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AN unparalleled building boom is a unique characteristic of the Gulf nations. The diversity of construction in the region ranges from modern architectural wonders in Dubai to organically constructed houses in Yemen.
The British Council's photography exhibition, My Father's House, which opens at the Beit Al Qur'an on March 21 examines the influence of architecture on cultural heritage in the six countries of the Middle East - Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen - and aims to stimulate a debate on the role buildings play in shaping a nation's culture.
Photographers from both the UK and the Middle East were commissioned for this project and were given freedom to respond in their own very individual ways to the theme of the exhibition.
Using large-scale photography, audio-visual media and film, the artists have interpreted and examined how the built environment reflects the people, the community and society in these six nations.
Inspiration for the specially commissioned works has come from the oral tradition of story-telling, cinema, households, changing landscapes, archaeological and restoration projects and the role of women in shaping their societies.
The photographers include Wed Abdul-Jawad from Saudi Arabia, Boushra Almutawakel from Yemen, Hafiz Ali from Qatar, Boushra Almutawakel from Yemen, Lamya Gargash from the UAE and Camille Zakharia from Bahrain. The UK photographers include winner of the World Press Photo of the Year 2007, Tim Hetherington, Tim Loveless and Hazel Thompson.
Hannah Henderson, regional creativity manager in the Middle East for WHO, said: "Cultural heritage and architecture are the symbols of our identity. This collaborative project between Middle East and UK artists of 'My Father's House' asks us: how do we see where we live?
"The Middle East is today an amazingly dynamic region that is quite literally changing its physical appearance from day to day. It is being rapidly transformed as it re-creates its image in a globalised world. Yet it is also a region with a strong, deeply ingrained cultural heritage.
"How does that built environment reflect its people, their community, society and the country? What is the effect of the drive towards modernisation on those traditional aspects of society - its local customs, eco-systems and economies? What is being lost? Where are the unrecorded, personal histories? How is the built environment valued and used? And who are its guardians? These are some of the critical questions that 'My Father's House' explores.
The exhibition will be the centrepiece of the 'My Father's House' project which also includes related activities for the general public such as an online photography competition and photographic treasure hunt for families, workshops for emerging and professional photographers, talks by the 'My Father's House' artists, seminars and conferences on architecture and heritage, educational packs and events for schools and colleges.
The photographic exhibition that began its journey in Oman is on a year long tour of the featured countries before showing in the UK.
From when:
Open to the public from March 22-April 20
Where:
Beit Al Qur'an, Manama
Visiting hours:
Saturday to Wednesday, 9am to 12 noon; 4pm to 6pm
Thursday, 9am to 12.30pm
Friday closed
Contact British Council at 17261555, ext 260 for more details
Wed Abduljawad - Once upon a Time, Saudi Arabia
Inspired by the oral tradition of storytelling Wed has created an audio-visual project exploring the historic area and traditional architecture of Jeddah through a handmade black and white pin-hole camera. This is accompanied by a recording of personal recollections with community members who were its residents.
Tim Hetherington - Vital Structures, UAE and Yemen
Tim presents a study of the architectural achievement in both Yemen and the Emirates through a personal reflection on the subtle beauty inherent in structures which might ordinarily be seen as mundane and every day and that which, he says, 'might not be found in a tourist's guidebook'. He also touches on the countries' past and recent histories as major commercial centres, and how the influence of trading partners has shaped their architecture.
Boushra Almutawakel - Yemen
Through portraits of various households in Sana'a, including the poorest social group, known as Al-Akhdam (servants), traditional families in the Old City of Sana'a and the small community of the very wealthy in modern suburban villas, Boushra examines the contribution that individuals make to shaping contemporary society.
Camille Zakharia - Distorted Memories, Bahrain and Al-Bilad, Oman
Camille's Bahrain portfolio is a montage of personal recollections of the changing social and physical landscapes of the island. For Oman, he presents a mosaic of black and white images showing how water has shaped communities and their environments - rural, urban, desert and coastal - which hints at how changing social patterns might be putting pressure on an already fragile resource.
Hazel Thompson - Measure of a Woman, Bahrain and Qatar
Hazel portrays women spanning several generations by documenting their individual roles and contributions in shaping modern society and social structures within Qatar and Bahrain. She said: "Over a four-month period I spent time with ten women, living alongside them and following them throughout their daily lives. Not only did I gain an insight into the successes of their professional and business lives, but I was also able to relate to the challenges they face and the strategies they have developed to cope with the stresses and constraints of balancing work within the dictates of their societies."
Lamya Gargash - Presence, UAE
Lamya's project documents recent history, which might otherwise go unpreserved. Using large-format colour images she presents interiors of buildings in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman that were constructed in the initial oil-boom era and are now abandoned, showing only traces of the lives lived there.
