Clothed in art

AMINA RIZK Al Haskouri's artwork utilises the panels of details in the traditional Arab attires - Ghutras and Burqas.

"In Arab society, especially in the Gulf, Ghutras and Burgas remain an elegant form of attire and a symbolic, yet very public, expression of cultural heritage," says Amina ahead of her exhibition at the Ghaf Art Gallery (February 17- 27).

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“Ghutra, worn by men, has a definite aesthetic side. It enhances the features of the wearer. Whereas, the burqa, worn by women, can be shocking for some people, it can also be also elegant. It has that mysterious side," she adds.

Originally from Morocco, Amina has been in Abu Dhabi since 1988. "I graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art, (Baltimore, USA) as an interior designer. Since I couldn't work during my pregnancy I started drawing in order not to lose the flow of my hand. We have to be very precise in our drawings. The lines have to be sharp and exact to the millimetre and the hand has to be crisp. I kept on drawing and found out that I was getting better and learning more.

One day as I sat down to draw an elderly Palestinian, his black ghutra looked quite interesting. I thought to myself... hang on, I can draw!"

As the burqa is often misunderstood, she says, her art endeavours to draw the attention of the public to the social cultural value of these significant accessories.

The ghutra has different meanings for different people, according to their geographic region. At times, it is identified as a symbol of protest and at other it is an expression of confidence and masculinity.

"What the ghutra increasingly personifies is an important symbol of the Arab-Islamic people. In the west the black and white ghutra has been used as a symbol of Arab-Islamic resistance or struggle. The red ghutra portrays the message of powerful elite. During times of war it has protected the identity of the wearer from the enemy,” says Amina.

"The ghutra dominates our "vision of the Arab". Likewise, in the Gulf, the burqa has evolved with high fashion and one sees it as extension of one's "mystique". It continues to evolve as an important expression of the femininity of the Gulf."

At present her media is acrylic. "In practice I find that acrylic is a better medium to work with, it is more technically expedient.

"Acrylic can, in many ways, imitate oil painting. The more layers, the thicker the acrylic becomes. It gives a more realistic look. Some acrylics are shinier in texture than others. So it becomes a choice of the artist."

"I am planning to go back to interior designing. The world of design is constantly growing, evolving and changing. I just have to catch up with the computerised side of design," concludes Amina.