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‘Once Upon a Time' takes on new on look at Dar Ibn Al Haytham Gallery, Dubai
DUBAI, May 6, 2014: HCT-Dubai Men's College (DMC) Applied Media student Saeed Al Emadi has taken an old Middle Eastern folk-lore adventure and given it a modern Emirati interpretation, with his debut exhibition at the Dar Ibn Al Haytham Gallery in Dubai.
Al Emadi's first solo exhibition, which will be featured for one day only on Saturday May 10, is entitled Once Upon a Time (ßÇä íÇãÇ ßÇä) and depicts the story of Aladdin, a young man who is recruited by a sorcerer to retrieve a magic oil lamp from a mysterious cave, in a colourful local setting.
Working in the medium of digital art, where he drew his subjects using the Photoshop programme, the young artist explained his works have a deliberate Emirati cartoon theme, borrowed from a childhood of watching animated characters on television. “It's about the Aladdin story, but I will transform the theme of the story into an Emirati form, so it will be interesting to see this famous character twisted into an Emirati theme,” Al Emadi said.
“I've been drawing cartoon characters since I was a kid, and I always admired the Disney cartoon art style which inspired me to do my own drawings, but with an Emirati touch,” Saeed , who is studying .
And naturally he turned to his childhood inspirations for the title of his exhibition. “It's based on a fairy-tale story and most fairy-tale stories, either in Arabic or English, start with the sentience ‘Once upon a time',' he explained.
For the final-year student, who aspires to make animated films as a career after graduating next month, a passion for drawing and art spurs him on to excel in his chosen field. “The amount of creativity in this form of art is endless and I enjoy every moment working on my artworks and watching other people work and learning off them,” he said.
It also brings people from different nationalities around the world together, sharing the same passion. Art is international. Everyone likes it and it speaks no specific language. It's there on the paper in front of you to share,” he added.
Dr Fazal Malik, Associate Academic Dean of Applied Communications at HCT and Chair Media Department at Dubai Men's College, said the exhibition was a fitting avenue to showcase Al Emadi's skills. 'Saeed is a gifted photographer/designer who has won many national accolades for his originality and creativity. This exhibition, which displays some of the work he completed in last four years at HCT Dubai Men's College, depicts his versatile style that captures the essence of an Emirati life and identity,” he said.
“Saeed has unique style of blending creativity with technology to develop an everlasting visual impact, and I'm sure his maiden solo exhibition in Dubai is going to be a visual treat. Like his peer and teachers, I'm looking forward to visit this exhibition from our star student.”
Although feeling “excited and a bit scared of what will the audience reaction will be” with his first exhibition, Al Emadi is confident of home-grown support from family and friends. “They all love my artworks and they have always supported me and encouraged me to improve my skills and to do more of these cartoon artworks.”
Mr Al Emadi is also grateful for the support from his mentors at the HCT-Dubai Men's College. “I would like to thank Dubai Men's College and the Applied Communication department for their endless support. Also I would like to thank Dar Ibn Al Haytham gallery for Visual Arts who gave me the opportunity to showcase my artwork in their space,” he said.
The confident animator is hoping that in years to come he will look back at this exhibition as the genesis of a hugely successful career and say “once upon a time …”.
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