(Letters & Colors… Sound & Light) a group exhibition for Kuwaiti artists May Al Saad & Samar Al Bader featuring their latest artworks. The artworks cascade captured movements of people, dancers, places & traditions, mixed with the beauty of Arabic Calligraphy, both artists painted the captured world in their eyes through canvases & installations.

The exhibition was divided into two sections featuring both Samar & May artworks. I will talk about each artist separately.

May Al Saad … Beauty of Motions & Sound!

Holding a BA in Business Administration from Kuwait University, May Al Saad left a mark in the Kuwaiti/Arab Art Map since 1993 through participating in solo & group exhibitions across the region. She is a member of Kuwaiti Formative Arts Society since 1994, Founding Member of Kuwaiti Women Artists Group (KWAG) and active member of the International Arts Society in Paris.

May’s true artistic focus of capturing movements and beats came into life with her project (The Sound of Color and the Beat of Life) where she began painting folk dances of the region on her canvases.

Collectors of May’s work include King AbdulAziz Historical Center in Riyadh, HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal, HH Amir Sultan Bin Fahan Al Saud, Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi Ruler of Sharjah, Al Diwan Al Amiri (Kuwait) in addition to private collectors in Kuwait and abroad.

Al Maha on May Al Saad Artworks

Its the first time I see May’s artworks and I was captured with her strong colors, the way she portrays dancers as if it was captured by camera not painting. It feels realistic because shes not painting still life, but moving objects which is not easy to work with. May looks at traditions with an artistic approach which is young, beautiful and you will definitely hear & see the movements of her painted objects.

Alongside (Letters & Colors… Sound & Light) May Al Saad presented a special section which she described as “a reflection of humanity movement” which grabbed the attention of viewers! I decided to write about it in a separate post to praise her new approach in art & for Iranian poet Furoogh Farkhzaad stay tuned!

Samar Al Bader … Beauty of Oriental World

Born & live in Kuwait, Samar Al Bader started her journey in art in 1993 participating in so many local, regional & international exhibitions & Art Fair. Samar who holds a BA in Business Administration, has completed specialized training course in formative arts in UK, Germany and the USA, as well as the Florence Academy of Arts.

Samar is a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists and the Kuwait Formative Art Society. Samar’s inspiration comes from “The East” as she describes it, which brings together the fragrance of history and cultural heritage of the ancient Orient. She feels this east personalty signs all her works as it lives and expresses itself in every symbol and element that represents Arabic letters, Jewels, old utensils, oriental carpets and people with their features and beautiful clothes.

Awards & Honors:

1. Algurain Cultural Festival 2010 (Algurain Prize)
2. Kuwait Creative Art Festival 2009 (First Prize)
3. Kuwait Formative Art Society 2008 (Honorary Award)
4. Featured in WHO’S WHO in the INTERNATIONAL ART 2007
5. Florence Biennale 2005 (Mixed Media 5th Prize)
6. International Art Contest in Australia 2004 (First Prize)
7. Featured in International Artists Magazine 2002.

Al Maha on Samar Al Bader Artworks:

Samar has a new approach to still life & landscape. The variety of concepts she presented in this exhibition shows the amount of talent and generosity of the artist. I did, however, preferred her Calligraphy and Oriental artworks because of it’s uniqueness, harmony of color that even the neutral/earth colors are full of life, and there is an element of mystery which is part of Arabic Calligraphy beauty.

Cheers