Having spent a couple of months here in Sharjah, after landing in the month of September 2021, I have seen a lot of places and attractions in and around this very Emirate, that has changed the way I would otherwise have perceived it. To quite a surprising note, as I write this very blog, I am taken aback by the cultural performances of Spain that were a feast to the eyes, the art exhibition at Al Hamriyah not very far from the University of Sharjah, last by not least, the Tropico de Covadonga' show and the recent 'Focal Point Bookfair' that took place at Al Mureijah Square- the hub of everything cultural and traditional, all of which are a highlight in this article, as I pen down the events fresh in memory. I do hope you have a good read.....
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An artwork on display from Al Hamriyah Art Centre, Sharjah
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It all started off, when my family and I had decided to go for an art exhibition that would be held at a far off place in Sharjah, on a modest evening of a bright Saturday. I had no clue what this exhibition would be all about or rather revolve around. On reaching the site of this very event, I just couldn't believe how much of an area the entire place took for where the event was hosted- it was an art gallery. With painters and artists, in particular the Emirati and Middle-Eastern artists having their paintings displayed at the exhibition, it narrated the stories of different people, their experiences, their perspectives and more importantly their view of the environment around them.
A rare photograph captured from Al Hamriyah Art Centre, Sharjah
One very rare photograph, that I came across, as I lay flabbergasted seeing people from the 'Sharjah Media' team stroll around the area- was that of an artist with her hair tied like knots or like chains to a particular area. It was more of a culmination of all the feelings, the emotions and more importantly, the trauma of the times following the onslaught of the pandemic- a very creative and thoughtful way of showcasing her perspectives on the subject. This along, with many other great paintings, photography and works of art did not fail to amaze me, as I kept strolling around the art gallery, with the guide moving around explaining each of them and their significance.
Post outlining a panel discussion session at Al Hamriyah Art Centre
This was followed by a panel discussion, in which two prominent artists and photographers from the region- Hind Al Mezaina and Noor Al Neyadi enthralling the audience with their diverse portfolio of photography and painting, all of them centred around unique themes such as the pandemic and the lives of people during those times. I was in particular captivated by Hind Al Mezaina, who expressed her uniqueness and creativity by capturing the open streets, and often-at-times, the 'abandoned signboards' that lay there as a sign of 'capitalism' losing it's charm given the situations characterizing those times. She even captured un-touched phone booths, the left over buildings and some abandoned weeds or greenery as a way to portray, that there is 'life' even when everything comes to a halt. The other artist showcased the lives of the healthcare workers through their 'eyes', a culmination of a risky, yet a bold attempt to visit the COVID-19 centres in the capital, at a time when the pandemic was at an all time high. It was really amazing to see how she captured the sense of desperateness and helplessness and thereby uncover a voice from within the healthcare workers, whom we came to increasingly refer to as the 'first responders'.
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| A Spanish performer performing his act for the Tropico de Covadonga show at Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah |
The next place that this time, my dad along with myself and a few friends visited, was the bustling art centre of Al Mureijah Square- the host site for a one of a kind musical spectacle
Tropico de Covadonga. This was conducted by Rodrigo Cuevas, a Spanish gentleman, hailing from the Northern part of Spain. Along with a troupe of musicians, he went on to narrate a day in the lives of his people. It was really great to see this young gentleman, who with a strong accent in Spanish, speak in a dialect that was reminiscent of his hometown and also wearing clothes that I have never otherwise come across. They consisted of a conical shaped hat, and most of everything in black. To top that all, most of the audience that came to witness his performance were from Spain and quite surprisingly were able to connect with this man and all that he had to showcase of his culture. The memorable takeaway I had from this performance, was that it had really changed the way I would have otherwise viewed Spain. In my previous travels, I have known Spain to be the place of the famous 'Flamenco dance' and also the bull-fights- a very popular activity which over the years and decades has been commercialized through television and other forms of mass-media. In short, it really broadened my perspective of the people and their culture and in hindsight exposed me to yet another sub-culture of that particular country.
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| Magazines, periodicals and other forms of mass media of the 90's on display at the bookfair |
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The last of all the cultural events witnessed this year, was a book fair once again held at Al Mureijah Square titled- 'Focal Point'. This was by far one of the most enthralling experiences I've ever had. The unique take from this was that it was a meeting point, where all ideas- be it political, cultural, economic and even gastronomical came together by way of various book stalls that were set up. Each stall represented a particular country, selling books, periodicals, magazines with topics covering a wide array of subjects spanning across all domains.
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| Postcards, books and other materials from Israeli and Palestinian stall |
What really caught my attention, was the Egyptian stall, where they were selling old magazines and newspapers showcasing the music and film scene of the 90s, the Israeli and Palestinian stall showcasing a bit about their lives and their cultural circumstances and also another stall selling a comic book narrating the life of a famous Cuban revolutionary- Che Guevara in the Arabic language. All of this took me by amazement, as I just couldn't believe how all cultures could have one meeting point-'The Focal Point'. This event was bound together by a live band that had people playing Western and Russian music, giving it a unique vibe as thousands of people flocked to buy their favorite books at the venue.
All of these events together really brought in a significant amount of change in the way I would have otherwise perceived the Emirate. There is no doubt denying the fact that the 'Emirate of Sharjah' is the 'Cultural Capital of the Arab World' given the numerous amount of cultural attractions, but more importantly the significant efforts undertaken by the Emirate's leaders and stakeholders to lead to such a unique position that it holds as of this present-day era.
PS: Below are some more pictures and videos captured from the Focal Point Bookfair
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| Musicians performing for Focal Point Bookfair |
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| Books depicting the lives of Israelis from the Focal Point Bookfair |
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| Books and periodicals from the African stall |
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| Comic book on the life of Che Guevara- a Cuban Revolutionary |
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