Fifty-seven artworks by 30 male and female artists were displayed in the ‘Tajasur’ exhibition at the Omani Cultural Club. These works spotlights the culture and customs of Oman. These artists have used the methods of realism, surrealism, expressionism, and impressionism to tell their stories.
Sara al Loughani’s ‘Al Muaserat,’ illustrates a social custom of women gathering in the neighborhood in the afternoon. It indicates the interconnectedness and solidarity of society.
Fawzia al Hooti, who painted ‘My mother’s threads’, says, "They are the threads of identity, as they are about me, my identity, and my sewing skill that I acquired from my mother."
Mustafa al Kamiani illustrated various silver collectibles that fill the Omani Mandoos (a traditional wooden chest used to store items) and added details in the painting indicating the Omani markets and old coins. The painting is generally filled with Islamic motifs.
In ‘Symbol of Arabism’, Asma al Habsi expressed the most important symbol of Arabism, which is the purebred Arabian horse. It was drawn standing as an expression of the distinctive features of Arabs that have been passed down through generations such as strength and courage.
Meditation and contemplation for self-discovery were part of the artists’ paintings. In ‘Birth’, Muzna al Awfi, used the eye with the crow symbolising divine messages. “The crow is s an intelligent bird attracted by precious things, so it was painted close to the eye because it is a precious thing through which we can contemplate the universe around us to explore ourselves," she said.
‘Tajasur’ refers to connecting or bridging two different things. The exhibition’s curator said, "We use this meaning in the symbolic form of a bridge or link between things, regardless of the relationship between them."
This exhibition comes after eight months of training by the Cultural Club under the Drawing and Coloring Clinic. "The Cultural Club decided to attract artists and beginners as well, so that everyone who has the desire to address a certain deficiency or gain new knowledge can take part, " the curator said.
The exhibition also hosted academics, writers, and intellectuals to discuss the exhibition's artistic works. This way, the curator said, the expo lived up to its name of bridging and linking the artist and society.
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