JEDDAH: Saudi artist Shalimar Sharbatly has teamed up with famous artists including Omar Al-Najdi of Egypt and Juan Ramirez of Spain to hold joint exhibitions and carry out joint art works.
Sharbatly said bringing together famous artists was a novel experiment, adding that it would boost cultural and intellectual exchange.
Sharbatly, who has taken part in a number of national and international art shows, will hold her first joint show with the two artists on Oct. 10 in Paris. “We have been preparing for this exhibition for the last three years,” she said.
French Minister of Culture Frederic Mitterrand will open the show in the presence of ambassadors and consuls from the three countries. A total of 60 art works, 20 by each artist, will be displayed.
“The paintings to be displayed at the exhibition will include old and new works. The exhibits will highlight human issues and concerns as well as the culture of the three countries,” Sharbatly said.
The artists are hoping to hold the shows in Jeddah, Cairo and Madrid as well as in other countries.
“The main objective of this show is to spread a culture of coexistence between the people of various faiths and civilizations as we believe that art is the best medium to enhance cultural contacts,” she said.
The artists will prepare a painting jointly which will be displayed at the Paris show, Sharbatly said.
“This is to prove that the language of art is one,” she added.
She said she got the idea of holding this joint exhibition after the success of her participation in exhibitions outside the Kingdom, along with artists from other countries including Egypt and Spain.
“I wanted to establish a bridge between Arab and European artists,” said Sharbatly.
Sharbatly has done a number of wall paintings in the streets and squares of Jeddah.
She has a 1.5-meter wide, 3-meter high painting on the Jeddah Corniche in addition to a 17-meter long painting in front of Guest Palace where the government lodges VIP visitors.
