Why Bahraini art is gaining the attention of the world

The heart and soul of Bahrain certainly shines through in the artworks. It is in the colour palette of the paintings by one of Bahrain’s leading abstract artists, Omar Al Rashid; in the golden hues inspired by the Sakhir desert, and the azures that bring to mind shimmering seascapes that surround the island state.

It is in the whimsical subject chosen by Linda Mattar in her series, Conversation With A Bird. “In Bahraini culture, birds represent freedom. They soar in the sky, they sing, they have no cares – they demonstrate that if you allow the universe to, it will provide,” says the architect by profession, who made her Singapore debut at the event. A piece of Bahrain is even physically present in the evocative mixed-media pieces by Ahmed Anan. In his series titled Humanity, the celebrated artist – whose works are part of the Bahrain National Museum’s collection – constructs abstract silhouettes of womenfolk using shells from the beaches around the country.

Inextricably tied to Bahrain’s history, geography and culture, these works nonetheless strike a chord with a worldwide audience. It is a reflection of the country’s cosmopolitan outlook, says Ahmed Al Asad. War and corruption are themes explored by the young literature graduate who showed with ArtBAB for the first time, and he feels that Bahraini contemporary artists of the post-90s generation address more global issues, given that they are more wired and live in a time of hyperconnectivity. Al Rashid, a keen observer of the Bahraini arts scene over the decades, and whose daughter is a student of contemporary art, also shares that an embracing attitude towards change is opening up new avenues of expression for a younger generation of Bahraini artists.

“In the past, we talked about mixed medium. Now, they talk about multimedia. Our art is changing with the times,” says Al Rashid, who is of the opinion that art is a true expression of a nation’s development and evolution.

And for a nation steeped in culture since the days of the Dilmun civilisation in the Bronze Ages, Bahrain has much to offer the art world. “Bahrain has a 5,000-year-old art identity,” says Kaneka Subberwal, founder and curator of ArtBAB. “The cultural knowledge Bahraini people have marks an inherent distinction between people who adapt themselves to art and those who inherit it. Art is part of who they are – the way they dress, the way they speak, the way they decorate homes. It is part of their cultural affluence.”

It isn’t just about heritage and history, either. “Bahrain also holds art exhibitions, and for 46 years now – much contemporary talent has been nurtured over decades,” says Subberwal. “And ArtBAB communicates this to the rest of the world.”