Acclaimed Emirati artist, Noor Al Suwaidi, hosts successful Art Conversation session at Dubai Ladies Club

Last week, Funoon, the art & culture division of Dubai Ladies Club, which is a member of Dubai Women Establishment, hosted its eleventh ‘Art Conversation’ session, which featured Noor Al Suwaidi, acclaimed Emirati Artist & Curator.

Al Suwaidi shared her unique approach towards art and the motivations behind her individual studio practice. The open discussion was well attended by distinguished members of the local and international art community and admission to the event was free for men and women. 

On the occasion, Sarah Ayoub Agha, Funoon Supervisor at Dubai Ladies Club commented, "It has been a pleasure to host our eleventh Art Conversation with Noor Al Suwaidi, who is a shining example of the upward evolution of an Emirati artist’s career. Her passion and dedication to her craft was a true inspiration to everyone attending the event; as a successful Emirati artist who has not only made an impact in the local art scene but is also quickly conquering the intentional scene as well.”

She adds: "With every session organized by Funoon, our aim is to shed light on one of the art icons from the local or international art world, in an attempt to bridge the link between emerging artists or students and established aficionados from the art world.”

Noor Al Suwaidi's work can be best described as a kaleidoscopic trip into colourful canvases and variegated works on paper, all oscillating between the realms of portraiture and figurative abstraction. Born in 1981, Al Suwaidi grew up in Abu Dhabi and since age nine she has dedicated herself to a creative career that - over the past years - has reached a seminal phase in its development. She studied Visual Communication at the American University, Sharjah, graduated in 2004 with a BA in Studio Art from the American University, Washington D.C. followed by an MA in Curating Contemporary Design from Kingston University, London in 2009.

At the gathering, Al Suwaidi discussed her artistic journey and explained how her career has unfolded over the years. A particular interest in painting led her to pursue studies in the UK and the US, through which she conceived, expanded, and consequently refined her artistic style. Noor also spoke about her first solo exhibition entitled “Like Coral, I Create Clouds” - a fresh encounter with the stylistic evolution of her work: an amalgamation of bold, conspicuous chromatic movements, guided into shapes and left to meet at moments where our imaginations make and shake figures into focus. She explained, “Every degree of colour is a theatrical background, tempting us to pour our imagination in painting and breathe the air again in the clouds of colour”.

Art Conversations is a monthly series of open discussions on art facilitated by leading luminary art experts from the local and international art scene. The series are being organised by Funoon, the art & culture division of Dubai Ladies Club, to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and expertise related to the art, culture and education. The topics will focus on assisting emerging artists to further develop and improve their creative and conceptual thinking, art critique, art appreciation and Aesthetics.

Conversations is one of several new art initiatives launched by Funoon – the art division of Dubai Ladies Club in 2011. The newly reinvented art division was established to guide and solidify the role that arts and other cultural resources play in defining and enhancing the social fabric and quality of life of people living in the UAE. Funoon with work local, regional  and international foundations to enhance the UAE’s reputation as a cultural destination through programs that educate and expose the public to a rich and diverse range of cultural expressions through a variety of initiatives.