Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The Summer ArtLab at Louvre Abu Dhabi presents youth aged 13 and older an engaging four-day programme, exploring the blend of artistic creation and personal identity.
Running until July 19, 2024, participants can enjoy the museum's vast collection, exhibitions, and architectural wonders all the while engaging in interactive gallery sessions.
With guidance from teaching artists, they can learn and practise art skills, including printmaking, character design, and fabric manipulation.
In conversation with Aletihad Arwa Al Salami, Senior Education Officer at Louvre Abu Dhabi, said that ArtLab, launched in 2021, is a youth camp programme that aims to revitalise existing post-COVID youth camps by fostering experimentation and exploration of art inspired by museum collections.
Al Salami said that this year's theme focusses on identity and self-expression in addition to storytelling. According to Asalami, a story is found in every artwork created.
"There is a story that is told around it because, as human beings, we live our lives and we write our own stories," she added.
Al Salami noted that ArtLab aims to encourage youth to reflect on their identity and values through art. Unlike previous art labs that offered individual sessions, this year participants can join in for all the four days of the programme's agenda, providing a comprehensive experience.
She highlighted that the programme welcomes all skill levels. "We are trying to create a space where people are not afraid to make mistakes. I always start the ArtLab by saying that you are not here to become the next big artist. You are here to just create something, experiment with art, play, and then see what you come out with," she said.
On Day 1, participants started with an Exquisite Corpse game, followed by an in-gallery exploration and Guess Who Paper Avatar workshop, ending with a discussion session. Day 2 saw exploring figuration to abstraction in the galleries, an Expressionist Self-Portrait Painting workshop, and a reflection session. Day 3 will feature an exploration of expansion versus compression, a plaster sculptures workshop, and a discussion. The final day will offer a Free Flow Art workshop, concluding with a discussion session.
"The process for participants varies depending on the day, but generally, they start with an icebreaker to warm up and get into a creative mindset," Al Salami added.
