Art of Kuwait

Last updated

The Kuwaiti modern art movement emerged in the 1930s, Kuwait has the oldest modern arts movement in the Arabian Peninsula. [1] Kuwait is home to more than 20 art galleries. [2] In recent years, Kuwait's contemporary art scene has boomed. [3] [4] [5] Kuwait has the second most lively gallery scene in the GCC (after Dubai). [6] [7] [8]

Contents

The Amiri Diwan recently inaugurated the new Kuwait National Cultural District (KNCD), which comprises Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre, Al Shaheed Park, and Al Salam Palace. [9] [10] With a capital cost of more than US$1 billion, the project is one of the largest cultural investments in the world. [10] In November 2016, the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre opened. [11] [12] It is the largest cultural centre in the Middle East. [13] [14] The Kuwait National Cultural District is a member of the Global Cultural Districts Network. [15]

History

Kuwait has the oldest modern arts movement in the Arabian Peninsula. [1] Beginning in 1936, Kuwait was the first Gulf country to grant scholarships in the arts. [1] The Kuwaiti artist Mojeb al-Dousari was the earliest recognized visual artist in the Persian Gulf region. [16] He is regarded as the founder of portrait art in the region. [17] In 1943, al-Dousari launched Kuwait's first art gallery.

The Sultan Gallery was the first professional Arab art gallery in the Persian Gulf region. [18] [19] Khalifa Al-Qattan was the first Kuwaiti artist to hold a solo artist exhibition in Kuwait. He founded a new art theory in the early 1960s known as "circulism". [20] [21] Other notable Kuwaiti artists include Sami Mohammad, Thuraya Al-Baqsami and Suzan Bushnaq.

Art galleries

List of art galleries in Kuwait:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Sabah</span> The ruling dynasty of Kuwait

The House of Sabah is the ruling family of Kuwait.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Kuwait</span>

Kuwait is well known in the region for its exploration of many different and new forms of music and dance. Kuwait is the birthplace of various popular musical genres such as sawt. Kuwait is widely considered the centre of traditional music in the GCC region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah</span> Emir of Kuwait from 1977 to 2006

Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad Al-Sabah or Jaber III was Emir of Kuwait from 31 December 1977 until his death in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Kuwait</span> Overview of the culture of Kuwait

Culture of Kuwait describes the cultural aspects of the Kuwaiti society and is part of the Eastern Arabian culture. Kuwaiti popular culture, in the form of dialect poetry, film, theatre, radio and television soap opera, flourishes and is even exported to neighboring states. Within the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, the culture of Kuwait is the closest to the culture of Bahrain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuwait</span> Country in West Asia

Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south. Kuwait also shares maritime borders with Iran. Kuwait has a coastal length of approximately 500 km (311 mi). Most of the country's population reside in the urban agglomeration of the capital and largest city Kuwait City. As of 2023, Kuwait has a population of 4.82 million people of which 1.53 million are Kuwaiti citizens while the remaining 3.29 million are foreign nationals from over 100 countries.

Jaber is an Arabic name for males used as a given name and surname. Alternative spellings are Gaber, Jabir and Jabeur.

Khalifa Alqattan was a Kuwaiti pioneer artist. He was the first Kuwaiti artist to hold a solo exhibition in Kuwait. In the early 1960s, he founded a new art theory known as "circulism".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Kuwait</span> Overview of the status of women in Kuwait

The women of Kuwait have experienced many progressive changes since the early 20th century. Since then, women have had increased access to education, gained political and economic rights, and financial power. They can serve in the police, military, and as judges in courts. However, women in Kuwait struggle against a patriarchal culture which discriminates against them in several fields. Kuwait's Bedoon (stateless) women are at risk of significant human rights abuses and persecution, Kuwait has the largest number of Bedoon in the entire region.

Suzan Bushnaq is a Kuwaiti artist. Her paintings are principally impressionistic images related to women's vitality, power, and beauty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah</span> Ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait from 1921 to 1950

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the tenth ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait from 29 March 1921 until his death on 29 January 1950. He was the longest reigning ruler of Kuwait having reigned for a total 28 years and 305 days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah</span> Emir of Kuwait from 2006 to 2020

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the Emir of Kuwait from 24 January 2006 until his death in 2020.

The modern Bahraini art movement emerged in the 1950s, with the establishment of an Arts and Literature club in 1952. The club served as an umbrella group for professional and amateur artists, musicians, and actors in Bahrain. In 1956, the first art exhibition was held in the Bahraini capital, Manama. Expressionism and surrealism, as well as calligraphic art are the popular forms of art in the country. Abstract expressionism has gained popularity in recent decades.

The Battle of Al-Regeai, acknowledged as the final significant military engagement in the early historical period of Kuwait, occurred on 28 January 1928. It transpired under the rule of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the 10th Ruler of Kuwait. Marking a technological milestone, the battle featured the first utilization of vehicles in Kuwaiti combat. The conflict was instigated by an Ikhwan raid against Kuwaiti farmers at “Umm Al-Ruweisat,” situated northwest of Al Jahra. Approximately five hundred Ikhwan horsemen launched the attack, leading to the occupation of the farms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nuqat</span>

Nuqat is a nonprofit organisation based in Kuwait that focuses on cultural development in the region. Diverse participants from all over the world join Nuqat throughout the year to discuss design, entrepreneurship, architecture, fine arts, technology, culture and every aspect of life that creativity permeates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre</span> Performing arts centre in Shuwaikh, Kuwait

The Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre (JACC), informally known as the Kuwait Opera House, is a cultural center in Kuwait, located on the Gulf Road in the capital Kuwait City. It is the largest cultural center and opera house in the Middle East. The cultural centre is part of the Kuwait National Cultural District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah</span> Cultural organization in Kuwait

Dar al Athar al Islamiyyah is a cultural organization operating several cultural centers in Kuwait.

The Kuwait National Cultural District is multibillion-dollar development project that focuses on the arts and culture in Kuwait. With a capital cost of more than US$1 billion, the project is one of the largest cultural investments in the world today. The Kuwait National Cultural District is a member of the Global Cultural Districts Network.

The Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre is a cultural complex located in Kuwait City Kuwait, owned by the Amiri Diwan. It consists of six main components; The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Space Museum, Arabic Islamic Science Museum, Fine Arts Centre and the external spaces known as the Public Realm. The Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre is a 18-hectare site making it the world's largest museum complex. The Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre was inaugurated in early 2018, it was the world's largest single-delivery museum project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah</span> Kuwaiti royal (1948–2020)

Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was the First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense of Kuwait, and before that he was the head of the Amiri Diwan in 2006–2017. Nasser was the eldest son of the hereditary ruler or Emir of Kuwait, Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (1929–2020). Prior to his death in December 2020, just seventy-two days after his father's death, Nasser was identified as a leading candidate to become the Crown Prince of Kuwait, or the heir apparent. He was a key figure in Kuwait's Vision 2035 plan, which included a planned city in northern Kuwait dubbed "Silk City".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bloom, Jonathan; Blair, Sheila S.; Blair, Sheila (14 May 2009). Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture: Three-Volume Set. p. 405. ISBN   978-0-19-530991-1.
  2. ↑ "Culture of Kuwait". Kuwait Embassy in Austria. Archived from the original on 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2017-04-01.
  3. ↑ "Egyptian Artist Fatma, talks about the gateway to human faces and equality for all". Reconnecting Arts.
  4. ↑ "Kuwaiti Artist Rua AlShaheen tells us about recycling existing elements to tell a new narrative". Reconnecting Arts.
  5. ↑ "Farah Behbehani & the Story of the letter Haa '". Al Ostoura Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  6. ↑ "Kuwait City's 10 Stunning Contemporary Art Galleries". The Culture Trip.
  7. ↑ "Creative Industries in Kuwait". Government of Netherlands .
  8. ↑ "Kuwait". Gulf Art Guide. Archived from the original on 2017-03-04. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
  9. ↑ "Kuwait National Cultural District". Archived from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-02.
  10. 1 2 "Kuwait National Cultural District Museums Director" (PDF). 28 August 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-25.
  11. ↑ "Kuwait unveils $775M Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre". 7 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016.
  12. ↑ "Opening of the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre a milestone in the illustrious company's history". 7 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-12-27.
  13. ↑ "أمير الكويت يدشن أكبر مركز ثقافي في الشرق الأوسط.. و4 جواهر تضيء شاطئ الخليج". Oman Daily (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2017-08-29.
  14. ↑ "UK Trade & Investment" (PDF). UK Trade & Investment. June 2016. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-21.
  15. ↑ "Current Members – Global Cultural Districts Network". Global Cultural Districts Network.
  16. ↑ Al Qassemi, Sultan Sooud (22 November 2013). "Correcting misconceptions of the Gulf's modern art movement". Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East.
  17. ↑ "Kuwait". Atelier Voyage. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.
  18. ↑ Kristine Khouri. "Mapping Arab Art through the Sultan Gallery". ArteEast.
  19. ↑ "The Sultan Gallery – Kristine Khouri". YouTube .
  20. ↑ Muayad H., Hussain (2012). Modern Art from Kuwait: Khalifa Qattan and Circulism (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Birmingham.
  21. ↑ "Khalifa Qattan, Founder of Circulism".
  22. ↑ "Dar Al Funoon". Archived from the original on 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  23. ↑ "CAP Kuwait".
  24. ↑ "Boushahri Gallery".
  25. ↑ "Sultan Gallery".
  26. ↑ "Grand Re-Opening of Free Art Atelier".
  27. ↑ "Den Gallery". Archived from the original on 2019-08-31. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  28. ↑ "Den Gallery in Kuwait". Red Bull .
  29. ↑ "Den Gallery Instagram".
  30. ↑ "The Hub".
  31. ↑ "Al Mashreq Gallery".
  32. ↑ "Art Galleries and Museums in Kuwait".
  33. ↑ "AM Art & Design Gallery".
  34. ↑ "Art Space: Kuwait's Latest Community Art Centre and Cafe".
  35. ↑ "Art Space".
  36. ↑ "Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) Kuwait". Archived from the original on 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  37. ↑ "Kuwait Art Museum Succeeds Where Others Have Failed". HuffPost .
  38. ↑ "Kuwait's Hidden Jewel: The Modern Art Museum". HuffPost .
  39. ↑ "Al-Makan". Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  40. ↑ "Al-Makan". Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  41. ↑ "Masaha 13". Archived from the original on 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  42. ↑ "Center of the Arts". Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  43. ↑ "Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah at Yarmouk Cultural Centre". Archived from the original on 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
  44. ↑ "Manifesto 13".
  45. ↑ "Promenade Culture Centre unveils 'Our Story: Expressions of Cultural Identity' Art Exhibition" (PDF).
  46. ↑ "Wejha".
  47. ↑ "Fann Way Gallery".
  48. ↑ "ASCC".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.