Talks centred around centred on the urban, civilisational, and cultural aspects of places, as well as on the burqa from an aesthetic and cultural perspective.

In collaboration with Al Multaqa Literary Salon, Bait Mohammed bin Khalifa, and the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), two cultural evenings were organised on Monday (14 November) at Bait Mohammed bin Khalifa as part of Al Ain Book Festival 2022.

Organised by the ALC, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the current edition of the Al Ain Book Festival is being held from 14 to 20 November 2022 under the slogan ‘All Eyes on Al Ain’.

Emirati Writer, Journalist, and Director, Naser Al-Dhaheri was the guest speaker at the first cultural evening titled ‘When the Place Talks’. The talk centred on the urban, civilisational, and cultural aspects of places, with the main focus being on Al Ain and its unique history, Islamic architecture, and buildings dating back to a time when the city was a crossroads for transportation and trade routes. Among the many monumental historical remains are the Falaj, which is considered to this day a functional irrigation system, and a mosque dating back to the first Islamic era, in addition to Bait Mohammed bin Khalifa, one of Al Ain city’s most important landmarks, bearing witness to monumental events in the city’s history. Unique by its Arab architectural style, the house also reflects the Arab cultural notions of privacy and modesty.

Naser Al-Dhaheri also pointed out that although many of the historical heritage of Al Ain is generally well preserved, a large part of the city’s history is an oral history, making it vulnerable to extinction, and therefore in a dire need of documentation on a large scale to preserve it for the younger generations and keep it from fading away.

The second cultural evening, ‘Burqa from an Aesthetic and Cultural Perspective’, saw Dr. Karima Al-Shomely, Fine Artist and University Professor, and Emirati Artist and Sculptor Mohammed Yousef Ali, talk about their work that takes Emirati heritage as its focal point, including the traditional clothing of the UAE such as the burqa or Al Mandoos. Dr Al-Shomely pointed out that it is of great importance to preserve the local heritage and traditional attire, not only for their historical value but for their aesthetic and artistic beauty, which she attempts to highlight and safeguard in her art.

For his part, Dr. Mohammed Yousef Ali stressed the importance of visual research in reading history, appreciating music, and exploring places. In his own work, Dr. Ali often uses the Emirati heritage and natural environment as the backdrop for many of his artworks, using natural local components, such as wood and palm trees.

The sessions were moderated by Asmaa Al Mutawaa, Founder and Chair of Al Multaqa Literary Salon, and attended by an audience of enthusiasts and interested individuals.

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