Style: July 06, 2018

Out of The Blue, mixed media on canvas, by Khaled Al Saai
Dubai Creek, watercolour, by Trevor Waugh
STYLE | art 49
The Middle East has long been the subject of exotic
escape in the minds of European artists. The landscape, the
language and the people are woven into a magic carpet of
colour, intrigue and beauty. This interpretation of space by
the outsider carries on the legacy left by the 19th century
painters. Martin Giesen, a German artist who has taught
and worked in the Middle East for many years, paints
semi-abstract work featuring Arabic designs, landscapes
and architecture. He aims to draw attention to the
changes created by rapid development and political issues.
Trevor Waugh, on the other hand, is a British artist whose
watercolours capture the wadis, the sea, desert and people.
His traditional approach overlays a romantic view on his
subject. Like many visitors he has fallen in love with the place
and the energy it exudes.
The Majlis Gallery also exhibits contemporary Arab artists
such as Khaled Al Saai. Muslim art is non-representational
and as a result the calligraphic representation of their script
has evolved into an artform of its own. Khaled Al Saai is a
gentle soul who produces landscapes of feeling and emotion
through the layering of exceptional calligraphic script. The
contemporary Arab artist deals with the social, theological,
economic and political issues of the modern world. Khaled’s
work draws you in to a web of words and feeling saturated
with text.
The region provides a feast of visual subjects from which
artists provide us an insight into the cultural basis and
concerns of a country, which to many seems to be covered
with a veneer of modernity. Scratch the surface just a little
by visiting this lovely area and you will discover its soul.
THE CLOCK TOWER
REIGNS SUPREME AT HERITAGE AWARDS
A sold-out ceremony, held at the Isaac Theatre Royal on
Friday 15 June, saw the Clock Tower Block at the Arts
Centre of Christchurch take home the Supreme Award.
Dr Anna Crighton, Chair of the 2018 Box 112 Canterbury
Heritage Awards, remarked that the Clock Tower’s
restoration was one of great significance, truly portraying
the importance and value of the undertaking of such
projects in our region.
“The Clock Tower provides an
admirable example of
preserving the past and
providing for the future,
the level of commitment
shown by the Arts Centre of
Christchurch is commendable
and has left us with a
phenomenal structure worth
shouting about!”
SUPREME WINNER:
The Clock Tower - The Arts
Centre of Christchurch
The
Biggest
16 June - 14 July / courttheatre.org.nz
PRINCIPAL SPONSOR SEASON SPONSOR
CORE FUNDER
SHOW SPONSOR
Written by Jamie McCaskill
A full list of this years accolades can be found at: ww.heritageawards.co.nz