Manama: Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and Leyla Aliyeva, daughter of the President of Azerbaijan and Vice President of the Hayder Aliyev Foundation, inaugurated the MAMA 'Mother Nature' Art Exhibition.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the exhibition is organised by the RAK Art Foundation in collaboration with the Heydar Aliyev Center, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), and IDEA. It features 106 artworks by 55 artists from 29 countries. The exhibition, which made its debut in Baku, Azerbaijan, during COP29, underscores the role of art in addressing climate change.
Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa highlighted the exhibition's significance in strengthening artistic collaboration and cultural exchange, building on Bahrain's ongoing partnership with Azerbaijan, which included last year's art exhibition in Baku. He described art as a universal language that unites communities and inspires change, emphasizing its power in promoting environmental awareness and action.
Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa also underscored Bahrain's commitment to environmental causes under its leadership, recognizing climate change as a pressing challenge. He noted that Bahrain is taking steps to address these issues, and hosting the exhibition reflects this vision. He emphasized that art plays a key role in raising awareness and motivating communities to work towards a sustainable future.
The exhibition showcases three paintings by Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa from the Crossing the Nile series. These works symbolize life and death through the Nile's banks, reflecting the sun's daily journey. They explore nature, mythology, and spirituality, commenting on humanity's relationship with the environment.
A highlight is Aliyeva's multimedia installation, 'The Magic Grail of Life,' which, with 45 paintings, examines water's transformative nature; its ability to nurture or destroy and its essential role in sustaining life.
Aliyeva remarked on the exhibition, emphasizing the urgency of sustainability in the face of global warming. She noted that the growing evidence, from extreme weather events to the destruction of essential ecosystems, can no longer be ignored. She stressed that the responsibility for change lies with everyone and called for collective action to safeguard the planet for future generations.
The MAMA 'Mother Nature' Art Exhibition, which runs until March 25 at the Art Center in Bahrain, invites visitors to reflect on environmental issues and the role of art in promoting sustainability.