(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Prominent local artist Maryam al Zadjali is eagerly looking forward to her upcoming exhibition, ‘Spiritual Inspirations', which will be held at Bank of Beirut, Ghubra branch, from September 18-20.Maryam is an award-winning experimental abstract artist and the director of the Oman Society for Fine Arts (OSOFA), but for her, this exhibition is a special one.''My artwork is heavily influenced by Omani culture and heritage so the paintings may feature aspects of traditional clothing as well as architecture,'' she said.''However ‘Spiritual Inspirations' is special to me as the 22 pieces which will be displayed were mostly painted during the holy month of Ramadan.''Maryam said she drew inspiration from the spiritual environment she experienced during Ramadan and translated it to canvas. ''Nothing was planned ahead of time, I painted from pure emotion, and I hope my work will provoke deep thoughts from viewers.''When asked if she still felt nervous about exhibiting her work, Maryam said that she had been painting for a long time, and that the support ‘Spiritual Inspirations' received from Bank of Beirut and Bait Muzna Art Gallery was instrumental in keeping her nerves in check.''I am very thankful to everyone who supported this exhibition. With an increase in art enthusiasts and patrons, it is becoming easier for local artists to concentrate on their creations.''Looking back on her development as an artist, she said, ''For me, it all started when I sketched a cat feeding its kittens in fifth grade. My art teacher at the time saw the emotion in the scene and encouraged me to pursue a career as an artist.''Taking about the development of the art scene in Oman, she said, ''In 1980, there were only about 25 local artists, and we faced difficulties in getting people involved in art."The media wasn't covering exhibitions, the public didn't appreciate art â€" especially abstract art. It took time to educate people and create an appreciation for art."The OSOFA and the Ministry of Culture as well as private galleries were all helpful in bringing art to the forefront. Art reflects the image of a country and how it's developing.''Although there are over 500 artists in the sultanate now, Maryam felt there is scope for improvement. According to her, local artists could greatly improve if there were more art critics in the country.''Currently, there are only two or three critics, and I think the OSOFA, the Ministry of Higher Education and universities can work together to have more critics. The critics will not only encourage artists to better themselves, but more importantly, they will serve as a link between artists and the viewers.''Bank of Beirut, meanwhile, said in a press release that it has initiated a plan to display one or more prominent Omani artists every month. Through these exhibitions, the bank said it intends to provide a suitable environment for Oman artists to move ahead in the field of fine arts.As part of its social responsibility, Bank of Beirut wants to play a projecting part in the growth of the art movement in Oman, the release said. It also wants to help artists expand their role in society and contribute in the preservation and promotion of the cultural values and traditions of Oman, it added.Bait Muzna Art Gallery is helping in this endeavour by selecting the artists and advising the bank on what works to display. ‘Spiritual Inspirations' will be inaugurated at 7pm on Tuesday at Bank of Beirut's Ghubra branch by Dr Juma Ali al Juma, chairman of Oman Airports Management Company.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.