New Management means a new policy, after the appointment of Ali Yoha Secretary-General of the Council National Culture and Arts and Letters, many artists hope to improve art in Kuwait, so what are the wishes of the Artists for the new department of the National Council ? Al Qabas met with a group of Artists and asked them about these dreams.
At the beginning, says the artist Sami Mohammed: He wished success to the new Council, and affirms that he dreams of many things that would advance the art of Kuwait to the fore front. Most importantly, he says: I also hope that the Council shall create a new modern museum of art for the country, such as those found in other countries such as Egypt and Syria, as the current museum is what I consider temporary and is not fitting to represent Kuwait. We have finished the stage of encouragement and hope the beginning of real hard work to raise the status of fine art in Kuwait.
On her part, the artist Thuraya AlBaqsami says that she hopes the new administration of the National Council will create a forum or arena for all artists to meet and congregate, where they can share ideas and brainstorm. Also, Kuwait needs a proper art building, after the closing of the Free Art studio, where artists can find a place to paint, and work, and exhibit, as there is a lack of this in Kuwait. This should include an art library, and research environment, and an arena from which artists can be informed about fairs, exhibitions, etc in the rest of the world, where they can also take part. She also wishes for the national council to support emerging artists between 18-30 and help in their growth.
The artist Shurooq Amin expresses that she would like art in Kuwait to be managed and directed and organized by artists, who are better equipped to understand the delicate nature of the art market. “I would also like the Council to be active in the discovery of hidden talents in Kuwait. There is an abundance of wonderful untapped talents in Kuwait, in art, design, architecture, music, filmmaking, all of which should be heard by the world because it means that we have a vision. This puts Kuwait on the art map, the cultural map of the world.” She also explains that freedom of expression is vital, to a certain limit: “Art is a way of opening borders, enlightening minds, creating awareness; and so by giving the artists some more freedom of expression, progress can be achieved for the country as a whole.”
The artist Raeda AlFodari says she is saddened that art in surrounding countries is doing better and more respected than it is in Kuwait, and so she hopes that art awareness is encouraged and taught, with the development of artistic taste in the community, especially among school students since childhood, for when asked: Who is Van Gogh or Picasso, they don’t know, so I hope the National Council crates training courses for students and young artists from the new generation and the development of artistic culture. She also wants the National Council to create a bond, a unity between artists who are dispersed and each of them struggle with their own problems.
The artist Suhaila AlNajdi says she hopes artists can share and learn and grow from each other and she hopes also hopes that the Council oversees the establishment of a national electronic library to help Kuwaiti artists be informed of new art books and exhibitions, business and schools, etc around the world, in order to remain in touch with the world.
The artist Qassem AlYassin says he dreams that the Council will achieve justice in the acquisition of works of art through the development of precise criteria for the acquisition of works of art rather than random, favoritism, or a particular agenda. Management should be that of artists who have the intention of improving the art movement in Kuwait. He wishes that attention is given to the art of sculpture as it was in the past, as well as attention to the art of printing or the art of engraving; and the culture of this art is missing. Many people do not know the difference between art and art of printing, ink painting, etc. While there are 150 Bienniales globally, Kuwait does not participate in most of them, which requires re-consideration of National Council to increase this participation, as it is a vital part to progress in art in any country. Finally, he wishes for National Council to reconsider the problems between the Council and the Arts Association and let bygones be bygones, and move on together united in art.
VIA | Al Qabas – Translation from Arabic is a courtesy of Shurooq Amin
P.S .ArtKuwait.org: We wish the best to the new management of National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and we hope that the Mr. Ali Al Yoha will improve the situation with the Art in Kuwait. Meanwhile the global changes in the art scene will take time, we will continue our project and we would like to ask the Kuwaiti artists to join us and to make the changes come faster.
A very interesting and insightful article. It hopefully will encourage art in Kuwaitf and strengthen the connections with the National Council. All we can do is wait and see ..
this is really great that they are all discussing and bringing to light the needs to have a strong art community in kuwait. Art can help the country and its people in so many ways and i hope the national council knows and understands that. we are lacking adequate spaces for artists to grow, where they can meet and discuss each others works and advise each other on methods, techniques, or where to find material. a space that can be used for studios that is either government funded or just a reasonable rent, where artist young and older can work in an environment that can help them all improve.