Tribute to Zayed Series – 1- Community and Culture

100 cm x 100 cm Acrylic on Canvas

This painting is the first in a series of four paintings dedicated to 100 Years of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the United Arab Emirates. It was presented at the National UAE Art Festival as part of a live painting exhibition beside the QE2 on UAE National Day, 2nd December 2018

The 10 fold Islamic geometric design includes elements detailing the passions of Sheikh Zayed, his love for his people, the traditions of Emirati culture and a heritage he believed worth preserving.

The black background with gold calligraphy symbolises the royal colours of his ‘bisht’ [robe]. Four quotes from Sheikh Zayed [top left – anticlockwise] when translated mean:

Unity is the way to strength, honour and power. A true leader thinks of his people as members of his own family. He cares for them and looks after them at all times. He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and future; for it is from the past that we learn. A country is not measured by the size of its area on the map. A country is truly measured by its heritage and culture.

The arabic coffee pots and cups in the centre represent his warm welcome to those he met within his majlis, behind the wooden doors [diamond shapes] of his palace. The 10 petals each denote a decade since Sheikh Zayed’s birth, with the classic form of the ‘barjil’ [wind towers] which were an integral part of the traditional architecture within the old heritage areas; such as Shindagha, Al Faheidi and Bastakiya in Dubai. Arched gypsum decorative panels [outer arches] were also used as air vents in old villas.

Date palms have always been a vital life source in the desert and an important element of Emirati hospitality. Falcon feathers [outer petals] have often been used as an emblem of wealth and authority. Sheikh Zayed loved falconry and believed that it helps Emiratis remember their genuine Arabic traditions.