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Bahraini artist Jabbar Al Ghadban is set to launch an exhibition dedicated to the 'Women and Girls' of Bahrain.
He is holding the event at the Bahrain Arts Society in Budaiya where he will display 35 recent paintings he has completed in less than 12 months.
He said: "I wish to say hello to the ladies and welcome them to see my paintings. For many years the women from this region have suffered in many different ways and through the exhibition I want to pay my respects and extend my support to them."
In his work, drawn using acrylic colours over expansive canvases, he describes the simplicity, peace and beauty of a woman.
The exhibition also consists of portraits of women in a calm and composed stance accompanied with different props such as musical instruments, candles and birds.
The paintings portray the 'contemporary woman' with her traditional values.
"Ladies used to wear the mishmar (a traditional cloth over the head), veils and abayas in the earlier days. Nowadays, the girls and women don't use these.
"In my paintings, the women are peaceful ... with a mixture of tradition and modernity.
"I hope to see women happy and successful in everything."
Mr Ghadban had been a lithographer and zincographer for 30 years. Two years ago he set aside his acids and copperplates to concentrate on painting on canvas.
He completed his Bachelors in Fine Arts from the Damascus University, Syria and has held various exhibitions across the Gulf region, China, Japan, the USA and European capitals.
He said: "When I returned to Bahrain after my course, there used to be very few artists who pursued the graphic style of art - etching.
"I used to hold classes for people including friends and family and a few have gone a long way to become successful and excellent artists."
He has also toured the region and abroad with friend and fellow artist, Abbas Yousuf, with whom he had set up his studio, Ishtar Graphics in 1989, which lies adjacent to the Bahrain Arts Society.
Mr Ghadban, 53, lives in Manama with his wife, Zahra Hassan Ali and three sons - Muwaffaq, 14, Duraid, 10, and Ali, 8.
"My wife loves to come to my studio and see my paintings. She has been very supportive and appreciates my choice of subject ... although she has asked me why I only choose other women and not her!
"One day I will definitely make her a portrait - that's my promise to her."
Aside from painting he is an avid music lover and listens to classical Beethoven in his free time. The exhibition will be opened by Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al khalifa and will run until March 27.
