100 cm x 100 cm Acrylic on Canvas
This painting is the second 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.
Sheikh Zayed believed that a nation without a past is a nation without a present or future since the lessons from our past help us build our country, its progress and its development.
Traditional elements highlighted here [from the centre outwards] include:
- Yola sticks used in the Al Ayala dance which is performed by men and boys who hold these canes while moving in unison to a steady drummed rhythm; a symbol of national identity and union.
- Traditional lanterns that provided light before the days of electricity
- Silver detailed Khanjars which are short curved Arabian daggers that are the mark of authority in the northern deserts and often worn by Sheikh Zayed at official events.
- Camels have always been a key part of the UAE’s rich heritage; providing transport, food and milk in the past and still highly prized for their beauty racing ability.
- Arish; woven palm fronds used for the walls and roof of older style Emirati houses.
- Wooden dhow boats traditionally used for transportation, fishing and pearling and were the foundation of the economy of coastal communities and an important cultural connection to the sea.
Lyn Naismith 