uses the painting knife, gives her work a unique touch and brings her paintings forward into a special league of female artists on the island. We are happy to show some of her works at ArtBahrain and thank her for having joined our artist portfolio. She will be one of ArtDivano s artists permanently showcased on our e-commerce website to come soon via www.artdivano.com. 50
only through art can we emerge from ourselves and know what another person sees. - Marcel proust KHALID FARHAN Khalid Farhan was born in 1977 in Bahrain, where he also lives and works. One of his teachers gave him some well received advice for his artistic career at a time when Khalid was not quite sure which way in art he should choose to go. Following the advice of his teacher, Khalid became a sculptor, a recognised and distinguished one. Within a decade, he became one of Bahrain s most sought after artists. Khalid creates beautiful works in all sizes, from miniature table sculptures to medium sized pieces up to large-scale outdoor sculptures in different materials such as wood, stainless steel, bronze and marble. He is experimenting with unusual fusions of different materials such as wood and stainless steel combinations or stainless steel and bronze combinations. His sculptures radiate the spirit of a young generation with great ambitions; spreading the word of great sculpture making locally, regional and internationally too. ArtDivano is proud to accompany Khalid on his search for artistic perfection and we are looking forward to seeing more of his masterpieces in the future. 52
There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are. ernst Haas. MANFRED ERBER Manfred Erber was born in 1962 in Traunstein, Germany. Now based in Bahrain since 2000, Manfred is working as a professional photographer with more than three decades of international experience and recognition. ArtDivano is very proud to have worked with Manfred for many years, having cooperated with him on several projects in Bahrain as well as in Qatar. His Photography is part of the art programme for the guestrooms of several renowned 5-star hotels where we have executed the decorative wall artworks requirements as art consultants, giving a local touch to our projects to promote the spirit of Arabian heritage, culture and tradition. At Art Bahrain we will showcase a selection of photographs which are reflections of the beauty of Bahrain s past and present, a country which we both have chosen to live and work in. We can only admire and state one thing we have a truly international star photographer on the island and we are looking forward to representing his body of works on our website www. artdivano.com, to photography lovers all over the world. GO: Visit ArtDivano at stand number 32 during ArtBahrain at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. Art collectors and art lovers can contact ArtDivano s team on - Afaf Zainalabedin, (afaf@ artdivano.com) and Marion Labani (marion@artdivano.com). Visit www.artdivano.com for more information. 54