Abu Dhabi art lovers received a royal treat last week with the opening of the Saudi Arabia’s Prince Faisal Bin Sultan bin Mohammed bin Abdelaziz Al Saud’s exhibition at the Armed Forces Officers’ Club and Hotel.
The exhibition, held on April 27, was inaugurated by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, the UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.
Members of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait’s royal families were also present at the event.
The initiative is part of a broader drive to strengthen the artistic ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, in addition to promoting creative arts across the region.
“It gives me great happiness to open my works of art to the Emirati audience who nurture a passion for fine arts and poetry,” Prince Faisal said in a statement. “It is public knowledge that Abu Dhabi is recognised for being the Middle Eastern capital of culture, art and museums. Fine Art is exceptionally important as it is a tribute to the evolution of man and the development of humanity. Considering the UAE is a melting pot of a large number of cultures, and is home to people of different ethnicities, I can’t think of a better location for my exhibition.”
The Saudi prince’s first three-day exhibition over the weekend showcased 50 of his paintings with subjects ranging from some of the kingdom’s most celebrated figures to its varied landscapes. His art follows an impressionistic style full of vibrant colours.
The prince also performed a selection of his poetry before taking part in a discussion session about his creative work. His encouraged the youth to pursue their passion for poetry.
“I believe that poetry is a strong form of expression due to its sheer rawness,” he said. “Moreover, poetry is the foundation of Arab culture.”
aahmed@thenational.ae
