![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TFFMKKJRMZEFND5X4ADT5ZY7PA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4e189b9c50cdd17818b02fe44df8dc0d8eb5b49c979813b6b3919616871f94a8&width=400&height=225)
A Vision and a Life: Forty Years of Colors is available to buy at Shamma's exhibition
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YITPIAAADFFN3P3HNNPJDIOI2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ffded3ceee9c886ac36ec94d3186d6754226ad38fca27401e63c89de48dfca2&width=400&height=225)
Naseer Shamma at the opening of his exhibition Half Life at the Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Leslie Pableo for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2BZXCXDQZ5C4JEIDOMOPSCD6QE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6776a781f33721a0fbdd3923748b86b372e61f02cb5f7d31a71fe9e495a5e4e&width=400&height=225)
Guests admire the captivating brushstrokes and embossed canvases of Shamma's artworks
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6KFWGJQPJJDMVCCUFAJ5DBCA5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b81a72358f7cb7e89de58ed3b570020fbcddaf2dd84b3509e751ddae64eee65&width=400&height=225)
The oud virtuoso has seamlessly weaved together two distinct art forms, the auditory and visual realms
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63V3FJDO4FC2NDYUZIJVM2H6YY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce088e57bc9c35bc577b4e43433061f2e666f8903c722eb8902489372e288969&width=400&height=225)
More than 70 works are on display at Half Life
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5YRU7URFMNAIJIOJPUS2KEMF4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=2de77fbb7cec88c1c644e0a3dffb22670ce90730deef2dcd41becef59b08ed24&width=400&height=225)
Shamma's paintings showcase vibrant spring flowers, infusing his collection with natural beauty, renewal and hope
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JL7PGZMWJFAINNTGRUFSFPDA5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a715ce401070628dab92db102fb901438b1ac651b17e983e1de89eb7e0f847d&width=400&height=225)
Scenes capture a spectrum of emotions in volcanic, fiery tones
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QKSPECGNBNFDVGDBYLWV3UW2ZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6aff23507dcc7c8927963f23ba4392eed26bd09a3e47509001d30103c9e6da98&width=400&height=225)
Prominent Iraqi painter Iyad Almosawi was among events at the opening
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/542PAYEMKFDI3CNUFL5YYE7RQA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b9ed11c060374ca97fd9d96b12cf13579f3cd72ef41027a46ef929ad42cd903&width=400&height=225)
Sammy Mohammed Al Kairo, a six-year-old boy from Iraq, looking at his 'favourite painting' in the exhibition
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V2R75TAFNVHZXNOF7XSMM3ZJWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f9969e8049b1bf511cde63df1ac9fcad625c536179a36e94f4a530d983851e4&width=400&height=225)
Shamma signs his book A Vision and a Life: Forty Years of Colours, which chronicles his diverse artistry spanning four decades
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TFFMKKJRMZEFND5X4ADT5ZY7PA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4e189b9c50cdd17818b02fe44df8dc0d8eb5b49c979813b6b3919616871f94a8&width=400&height=225)
A Vision and a Life: Forty Years of Colors is available to buy at Shamma's exhibition
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YITPIAAADFFN3P3HNNPJDIOI2Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ffded3ceee9c886ac36ec94d3186d6754226ad38fca27401e63c89de48dfca2&width=400&height=225)
Naseer Shamma at the opening of his exhibition Half Life at the Etihad Modern Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi. All photos: Leslie Pableo for The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2BZXCXDQZ5C4JEIDOMOPSCD6QE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c6776a781f33721a0fbdd3923748b86b372e61f02cb5f7d31a71fe9e495a5e4e&width=400&height=225)
Guests admire the captivating brushstrokes and embossed canvases of Shamma's artworks
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6KFWGJQPJJDMVCCUFAJ5DBCA5A.jpg?smart=true&auth=2b81a72358f7cb7e89de58ed3b570020fbcddaf2dd84b3509e751ddae64eee65&width=400&height=225)
The oud virtuoso has seamlessly weaved together two distinct art forms, the auditory and visual realms
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/63V3FJDO4FC2NDYUZIJVM2H6YY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce088e57bc9c35bc577b4e43433061f2e666f8903c722eb8902489372e288969&width=400&height=225)
More than 70 works are on display at Half Life
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5YRU7URFMNAIJIOJPUS2KEMF4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=2de77fbb7cec88c1c644e0a3dffb22670ce90730deef2dcd41becef59b08ed24&width=400&height=225)
Shamma's paintings showcase vibrant spring flowers, infusing his collection with natural beauty, renewal and hope
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JL7PGZMWJFAINNTGRUFSFPDA5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3a715ce401070628dab92db102fb901438b1ac651b17e983e1de89eb7e0f847d&width=400&height=225)
Scenes capture a spectrum of emotions in volcanic, fiery tones
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QKSPECGNBNFDVGDBYLWV3UW2ZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6aff23507dcc7c8927963f23ba4392eed26bd09a3e47509001d30103c9e6da98&width=400&height=225)
Prominent Iraqi painter Iyad Almosawi was among events at the opening
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/542PAYEMKFDI3CNUFL5YYE7RQA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9b9ed11c060374ca97fd9d96b12cf13579f3cd72ef41027a46ef929ad42cd903&width=400&height=225)
Sammy Mohammed Al Kairo, a six-year-old boy from Iraq, looking at his 'favourite painting' in the exhibition
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V2R75TAFNVHZXNOF7XSMM3ZJWI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f9969e8049b1bf511cde63df1ac9fcad625c536179a36e94f4a530d983851e4&width=400&height=225)
Shamma signs his book A Vision and a Life: Forty Years of Colours, which chronicles his diverse artistry spanning four decades
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TFFMKKJRMZEFND5X4ADT5ZY7PA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4e189b9c50cdd17818b02fe44df8dc0d8eb5b49c979813b6b3919616871f94a8&width=400&height=225)
A Vision and a Life: Forty Years of Colors is available to buy at Shamma's exhibition
Oud master Naseer Shamma unveils hidden talent in debut art exhibition
Shamma's Half Life exhibition harmonises music and visual art at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Modern Art Gallery
![Liza Ayach](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fd6cc15b5-844c-4e61-a777-a1059fc57e3b.png?smart=true&auth=6d03572b645ff67726bc425f0154d3386305809b5c5aa2c858dd8428fac6548f&width=70&height=70)
Liza Ayach
11 February, 2024
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