Highlighting Oman’s tangible and intangible legacies through art
Published: 09:05 PM,May 25,2021 | EDITED : 08:05 PM,May 25,2021
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Story by Mazoun al Ghailani
Photos by Asma al Fahdi
Even a pandemic that cripples the economies of different countries cannot stop artists from showcasing their creativity. In fact, for the case of artists in Oman, they drew strength and inspiration from the hopelessness creating work of art that will help rekindle the fire and give new courage to desperate people who are near the end of their ropes.
Disrupting the campus of Sultan Qaboos University, the first batch of Art students who finished their Masters produced contemporary work covering different genre and using diverse medium delighting onlookers, students, faculty and staff of SQU.
“The students were able to produce contemporary works of art that are no less important than any international artist experienced in the field of arts. The works varied between drawing, photography, stereoscopic, installation in space, design and video art,” shared Dr Fakhriya al Yahyai, Professor of Arts and the supervisor of the exhibition.
She added, “I was able to touch the students’ technical abilities and push them to create artworks the way professionals would. They were also ready to search and work diligently despite the challenges put before them by the pandemic.”
Conceptual artist Safa al Fahdi was inspired by an old Omani tale called “The Vow Baby” that tells about an Omani woman who was deprived of motherhood.
Safa explained, “In the past, women were blamed for their inability to procreate, and this woman desperately wanted a child. One day, she went to the wilderness to collect wood from the Sidr and Acacia trees.”
She wantonly said that if Allah blessed her with a baby girl, she will make her marry the falcon who had sheltered in one of the Acacia trees.”
She continued, “It was said that this falcon is a wizard. After some time, that’s what happened. Allah blessed that woman a beautiful girl. But the falcon did not forget what the mother vowed. He came asking to marry that beautiful girl. So the daughter became a victim of that ominous vow.”
The artwork is accompanied by a visual art video representing Safa.
“In the video, I demonstrated the importance of the people’s actions and concern for others, children’s issues, and women’s issues,” she said.
“I am extremely happy to be one of the first batches of art students earning their masters. To be able to work within the context of this Omani tale was a very interesting experience,” Safa said.
Another highlight of the exhibit was inspired by the Jernan tale that was very popular in the Wilayat of Izki in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. The Jernan tale describes a golden calf that was said to be hidden in a cave by the foot of the Al Nizar village in Izki.
“As an artist, when I created this piece, it was not actually about believing in the tale but documenting what people believe,” Said al Nahwi said.
He added, “My role as an artist is to document this Omani tale, create a representation of it so it may flourish across generations and countries,” Said shared.
“For this golden calf, it is said that this was an idol worshipped by people before Islam came to Oman. According to legends, the calf was hidden in Jernan Cave but studies and surveys were made and no evidence of the bull was ever discovered. The fascinating part of this tale is that supposedly, the calf was a symbol of strength, fertility and rain. People go to the calf and conduct religious rituals to gain the gifts it supposedly bestows,” he said.
Said made the artwork using digital art, digital sculpture and 3D printing technology to create the sculpture. The three-dimensional hologram was manufactured in approximately 288 hours of continuous work to print all the art pieces.
Artist Adhari al Shidhani on the other hand took the route of music. Adhari recorded childhood songs and Omani folk games, created artistic visuals that work with the music and created pieces that would work well with the audio-visual needs of today’s generation.
“Documenting these songs and folk games are important as they are beginning to disappear from our culture. Some of today’s children do not even know what these songs and games are. With the free flow of songs and information, these folk songs and games are now being replaced by Western songs,” Adhari said.
“Doing this, creating an audio-visual artefact would allow the children of tomorrow to have something to look back to and learn from. These recordings will allow the preservation of these materials allowing Omani children to still have a connection to their past. I think this initiative is important and will have a significant cultural, social and economic impact,” Adhari said.
The exhibition runs from May 20 to 27, 2021. There are nine 9 artists in total showcasing their works including Ali al Jahwari, Majida al Rahbi, Khalid al Sabhani, Nada al Ruwaishdi and Siham al Darmaki, who all highlighted the Omani folklore and tangible and intangible legacies in their artworks.
Photos by Asma al Fahdi
Even a pandemic that cripples the economies of different countries cannot stop artists from showcasing their creativity. In fact, for the case of artists in Oman, they drew strength and inspiration from the hopelessness creating work of art that will help rekindle the fire and give new courage to desperate people who are near the end of their ropes.
Disrupting the campus of Sultan Qaboos University, the first batch of Art students who finished their Masters produced contemporary work covering different genre and using diverse medium delighting onlookers, students, faculty and staff of SQU.
“The students were able to produce contemporary works of art that are no less important than any international artist experienced in the field of arts. The works varied between drawing, photography, stereoscopic, installation in space, design and video art,” shared Dr Fakhriya al Yahyai, Professor of Arts and the supervisor of the exhibition.
She added, “I was able to touch the students’ technical abilities and push them to create artworks the way professionals would. They were also ready to search and work diligently despite the challenges put before them by the pandemic.”
Conceptual artist Safa al Fahdi was inspired by an old Omani tale called “The Vow Baby” that tells about an Omani woman who was deprived of motherhood.
Safa explained, “In the past, women were blamed for their inability to procreate, and this woman desperately wanted a child. One day, she went to the wilderness to collect wood from the Sidr and Acacia trees.”
She wantonly said that if Allah blessed her with a baby girl, she will make her marry the falcon who had sheltered in one of the Acacia trees.”
She continued, “It was said that this falcon is a wizard. After some time, that’s what happened. Allah blessed that woman a beautiful girl. But the falcon did not forget what the mother vowed. He came asking to marry that beautiful girl. So the daughter became a victim of that ominous vow.”
The artwork is accompanied by a visual art video representing Safa.
“In the video, I demonstrated the importance of the people’s actions and concern for others, children’s issues, and women’s issues,” she said.
“I am extremely happy to be one of the first batches of art students earning their masters. To be able to work within the context of this Omani tale was a very interesting experience,” Safa said.
Another highlight of the exhibit was inspired by the Jernan tale that was very popular in the Wilayat of Izki in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. The Jernan tale describes a golden calf that was said to be hidden in a cave by the foot of the Al Nizar village in Izki.
“As an artist, when I created this piece, it was not actually about believing in the tale but documenting what people believe,” Said al Nahwi said.
He added, “My role as an artist is to document this Omani tale, create a representation of it so it may flourish across generations and countries,” Said shared.
“For this golden calf, it is said that this was an idol worshipped by people before Islam came to Oman. According to legends, the calf was hidden in Jernan Cave but studies and surveys were made and no evidence of the bull was ever discovered. The fascinating part of this tale is that supposedly, the calf was a symbol of strength, fertility and rain. People go to the calf and conduct religious rituals to gain the gifts it supposedly bestows,” he said.
Said made the artwork using digital art, digital sculpture and 3D printing technology to create the sculpture. The three-dimensional hologram was manufactured in approximately 288 hours of continuous work to print all the art pieces.
Artist Adhari al Shidhani on the other hand took the route of music. Adhari recorded childhood songs and Omani folk games, created artistic visuals that work with the music and created pieces that would work well with the audio-visual needs of today’s generation.
“Documenting these songs and folk games are important as they are beginning to disappear from our culture. Some of today’s children do not even know what these songs and games are. With the free flow of songs and information, these folk songs and games are now being replaced by Western songs,” Adhari said.
“Doing this, creating an audio-visual artefact would allow the children of tomorrow to have something to look back to and learn from. These recordings will allow the preservation of these materials allowing Omani children to still have a connection to their past. I think this initiative is important and will have a significant cultural, social and economic impact,” Adhari said.
The exhibition runs from May 20 to 27, 2021. There are nine 9 artists in total showcasing their works including Ali al Jahwari, Majida al Rahbi, Khalid al Sabhani, Nada al Ruwaishdi and Siham al Darmaki, who all highlighted the Omani folklore and tangible and intangible legacies in their artworks.