Mangroves from the Water DOWNLOADS
Exhibition Catalogue:
Mangroves from the Water exhibition CATALOGUE
Festival Catalogue:
For photos of our previous exhibitions, click here
Previous exhibitions:
22 – 28 October 2015, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Project Space Gallery
1 – 6 November 2015, Environment Agency headquarters, Al Mamoura Building, Abu Dhabi
12 -30 November 2015, Emirates Fine Arts Society, Sharjah
11 – 19 December 2015, Umm Al Quwain Fort & Museum, Umm Al Quwain
9-23 March 2016, Thejamjar Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
8- 11 March, Mangroves Festival, Khor al Miqas in the Umm Al Quwain mangroves.
The festival is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’ala, and supported by Her Highness Sheikha Sumaya bint Saqr Al Qassimi.
Mangroves from the Water is an opportunity to express the delicate balance between nature and human progress. The mangroves are an ecological zone where land meets sea, and a forest reaches into the water. They are a source of myth and legend, emanating from trees that mysteriously grow in salt water. Accounting for many hectares of the United Arab Emirates coastline, the mangroves provide
great rejuvenating energy as they are nurseries and migratory resting grounds for many hidden lives: fish, birds, turtles, colourful crabs and more. In stark contrast to the orange deserts, the mangroves play a huge role in the local natural environment, yet just over the fringe of the tree cover is the bustle of encroaching urban and industrial life.
The artists have found the mangroves a source of power, beauty, energy and stories, just as much as they hold vital importance to the UAE ecology. The coastal forests are a safe-haven for a wondrous ecosystem of animal and plant life accounting for around 3000 hectares of coastline space in the UAE. Whilst they feature enormously in the folklore of the coastal people, their importance to Emirati life is being forsaken by urban development, pollution and misuse. The mangroves in highly urbanised areas
require protection and attention as a matter of urgency. The ‘Mangroves from the Water’ project members believe that through their art they can build awareness of the importance of protecting this important natural ecosystem. Art has a power to inform
any culture about ideas that matter. The project members approach the theme with a fascinating range of media- impressionist water colours from a kayak, to studied botanical drawings; from a short film to folklore stories; from installation art to photography. The mangrove artists present a fascinating approach to celebrating the wonders of this unique habitat through art. The exhibition will provide viewers with a range of media to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. The artists also hope to see discussions occurring throughout the exhibition in a series of colloquia.
The message from the artists is for society to accept that we must protect the mangroves!
Zahidah Zeytoun Millie
Curator
All images and articles on this blog are © Zahidah Zelda Zeytoun Millie except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
Mangroves from the Water (MFTW) 