The first edition of Raneen, a new art contemporary event organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth held in Muttrah, has a feature that has become an instant hit with art enthusiasts—live music.
Just around sunset, the visitors were surprised to hear instrumental music along the street hosting Bait Al Khonji and Bait Al Khori. Theatre visitors can watch out for pop-up musical performances in public spaces and night-time light shows.
On the balcony of Bait Al Khonji was the artist with the guitar. It is not just the visitors to the art exhibition, but residents from around the area came out of their homes to enjoy the instrumental music along with passengers in the cars who slowed down to enjoy the music and view.
A professional flutist who has performed internationally, Yousuf al Foori, speaking to the Observer, said, “We are truly thrilled to have been chosen to perform at the Raneen. Most of the musicians are spread out through Muttrah. We had a performance at the Muttrah Fort, now at Bait Al Khonji, and a group of us will be performing at Bait Al Khori and the whole corridor until the entrance of the art trail next to the Muttrah Police Station,” explained Yousuf.
The group consists of musicians specialising in the oud, flute, kanoon, violin, guitar, nai, and saxophone.
Featuring new work by leading Omani and international artists, Raneen began on the 22nd of November and will continue until November 30th.
According to the organizers, ‘The artists have responded in a contemporary way to the architecture, heritage, stories, the unique character of Muttrah, and its significance in Oman’s mercantile history.’
The beginning of the Art Trail sees the work of Azra Akšamija/Future Heritage Lab, titled ‘Abundance and Scarcity.’
The (Abundance & Scarcity) project, originally presented at the Diriyah Biennale 2024, links environmental sustainability on two scales: a social shelter in the form of an outdoor design featuring laser-cut patterns, plays with light and shadows with a visual effect, and designs from Muttrah have been integrated with cultural heritage into a cultural shelter as an outdoor shading canopy, explained the curator of Raneen, David Drake.
An Austrian artist, Dr Akšamija, was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and is based in Boston, US. She is Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture, Program in Art, Culture, and Technology at the MIT, the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, where she directs the Akšamija's artistic practice and academic research of cultural infrastructures within the context of cultural bias and the destruction of conflict, migration, and forced displacement. She directs the Future Heritage Lab.
Another architect who is participating in the event is Ammar Al Kiyumi, from Oman, with red-coloured sea breakers called solos, and his work is exhibited at Bait Al Khori.
“We had to use cranes to lift the work to place it on the top floor of Bait Al Khori and it took five individuals to place it. They are the sea breakers, which we are familiar with because they are present throughout the Corniche of Muttrah Sea Front,” said David Drake, the curator of Raneen.
Yet another architect who is participating, but with a completely different concept, is Haitham Al Busafi. His installation is titled Vivid Memories: Desired Objects. They are the toys he recollects from his childhood when he was gifted with them. This is also featured at Bait Al Khori.
The visitors also can participate in a photo walk or walk and sketch event by contacting Makan Studios, which is participating in the Raneen Art Festival.
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