MUSCAT – HH Sayyid Bilarab bin Haitham al Said, presided over the launch of the “Raneen Art” festival today. The 10-day event, which seeks to highlight some sites in the ancient Wilayat of Muttrah through the presentation of visual and audio arts displays, is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth.
The event benefits from the exceptional, deep-rooted landmarks of the Wilayat of Muttrah, which earns its uniqueness from ancient roads, alleys and abodes, making it a tourist hotspot where traditional and modern art meet.
The event also symbolises an embodiment of architecture and heritage, the conventional character of Muttrah, famous for being one of Oman’s top commercial port cities.
More than 25 artists from Oman and abroad are taking part in the event, which highlights the three sites adjoining Muttrah Police Station: Beit Al Khouri, Beit Al Khunji and Muttrah Fort.
HH Sayyida Tania Al Said also participated with a mural themed “Unity in Diversity” that depicts the miscellaneous cultural heritage of the Omani community, thus celebrating the shared history that shaped the country’s collective identity. The mural also constitutes a visual representation of the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to tolerance and coexistence.
An outstanding contribution to the event was made by famous artist Clive Gracey, who presented a set of 10 large-scale photographs, incarnating forgotten and abandoned interiors of houses in Muttrah and other locations in Oman. The gallery offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who inhabited these localities and evokes powerful memories of a different era and a lost way of life.
Meanwhile, artist Houriya Al Harrasi contributed with a tableau vivant titled “Invisible Fragments,” in which she used plates and drawing eyes—a style that expresses forgotten memories hidden in a distant corner in the mind.
Artist Marwa Al Bahrani presented an artwork titled “The Changing Colours of Time”, which included acrylic glass combined with a shimmering paper that formed a spectrum of changing colours that glitter in tandem with light and viewing angles. Marwa’s artwork, themed “a time without judgment” embodies authentic connections among the neighbourhood’s residents and evokes a joyful atmosphere that celebrates uniqueness and the blend of individual experiences.
In addition, another artwork titled “Studio Makan” by Rawan Al Mahrouqi, offers an innovative sphere that plays a pivotal role in Muttrah city’s contemporary art scene that made it a vibrant hub for artists and art lovers alike.
“Studio Makan” provides a dynamic space for cultural events, art talks, film screenings and collaborative projects. It also offers an overview of the art journey implemented through exhibitions, workshops and events that form an essential part of Studio Makan’s professional activity, which also includes drawing, printmaking, digital media, photography and craft sessions.
(ONA)
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