Today's Edition
RABI HAMAMSAH (ABU DHABI)
Highlighting the UAE's authentic culture, history, and traditions, Al Hosn Festival serves as a vital platform to bring together Emirati artists of all aspects. In a glittery corner decorated with colourful bulbs, in the heart of the Heritage Zone at Al Hosn Festival, an Emirati visual artist is busy illustrating shades of Emirati way of life and heritage.
Amira Ahmed's expertise lies in drawing on leather, with a focus on embodying UAE's heritage features on international brands. In an interview with Aletihad, Ahmed said that her participation in Al Hosn Festival stems from her passion to offer visitors a glimpse into the UAE's traditions and history through art. ''I started drawing caricatures and animation, and then moved on to drawing characters, faces, portraits, and traditional Emiratis words and phrases on leather,'' she added.
The Emirati artist noted that attention to details is the key. ''I constantly developed my skills until I felt I could practise drawing in front of the public, like here at Al Hosn Festival. My paintings are shown in various exhibitions and festivals. Additionally I conduct art workshops for adults and children,'' she added.
Painting Life
According to Ahmed, festivals are an opportunity to give visitors and guests a first-hand look at painting on leather, which is considered "an important visual art that shows traditions and history at its best".
''I practise drawing on various materials, but I love leather because I feel that it interacts with me and breathes life into the painting. I paint on various leather surfaces, and most of my works are images of deer, falcons, horses, and authentic words and phrases from the Emirati heritage, which appear on international brands.''
Elaborating further, she said that natural, or synthetic mixture leather types are suitable for drawing due to their flexibility and to maintain the colour. As for natural leather, it is the best type that can be worked on, but its cost is not affordable for everyone, while mixed leather can be obtained from factories in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, she noted.
''The leather must be prepared first, by applying a burning substance to change its texture so that it becomes rougher, after which the drawings are determined, and the colour is applied. This drawing technique is both tiring and fun, as some paintings take a long time and effort to produce the required creative form.''
