Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum Honors Four Tunisian Writers

The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum pays tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers. WAM
The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum pays tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers. WAM
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Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum Honors Four Tunisian Writers

The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum pays tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers. WAM
The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum pays tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers. WAM

The 15th edition of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum unfolded in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bou Said, paying tribute to four distinguished Tunisian writers, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Thursday.

The writers are Dr. Al Manji Al Kaabi, Al Tahami Al Hani, Dr. Fawzia Al Zaouq, and Salem Al Shaabani.

According to WAM, the forum comes in implementation of the directives of Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to honor literary figures who have contributed to serving contemporary Arab culture and it is held for the third time in Tunisia after celebrating, in two previous sessions, an elite group of Tunisian writers.

The honoring ceremony took place at the Nejma Ezzahra Palace in Sidi Bou Said in the presence of Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Head of the Department of Culture in Sharjah; Dr. Hayat Qatat Al Qarmazi, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs; Dr. Iman Al Salami, UAE Ambassador to Tunisia; Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, alongside a distinguished gathering of intellectuals, writers, and the families of the honorees.

“Today, we gather for the 15th session of the Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum, honoring four Tunisian writers—a testament to the robust cooperation between the Sharjah Department of Culture and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, culminating in the forum being hosted in Tunisia for the third time,” said Al Owais.

Al Qarmazi conveyed gratitude to the Ruler of Sharjah, commending the initiative that transcends borders and celebrates cultural figures throughout the Arab world. She lauded the Department of Culture in Sharjah for its unwavering commitment to recognizing Arab creators and showcasing their intellectual and literary contributions through the "Sharjah Cultural Awards Forum."

The awardees acknowledged Sharjah's significant cultural endeavors in fostering creativity and honoring creators.

Al Owais and Al Qaseer, along with Al Qarmazi and Al Salami, presented certificates of appreciation to the four honorees, bearing the signature of Sharjah’s ruler, in acknowledgment of their outstanding creative contributions.



Saudi Museums Commission Showcases Chinese Contemporary Art for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA
The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA
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Saudi Museums Commission Showcases Chinese Contemporary Art for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA
The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions. SPA

The Museums Commission inaugurated on Thursday the exhibition "The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow" at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax, introducing contemporary artists of Chinese origin to Saudi Arabia for the first time.
Bringing together over 30 artists of different generations and cultural backgrounds, the exhibition showcases a collection of over 50 art pieces, offering diverse and nuanced perspectives on the profound transformation of our contemporary society.
The exhibition draws fascinating parallels between Arab and Chinese traditions by exploring two central elements they have in common: calligraphy and the garden. The exhibition highlights the profound significance of calligraphy as a cultural and societal practice in both Arabic and Chinese cultures, in which the written word and script are revered not only as a form of communication but also as a spiritual endeavor.
The balance between discipline and naturalness, a requirement for masterful calligraphy, links the field of writing with the domain of the garden. By definition, the garden is nature in an arranged order, and it is considered in both cultures a representation of creation, designed for the appreciation of beauty and spirituality, and for contemplation and conviviality.
"The Writings of Today Are a Promise for Tomorrow" exhibition also reflects an aspiration towards future possibilities and ongoing dialogue, addressing the concepts of energy flow and synergy. Writing here is understood in a larger sense as the trace of a meaningful act of participation and communication.
The exhibition is designed as a stroll through a series of thematic stages, exploring the interplay between presence and absence, action and contemplation, memory and imagination
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore pieces from two notable Paris-based collections of contemporary Chinese art, the Donnersberg Collection and the dslcollection, as well as direct contributions from artists and site-specific works produced in Saudi Arabia for the exhibition. They will also see the works of a French-Algerian artist Adel Abdessemed and Taiwanese artist Michael Lin, showing for the first time in Saudi Arabia.
The exhibition showcases how the art of today continues to evolve, reflecting and reshaping the flow of cultural energy, connecting past and future, and embodying the promise of tomorrow.
The exhibition will run until January 18, 2025.