Asilah arts festival shines
In Morocco, the arts festival in Asilah showcases all kinds of different disciplines – music, painting, writing, performances and everything in between. This year the Kingdom of Bahrain was the special guest of honour.
Abdulrahim Sharif, a professor of art at the University of Bahrain commented: “There is a rich cultural exchange between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Morocco. We thought of it as bringing a basket with us filled with a variety of good things. The art exhibition was one of them, and last night you could have heard the traditional music. Tonight there is a concert and there is the exhibition of books by Bahraini writers. We tried to make it as rich as possible.”
The Bin Faris Band were warmly welcomed when they played at the festival. The artists’ workshops were also well attended by artists keen to exchange ideas and inspiration, as Nabeela Al Khayer said: “It is interesting to work here. Interesting to work with different artists from all over the world. Asilah – the place by itself it gives you a beautiful feeling for working.”
The Bahrain National Orchestra played original scores using a blend of eastern and western instruments. The performance was attended by Sheikha Mai Al Khalifa, the Bahrain Minister of Culture, who said: “We are attending a performance of select compositions by the Bahrain National Orchestra, led by Missa Johnouchi, the acclaimed Japanese conductor and Ambassador for Peace, both in her native country and the UNESCO.”
Discussions about art brought artists from around the world closer, blurred dividing lines and turned workshops into informal debates.
Artists from more than 10 different countries joined forces to create a massive wall mural.
Abdulrahim Sharif, a professor of art at the University of Bahrain commented: “There is a rich cultural exchange between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Morocco. We thought of it as bringing a basket with us filled with a variety of good things. The art exhibition was one of them, and last night you could have heard the traditional music. Tonight there is a concert and there is the exhibition of books by Bahraini writers. We tried to make it as rich as possible.”
The Bin Faris Band were warmly welcomed when they played at the festival. The artists’ workshops were also well attended by artists keen to exchange ideas and inspiration, as Nabeela Al Khayer said: “It is interesting to work here. Interesting to work with different artists from all over the world. Asilah – the place by itself it gives you a beautiful feeling for working.”
The Bahrain National Orchestra played original scores using a blend of eastern and western instruments. The performance was attended by Sheikha Mai Al Khalifa, the Bahrain Minister of Culture, who said: “We are attending a performance of select compositions by the Bahrain National Orchestra, led by Missa Johnouchi, the acclaimed Japanese conductor and Ambassador for Peace, both in her native country and the UNESCO.”
Discussions about art brought artists from around the world closer, blurred dividing lines and turned workshops into informal debates.
Artists from more than 10 different countries joined forces to create a massive wall mural.