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Meral Jamal
is a blogger,
writer, and aspiring
photographer who enjoys
writing and travelling.
Thoughts on UAE’s
rapid development
in creative sectors
I think something I've
witnessed personally
amongst people my age is
modernization and liberality.
With modernization, a lot
more youth is moving
around on their own at all
times without fear of time
or place or even transport
issues. This is especially
true for girls, especially as
the UAE is so safe.
Fostering
growth in your
field
Being a blogger is so
fun in the UAE because
so many teenagers are
now involved in social
causes. And they're all so
well connected! I think
as a generation, we're
privileged to be able to
talk about these things
and not feel threatened in
countries as open minded
as the UAE.
Where do you
envision Dubai in
the next five years?
I would like to think of Dubai as
the hive of young digital creators
- bloggers, photographers,
YouTubers and viners - who are
all part of a large community
involved in many humanitarian
causes such as tackling gender
inequality, discrimination and
the like. This country is so
culturally diverse and gives you
the freedom and respect to be
your own person.
Johanna Vandeberg
is
a Belgian self-educated
abstract painter who has
been living in Dubai for
almost one year now.*
Thoughts on UAE’s
rapid development
in creative sectors
I can see that the UAE has
really developed within the
art scene for the past decade.
For example, there are now
so many exhibitions featuring
known various artists as well
as new artists. This exhibition
encourages meetings, dialogue,
and the exchange of ideas
between UAE artists, fostering
an expression and evolution
of stylistic and conceptual
diversity. There is also the UAE
Art Archive from Emirates
Fine Arts Society (EFAS) who
provides continuous care and
encouragement in cultural
matters and to the visual arts in
particular.
Fostering growth in
your field
I do believe that the UAE is
ripe with regards to my field.
As I have mentioned, there are
so many support groups that
encourage artists and supporters
of art here in the UAE. The
supply of art in the UAE is
humongous, but additional
*ABOUT SWISS ART GATE
UAE
Swiss Art Gate Uae promotes
mutual understanding between
Switzerland and the United
Arab Emirates through cultural
exchange and also organizes
events and exhibitions with local,
regional, and international artists.
For more details, visit:
www.swissartgateuae.comdemand from the clients/ buyer
would be even better.
Where do you
envision Dubai in
the next five years?
Having seen the current
evolution, both architectural
and cultural… Dubai will be the
place to be and undoubtedly, the
center of international art.
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Nov/Dec 2016