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Four public buses to sport ‘arty’ look

For the next one month, four of Abu Dhabi’s public buses will run on the Capital’s streets covered in art. Although nothing like Picasso or Dali, the new arty look sported by the buses are actually the works of four elementary school students from the emirate.

The initiative is part of ‘Art for All’ of Shaikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, a community arts programme put together by Shaikha Salama.

It all started last year, when the foundation, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Education Council, invited some of the youngest school children in Abu Dhabi to enter an art competition. The top works of the winners — Amna Naser Al Ali from Al Marwah School, Hasna Saeed Al Rashedi from Al Noor School, Huda Da’ale from Khadeejah Al Kubrah School and Marwan Abdul Malik Ali Al Mukhaini from Ibn Khaldoon School — were chosen.

Their greatest award for the competition is the public exhibition of their art pieces on public buses that will operate from today until November 24. Each of the four buses will be covered in one of the winner’s painting, along with their signature.

“I strongly believe that individuals are more likely to develop a love and appreciation of the arts when they are exposed to it at a young age,” said Shaikha Salama.

“I hope that through this initiative, we will motivate our children to pursue arts and further develop their talents, while at the same time touch the hearts of the general public and encourage them to be more involved in the arts,” she added.

‘Art for All’ comprises several art projects running throughout October going on up to the Abu Dhabi Art Fair held from November 7 to 11. They include a touring exhibition of five emerging Emirati artists — Alia Lootah, Dana Al Mazrouei, Hamdan Al Shamsi, Maitha Deimthan and Shamsa Al Omeira.

The programme also includes an international art learning trip for 20 high-school students in summer of 2013 and an Art for All Community Pavilion at the Abu Dhabi Art Fair. This will include an art exhibition of UAE based university students, a display of an art mural designed Karim Jad and the public, a photography booth and a water light graffiti by Antonin Fourneau — a new form of graffiti made of thousands of LEDs illuminated by the contact with water. Viewers will be able to create their own graffiti using anything damp on the lights.

silvia@khaleejtimes.com