Fakeih praises Filipinos’ artistic talent

Labor Minister Adel Fakeih opened the weeklong Jeddah Art Week here on Friday and praised the organizers for showcasing a diverse range of artwork, particularly an exhibition by Filipino photographers.
Fakeih and Saud Kateb, the academic, columnist and general manager of foreign information at the Ministry of Culture and Information, attended the VIP private tour of the JAW.
“I was pleasantly surprised with the various artwork that was presented by the Filipino workers. I think it is one of the things that we should work on more,” Fakeih told Arab News.
“We want to encourage our guest workers to share their experiences living in Saudi cities and interact culturally with our society.”
He said this would enrich their lives. “This is a step in the right direction and the Ministry of Labor is going to further encourage various communities to participate in Saudi Arabia’s cultural activities,” he said.
Kateb echoed this view. “We need to see more interaction between our community and guest workers,” he told Arab News. “The ministry appreciates this kind of art, exhibitions and interactions between different communities. I think it is useful. What has been done at the JAW is more useful and valuable than most of the words we use daily in newspapers and opinion pieces,” he said.
Philippine Consul General Uriel Garibay said the exhibit recognized the talent of Filipinos, and hoped there would be more exhibitions in future in other areas.
“The work of the Filipino community is magical and provides a different perspective on photography and art in general,” he said.
The JAW was established in 2013 to encourage the burgeoning art scene in Jeddah and the Kingdom. “This year, the second edition of the JAW offers a more ambitious program, where the disparate, organically grown elements of Jeddah’s art scene can come together in an open, cohesive and transparent forum,” said Mohammed Jameel, chairman of the Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI).