A GLITTERING world of words and visuals is set to come alive as Bahrain Writers’ Circle (BWC) stages its annual poetry and art exhibition on Saturday, October 10.
A total of 23 teams will showcase their creativity at the ninth edition of Confluence – Where words and images meet, which will be held at Harbour Gate in Bahrain Financial Harbour.
Renowned Bahraini artist Thamer Al Reefy and noted Bahrain-based journalist Meera Ravi will attend the inauguration ceremony on October 10. The exhibition will run until October 22 and is open to the public.
The group will mark its 15th anniversary at the event, celebrating a legacy of nurturing writers in the kingdom.
“We are excited and preparations are in full swing,” BWC director Saira Ranj told GulfWeekly.
“The arts help us make sense of the world, particularly when the world feels unsettled. For 15 years, Bahrain Writers’ Circle has provided a non-profit platform for expression and connection, helping deepen our understanding of the humanities,” she added.
This year, Confluence will merge with BWC’s flagship event Colours of Life.
“The regional conflict prevented Colours of Life from going ahead as planned; its merger with Confluence carries that commitment forward. A heartfelt thank you to Bahrain Financial Harbour for its continued support over the years, and to LuLu Group for joining us as a sponsor this year,” she added.
Each team comprising a writer and an artist will present works that are tied together by a common theme and colour.
Bringing alive the theme ‘crossing the divide’, former Bahrain resident and retired aircraft maintenance engineer Glen Stansfield will showcase his paintings.
“This year I am taking a break from writing and I have entered as an artist. My paintings represent something the world needs – bridges; bridges between faiths, genders, nationalities, ideologies... We need to understand we all have differences and we should embrace them, not fight over them,” he added.
The crime novel writer left Bahrain three years ago but continues to work closely with the BWC from Scotland where he now lives.
Offering diversity, Indian expatriate and photographer Shikha Varma from Awali will present her aerial shot, connecting it to her poem Colour of Escapades.
“Kayaking, here, becomes a metaphor for self-discovery, breaking frontiers and embracing the joy of the journey. The fuchsia embodies its central spirit; bold, untamed, and vibrantly alive,” explained the shutterbug and three-time winner of the Her Royal Highness Shaikha Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa Cup for photography.
Meanwhile, educator and poet Nivedita Roy from Adliya will present her verses published in her latest book Recipe for a Poet’s Broth. She will collaborate with Indian expatriate and creative talent Pallavi Jain from Saar.
“Pallavi’s deft hands worked on a sculpture that transformed my words to another level,” she remarked.
An excerpt from Nivedita’s poem reads:
‘Add a flavour of rhyme and rhythm
Adjust the metre to suit the flavour
Squeeze your aches into the pot
Drop in those unshed tears hidden from the lot…’
BWC has many members who are published poets and authors, committed to the literary arts. Among them is Rupa Bhargava from Saar.
Participating for a third time, she is excited to collaborate with Bahrain-based talents Sriparna Ghose and Aditi Patel.
Talking about one of her exhibits, she said: “The Depth of Black was written about a year ago and examines the concept of black through the perspective of a blind man. In the poem, darkness is not merely the absence of light, but a state of mind and a distinct way of experiencing the world.”
For more details, follow @bahrainwriterscirclebwc on Instagram.
