The “Omani Aesthetics” cultural event, organised by the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, kicked off on Thursday evening, 29 January, and runs until Friday, 30 January. The two-day programme features a diverse line-up of activities, including a visual art exhibition, a cello concert, a poetry evening, an art lecture and a showcase of traditional handicrafts. Events began at 7pm at the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation’s headquarters on Al Riqqa Street in Dubai, offering audiences an immersive cultural experience celebrating Omani creativity.
The opening ceremony was attended by His Excellency Counsellor Talal Al Wahaibi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman in the United Arab Emirates; His Excellency Dr Sulaiman Mousa Al Jassim, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation; and His Excellency Abdul Hamid Ahmad, the Foundation’s Secretary General. The event also drew a large audience of visual art and music enthusiasts, and members of the Omani community, who toured the exhibition’s galleries showcasing paintings, wooden sculptures, traditional handicrafts and other expressions of Omani cultural heritage.
Other participating artists also include SumayaBatmeera, Sanaa Al Sabri, Sanaa Al Hinai, Suha Al Abrawi, Aisha Al Siyabi, Afaf Al Muqbali, Afraa Al Balushi Gharib Al Zadjali, Fatima Al Busaidi, Fatima Al Marhoon, Ma’athir Saeed, Mahmoud Al Mahmouli, Muslim Al Hajri, Malak Al Riyami, Mona Al Balushi Mi’ad Al Ajmi, Naela Al Wadhihi, Wafaa Al Zuaabi and Yahya Al Maskari.
The exhibition also includes a dedicated Cabin Art for Handicrafts by the University of Nizwa, alongside works by Afrah Al Ishaqi, Saeed Al Dawoudi and Hamad Al Samahi. The event highlighted the aesthetics of Omani visual art, while shedding light on the diversity of artistic schools and styles and the intellectual and philosophical perspectives they embody, reflecting the richness of Oman’s environment, history and ongoing transformations.
The visual art exhibition, which showcases dozens of artworks representing a wide range of artistic schools and creative approaches, features by a wide group of artists, including Jamal Al Jassasi, Israa Bazra, Asmaa Al Habsi, Ismail Al Balushi, Asila Al Ghafri, Aflah Al Rashdi, Al Muayyad Al Rashdi, Dr Ilham Al Nassari, Amina Al Rasbi, Jumana Al Jassasi,Jeehan Al Omairi, Rehab Al Alawi, Reem Al Bathari, Sara Al Riyami, Samia Al Filaiti, and Sumaya Al Shaqsi.
The first day of the cultural programme featured a musical concert performed by Omani Cellist Maryam Al Manjiyyah, the first female cellist in the Gulf region. During the performance, she presented a selection of musical pieces, including Taqsi, Nana, Allah Ya Dar Zayed, Jana Al Hawa, Ahib Al Barr Wal Mazyon, Ya Munyati, Aatini Al Nay WaGhanni, Ya Markab Al Hind, Abaad, Shuwaikh Min Ard Maknas, Lawla Al Mahabba, Ya Sammar Ma Yehla Al Samar, La La Tedayeqouna, Ya Souli, and Samara Ya Samara.
At the conclusion of the first day’s events, His Excellency Abdul Hamid Ahmad presented the Al Owais Foundation’s commemorative shield to artist Maryam Al Manjiyyah, wishing her continued success and further achievements.
