A walk through the art trail...

The way we feel - could it be related to the way our brain is wired? Some people are the most logical, and then there are others who are under the influence of emotions. Some people take up regular professions and excel in them, and then there are others who explore extraordinary professions and go on to excel.

A walk through the art trail of Raneen makes one realise how thoughts can vary and how creative the process can be. It is an opportunity to wonder about the mindset of artists.

The two historic houses that are symbols of old architecture of the Sultanate of Oman are the venues for the art exhibitions... Bait Al Khonji and Bait Al Khori. It is Bait Al Khonji which is hosting the moon in its courtyard. The Museum of the Moon is by artist Luke Jerram from the UK, and the project came into being because of his observation of the moon where he lives - Bristol, UK. He consulted NASA for the data, and he waited patiently for 15 years to make this dream project.

The Museum of the Moon has already been to 30 countries. Way back in 2002, Jerram created Tide, and this artwork featured acoustic sculptures that depicted live representations of the impact of gravity on Earth. He seems to be enchanted with the scientific aspects of nature because one set of his works featured viruses and other pathogens, titled Glass Microbiology.

In 2012, he had come up with the musical art installation Aeolus, and this was an acoustic wind pavilion. The design was named after Aeolian Harp and was designed to create music without any intervention of humans or electricity. The lives of artists can be intriguing as they get inspired, but the difference between the artists and others is that the artists continue to pursue their inspiration.

John Meirion Rea is a composer and sound artist who has worked as a session musician and arranger for records and as a composer for concert platforms, theatres, and films, but he also pursues his interest in sound installation, and the best part is that he is also in Oman with his production Celestial Bodies.

This sound art project saw him travelling to the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, recording the sound of the sea in the Wilayat of Sur, and Musandam Governorate, where particular folk songs are sung to welcome travellers. He likes the musicality of languages, and according to him, he enjoyed the connection of pronunciation in Arabic and Welsh, his own language. He felt the moon was culturally very important to Oman because of its seafaring history.

He further explored the archives of the Oman Centre for Traditional Music, resulting in finding old songs that also connected back to the maritime history of the nation. He came across the songs Omani sailors used to sing on their journey and especially when they went into the boat. He said how this art event has become a gathering of artists with a cultural exchange between national and international artists. He hopes that his composition reflects his experience of Oman but also the significance of the moon in the Omani culture.

Then there are artists who reflect on their experiences and memories. At Bait Al Khori, there is an art installation that takes inspiration from childhood memories. Bashayer al Balushi is an artist, and at Raneen she has chosen to present her installation titled Childhood Home. She asked, “Don’t you remember your childhood home? And miss your childhood days?" One of the best memories is of playing hide and seek with siblings and friends. And that is what she has on the video projected on a light white curtain, which also brings in a dreamy effect indicating nostalgia. Surely we all have these feelings and thoughts, but an artist takes that extra step to express oneself. So what are artists doing? They translate a thought or an idea into creativity. They formulate the concept and work with discipline and passion until their vision takes shape for others to see and experience. What is enchanting also is understanding what captures the artist's mind.

For some artists it is nature; for others, it is abstraction and reflection of life, while some artists look inward. As for Huriya al Harassi of Oman, it is the eyes. So has portrayed the eye on traditional objects, but at Raneen her collection of eyes on various-sized steel utensils is installed on the wall of the tower, which is on the art trail.

Artists express themselves, but they also make sure we reflect through their artwork. And artist Radhika Khimji, who is at Raneen with the Bleacher Project, has the concept of providing an opportunity for the visitors to draw on the rectangular wooden boxes in different colours. And this is where the visitors can leave their creativity on. From the look of it, people have been enjoying the experience.