A blend of photography and artwork

Dubai - The duo, who met through Instagram, showcased their artworks together in an exhibition titled Journeys at The Dubai Mall.

Two artists - an Emirati and a South African - are urging people to pause and reflect on the fleeting moments of life. The duo came up with a couple of creative concepts and blended them together, using their mobile phones.
Abdulla Al Wahedi's photographs and Linda Hollier's artworks on reused wood speak to each other, creating a dialogue, which asks us to pause regularly in life's journey and pay attention to moments of reflection.
While Al Wahedi's photographs showcase doors of very old houses in Ras Al Khaimah, Hollier's iPhone artworks suggest a new way of moving through spaces online and in the everday materiality that we live in.
The duo, who met through Instagram, showcased their artworks together in an exhibition titled Journeys at The Dubai Mall.
Fascinated by each other's works, they decided to display their works together in order to inspire people to step through the door of life, accept the journey and the adventure as in life there are stories waiting to unfold.
Al Wahedi also gave an inspirational talk to a number of women who had gathered at the mall to attend the exhibition.
He said: "Our culture and history is rich with examples of women's empowerment. This is not something new to this culture. Unfortunately, the image that has been portrayed to the world is a negative one but if you look at our culture, you will see it is all about women's empowerment.
"In the olden days, when men would go for pearl diving, it was the women who were the bread-winner of the family by going out to markets, selling fish and engaging in agriculture. So, the entire family depended on the mother."
Talking about his fascination with doors, Al Wahedi, a photographer, writer and an electrical engineer, said: "Doors are the entrance to a house and always have something interesting behind them. In the olden days, the houses were very simple but their doors would show off the status.
"Doors symbolise protection as well as mystery of what lies behind it. A door has so many meanings to it: the colour and design says so much about what could lie behind it. These elements speak about the household, their taste and get up. So many stories could lie behind these doors.
"The doors that I have clicked are of very old houses that are not inhabited anymore, so in a way, these doors open a portal of imagination for us and make us wonder."
Linda, a South African who has been a UAE resident for the last eight years, said: "In my artwork, you will see people are in one spot, showing that they are very rooted but at the same time they seem to be moving in another dimension.
"The other aspect I am trying to show is that we are entering an age of social media so why not use it for enrichment? I am trying to encourage the mindful use of technology."
Linda, who uses slow-shutter photography in her artworks, said she creates her own textures and blends them in.
"I also use lot of different apps and paint on my phone using my finger. I then get those pictures printed on recycled wood. This not only gives the artwork an extra texture, but it is also done on very old wood. So, I am again emphasising the same point about using modern technology but without forgetting your roots."
saman@khaleejtimes.com  

• Dubai