EMIRATI ARTIST MATAR BIN LAHEJ CONDUCTS A DIALOGUE SESSION WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE ART FOR ALL CENTER (FALAJ)
Emirati artist, photographer and sculptor Matar Bin Lahej has confirmed that artistic creativity is not restricted to anyone. Persons with disabilities can be creative in arts by the support of society and the creating the appropriate environment.
This came during a dialogue session that brought together the great artist with the members of the Art for All Center (Falaj) of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services. Mrs. Mona Abdul Karim Al-Yafie, Director of the City, and Mr. Muhammad Bakr, the Supervisor of the Center, were present. The discussion revolved around the arts that the center’s members receive training on, such as drawing, music, calligraphy and acting, and the way to work on developing and refining them.
Bin Lahej explained during the session moderated by the artist Hafizah Al-Bashani (a member of the Center) the importance of creativity in the artistic field for the sake of art and its supreme values, not just for organizing exhibitions.
He pointed out that the artist's development of his talent requires sincerity and continuous learning. There is no doubt that persons with disabilities are capable of creativity in art as they are able to create in other areas of life.
He also talked about the role of art in achieving qualitative steps in life and achieving dreams. He called on persons with disabilities to experiment and choose the artistic field in which they find themselves, and then work to develop their talent to reach their goal.
The Emirati artist shared members of the center, some of his experience, which began since childhood, as painting in sand in front of the house or walls using charcoal. He stressed that passion comes first for the continuation of talent, followed by a set of factors represented by learning, training, practice and success.
In the dialogue between the pioneer Matar and the center’s members, he talked about the importance of not imposing specific methods on persons with disabilities in painting and art. He rather called for allowing them to delve into colors and choose what is consistent with their personalities and the ways in which they want to express themselves.
He also talked about the (brand) that the center must work on in order to represent the creativity of its members of persons with disabilities in various artistic fields. He stressed the importance of the brand in marketing the artistic product and the importance of the story accompanying the work in reaching people and their hearts in the best way.
After the discussion session, Matar took a tour around the center, which the city established in March 2017. The center currently provides services to 48 talented and creative people with disabilities in the fields of arts, performing arts and music of various nationalities.
The tour witnessed remarkable interaction between the artist, Matar, and the Center's members of persons with disabilities. It also witnessed discussions about art and creativity. Among the most prominent was the dialogue that took place between the artist, Moza Abdullah, and the Emirati pioneer, who listened to a briefinga on her artistic creations. He announced that he began to learn drawing with his feet in order to challenge her, and the artist, Moza, with confidence and eagerness, accepted the challenge.
The talented artist Matar bin Lahej, a graduate of the Higher College of Technology, and the founder of the studio (Matar bin Lahej Gallery), began his artistic career through colors and photography. Then he moved to the field of sculpture and created many works, perhaps the most prominent of which is the eight-meter-long model of the energy of speech in Al-Watan Palace, and sculpture (Ayah), which reaches eight meters in length and weighs four tons, in addition to his wonderful contribution to the Museum of the Future in Dubai.
Notably, the Art for All Center (Falaj), since its establishment until now, about 830 persons with disabilities has benefited from its services, lectures and art workshops. The center has also participated in many competitions and art galleries inside and outside the country.