Art for heart's sake

DUBAI - A charity exhibition displaying handicraft items created by teenagers during the summer training programme of Dubai Ports Customs and Free Zone Corporation was inauguarted on Monday at the Snowy Night City.

By Lina Abdul Rahman

Published: Wed 6 Aug 2003, 12:08 PM

Last updated: Wed 1 Apr 2015, 10:10 PM

The inuagural function of the exhibition, which concludes on August 13, was attended by Hamad Fadel Al Mazroui, Acting Director of the Corporation, Ahmed Khalaf, Senior Manager of Administrative Affairs and Training. A number of senior officials from the corporation also attended the event.

During the ceremony, Soad Mohammed Abdullah, Head of the Summer Training Committee 2003 at the corporation, told Khaleej Times that the wide variety of handicraft work displayed at the exhibition was created by teenagers, including handicapped artists. "We are proud to say that in the two-month duration of the training, the participants managed to excel in various kinds of handicraft and were keen on learning something new everyday," she noted.

Golsan Dectrick, a skilled Turkish handicraft artist, said: "Words can never express how thrilled I was to be able to convey my message to artists of the young generation and through my personal observation I noticed that the young participants were very creative at accomplishing their tasks and were waiting for someone to give them a chance to display their hidden talents."

Golsan, who is part of a handicraft programme broadcast on Dubai TV, expressed her satisfation at being chosen to teach the participants on the basics of handicraft.

Jamal Salem, a 16-year-old artist with speech disability, was proudly standing in front of a table displaying his artwork and was trying to attarct visitors to have a look it. While communicating in brail through an expert, he said: "I am so proud of the work I have accomplished and would like the maximum number of visitors to have a look at it."

Soad added that the total proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to various charity organisations in the UAE. The handicraft products will be sold at a nominal fee in order to make it affordable to all. "The main objective of organising the exhibition was not to yield profits," Soad said.

The exhibition will remain open between 10am and 1pm and from 5pm to 10pm, she added.