Entrepreneurs
Kenna Al-Sayed: Capturing the Spirit of Horses in Every Brushstroke
Kenna Al-Sayed’s love for horses that she puts into incredible, life-like works. With every piece, raw emotion and powerful beauty are captured-a captured signature style resonating in the hearts of art lovers and equine enthusiasts alike. It goes beyond a simple representation of horses; rather, it actually connects viewers to something much deeper-the hidden emotions through which horses often communicate with stance, glance, and movement. Al-Sayed’s art is not of the eye alone; it is an emotional journey-of bonding between human and animal.
Kenna Al-Sayed is a name known in artwork, and she has managed to carve a niche for herself in the UAE’s tight art world by compiling two of her biggest loves: art and horses. In the series of horses rendered realistically in her works, she captures not just the physical beauty of these creatures but also the emotional power they create. That fact that Al-Sayed stresses the hidden emotive functions of horses in her paintings sets her works apart from a being just animal images. They reflect deep levels of connection with horses, things which make this very personal and universal at the same time. A native and resident of Abu Dhabi, Al-Sayed developed an early interest in horses. This naturally flowed to merge with her artistic talents, resulting in her decision to focus on equine subjects. Not unlike many animal paintings, most remain strictly with realism; Al-Sayed tries to show the inner world of her equine subjects. The unique approach she takes allows her viewers to see beyond the physical form of the horses and to visualize their spirit, their emotions, and their strength.
Her deep understanding of horses, both in their physical attributes and their emotional complexities, comes through in her art. Each is a study in how animals communicate through body language, and Al-Sayed captures the subtleties of expression, posture, and energy with real expertise. This level of detail has seen her earn not only a reputation within the UAE but also in the wider international arena.
A signature style of Kenna Al-Sayed, horses are painted hyper-realistically. She painstakingly applies each stroke, from the gleam in the horse’s eye to the minute texture of mane and coat. The degree of realism is what brings her paintings alive with dynamic composition and light. Her signature is one of immediately recognizable style, somehow weaving realism with sensitivity to the emotive capability horses possess. Al-Sayed’s subjects are not horses; they are individuals with unique personalities and emotions. By observing them closely, she captures subtle expressions, gestures, and even the passing moments of vulnerability. Her works celebrate the animal’s grace and beauty while narrating a deeper story of the bond between them and humans.
The horses in Al-Sayed’s work would, time and again, be used as metaphors for strength, freedom, and resilience. These qualities form the core of her creative vision. Her work can call forth admiration for the physical power of the horse, but it encourages, at the same time, reflection on emotional and spiritual meaning attached to the animal.
The artistic process for Kenna Al-Sayed is just as interesting as the works she creates. She often starts her work with an intensive observation of her subject through live sketches or photography before committing to a canvas. This is then perfected through layering colors and textures, which birth the very intricate detail and almost life-like quality her works epitomize. Using a number of different mediums, the creative process of Al-Sayed reflects deep involvement with her subject matter. Be it in oil, acrylic, or mixed media, the end product is always a striking piece inviting one’s eye for a closer look into what emotions it portrays.
Kenna Al-Sayed is an artist known in both local and international art circles. Her realistic horse paintings have taken the most prestigious galleries across the United Arab Emirates by storm and continue to impress with their technical mastery and emotional depth. In 2019, she won an award for her contributions to equine art and joined the ranks among the leading artists in this niche field.
Entrepreneurs
Omar Al Dhaheri’s Journey of Creative Experimentation
Omar Al Dhaheri’s creative journey in his post-graduation stint as an intern for Creative Lab Abu Dhabi moved through photography, videography, acting, and directing, putting him straight into the limelight of interest in storytelling and visual art at unprecedented speed. Today, Al Dhaheri stands as a rising filmmaker and talent development associate at the very company where he began. The real journey of his actually shows how curiosity and experimentation can fashion a way in the competitive film world, hence marking him as one to watch in the creative industries of this region.
Omar Al Dhaheri did not have a flashy start in filmmaking; he did his internship at Creative Lab, the Abu Dhabi hub for fostering creative talent. It was in this space that Al Dhaheri first began to explore his creative instincts, experimenting in a range of disciplines, including photography, videography, acting, and directing. It was these early acts of experimentation that provided a ground for him to develop his unique voice as a filmmaker, one that he now fully adapted. The Creative Lab is part of twofour54 Abu Dhabi and therefore a place that enables young creatives to explore and experiment with forms of media, from films to digital content. For Al Dhaheri, the platform became a starting point through which he used to kick-start his filmmaking career, gain practical experience, meet industry professionals, and use state-of-the-art equipment. This formative period allowed him to understand, through the medium of visuals, the minute details of storytelling that were to define his professional career.
The multifold approach to the articulation of art is a major distinguisher in the case of Omar Al Dhaheri. Since he was exposed to multiple mediums at an early stage, such as photography, videography, and acting, he could develop a holistic understanding of storytelling. Photography taught him how to capture the frames; videography taught him the art of framing motion. Acting actually gave him a sense of performance, which is so vital in directing the actors and capturing the story onscreen. Such experimentation laid the foundation for his creative philosophy of embracing multiple perspectives through which to tell authentic stories. A filmmaker, in this sense, combines these media to create something working on both technical and emotional levels. The depth that such an intersection between the visual and the performative can bring to his directorial projects makes his films interesting and contemplative.
After the internship, Al Dhaheri’s love for telling stories was soon honed into a professional career. He became more deeply involved in the activities of Creative Lab and gained a permanent position as a talent development associate. He mentored the next generation of creatives in this position, sharing lessons learned along his career path, while he himself was still refining his skills as a filmmaker. His work at Creative Lab testified to the organization’s nurturing of talents for the UAE’s growing film industry. The skill development of young artists by Al Dhaheri contributes to the creative future of Abu Dhabi and helps further shape the film and media industries in the region. Both the dual role of mentorship and creation make this career remarkably collaborative and influential.
As a filmmaker, Omar Al Dhaheri definitely has a signature style when it comes to storytelling. Personal growth, identity, and the human condition are common subjects in his film projects, most of which he has gained from his experience transitioning from intern to filmmaker. He can integrate multiple media, drawing on his experience with photography, acting, and videography to create visually dynamic and emotionally engaging works.
Most of Al Dhaheri’s films are visually driven; he is inclined towards cinematography as his main medium to communicate emotion and tell the story. With a background in photography and videography, he puts great attention to lighting, composition, and movement in constructing images that are not just visually pleasing but also full of meaning.
Creative Lab has been instrumental in the shaping of Al Dhaheri’s career, from resources to support, truly allowing him to unlock his full creative potential. Now, as a talent development associate, he is able to pay it forward by helping the next wave of filmmakers while encouraging innovation and experimentation. This emphasis on mentorship ensures the continued growth of the UAE Creative Industries in such fields as filmmaking and digital content creation. Al Dhaheri’s story represents what Creative Lab is all about-nurturing talent right from its inception and giving an opportunity for aspiring artists to prove their talents. His transformation from being an intern to a filmmaker reflects the magic of opportunity and mentorship in shaping creative careers.
Having gone from intern to filmmaker and talent development associate, Omar Al Dhaheri’s experience at Creative Lab speaks volumes about his passion for personal artistic development and growth in others. Continuing to create films while mentoring young talent, he is well on the way toward becoming a driving figure in Abu Dhabi’s ever-growing film industry. His work epitomizes the shifting landscape of Emirati cinema: to be innovative, experimental, and to tell a story in every form. In pushing boundaries of what is possible, Al Dhaheri adds not only to the evolution of the creative industries in the UAE but also paves an easy way for filmmakers who just like him start their journeys from places such as the Creative Lab: experimenting, learning, growing.
Entrepreneurs
The Artistic Journey of Aisha Al Ahmadi: Language, Identity, and Self-Perception
Aisha Al Ahmadi is an emerging force in the UAE’s contemporary art scene, through which she investigates nuances within identity, truth, and post-colonialism. Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, Al Ahmadi uses research, artistic expression, and literature to call into question how external forces shape our perceptions of self and society. Her intellectually charged works in drawing, printmaking, painting, and sculpture afford us a deep and personalized window through which we can understand better the cultural constructs defining our world.
Aisha Al Ahmadi was born in 1997 and is rapidly becoming one of the most promising new voices in the UAE’s art landscape. Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, the themes of her practice are well embedded in research and circle around some of the most pivotal themes of our century: identity politics, post-colonialism, and the truths that define how we perceive the world. As an artist, a writer, and an aspiring curator, the creative path that Al Ahmadi has embarked upon reflects her commitment to leveraging art as a medium of personal and societal investigation. Having graduated with a B.F.A. in Visual Arts, along with a minor in Curatorial Practices from Zayed University in Abu Dhabi in May 2020, Al Ahmadi’s academic background has shaped her approach a great deal. Her studies have gotten her to question how forces outside ourselves-politics, history, culture-shape our self-view and ways of engaging with the world. Currently, she is pursuing her M.A. Further deepening this intellectual inquiry into such themes was pursued in History of Art and Museum Studies at Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi.
At the heart of Al Ahmadi’s work is an investigation into identity politics; more precisely, it zooms in on post-colonialism. Growing up in the United Arab Emirates, a country seemingly racing toward modernity with varied influences from cultures, places Al Ahmadi in a very privileged position-to examine how these dynamics affect identity. Through her drawing, printmaking, painting, and sculpture, she researches how the legacies of colonialism have impacted the perceptions of the self and relationships to cultural histories. The research-based approach enables her to go beyond the personal experiences into the higher conceptual levels where the notion of identity is crafted within the structures of society. In this direction, she presents a robust critique of the persistence of history and power relations in contemporary society.
She moved into a more architectural and conceptual voice that considered the constructed nature of language and its part in forming perception. This transition has allowed her to engage in a more in-depth way with her intellectual interests while not losing an emotional resonance in her works. Language lies at the core of Al Ahmadi’s art. Her works underline the notion of how language builds up reality and undertakes to reveal the power of words in both defining and constraining our understanding of the world. This plays out in her drawing and painting, which allow text and visual imagery to converge in lush, multi-dimensional works that beg viewers to reconsider assumptions about identity, truth, and perception.
One of the biggest overarching themes present within each of these works by Al Ahmadi is that of vulnerability, most especially in relation to social conditioning. Her works often depict figures constrained in spaces, literally and metaphorically, reflecting the societal restraints on individuals-those of identity politics. The constricted domestic space underlines her characters’ vulnerability and brittleness and poignantly reflects a comment on these social norms putting a squeeze on people’s ability to self-express themselves as individuals. In the sculptural works of Al Ahmadi, she creates characters that personify different attributes of herself. The characters often come across as being held back, or hindered, and reflect the turmoil many are going through amidst a woefully directionless world of identity. The personal thus becomes universal in investigation, and the viewer is allowed an opportunity for reflection on his or her own experience regarding social conditioning and vulnerability.
Aisha Al Ahmadi’s talent and intellectual rigor have not gone unrecognized. In 2019, she was awarded the prestigious Cultural Foundation Art Residency-a sure sign of her increasing influence within UAE art circles. She has also taken part in several exhibitions, including most notably the “Sense of Women” art exhibition driven by Mia Collection. This exhibition revealed to the world her perspective on gender, the play of power, and identity to further consolidate her as one of the leading figures in the region’s contemporary art world.
Entrepreneurs
Nawaf Al Janahi: Shaping the Future of Gulf Cinema
Nawaf Al Janahi is a name synonymous with the rise of Emirati cinema. Born in Abu Dhabi to an Egyptian mother and an Emirati father, Al Janahi has been one of the driving forces in the region’s cinematic evolution since he was seven years old, getting his acting start before later pursuing filmmaking in California. His barrier-breaking films include the critically acclaimed The Circle and Sea Shadow, and Al Janahi is considered pivotal in the Gulf’s artistic scene. But apart from his films, his contributions run deep: he has been instrumental in advocating for local film initiatives, mentoring the next wave of filmmakers, and making Emirati cinema reach each corner of the globe.
Nawaf Al Janahi was born on February 7, 1977, in Abu Dhabi and grew to become a cornerstone in the budding Emirati film industry. Al Janahi had an innate love for the arts from a tender age. As early as seven years, he started his acting career. His mixed heritage—his father Emirati, and his mother Egyptian—infused his work with many of the diverse cultures that have enriched his style of storytelling. Early exposure to acting eventually led Al Janahi to the United States at age 19, where in California he studied the arts of cinema, further fuelling his cinematic aspirations. Al Janahi’s contribution to Emirati cinema began with his first full-length feature, The Circle (Al Dayra), which was released in 2009. This was immediately hailed as the turning point which Gulf cinema needed, as it started to attract the notice of both film critics and audiences alike. The movie aired complex social themes, making it an instant hit in the emergent film industry in the Gulf. Al Janahi’s distinctive voice and the ability to represent the complex layers of humanness and social expectations that wrap human emotion create a whole new beginning for Emirati cinema.
Critics praised the audaciousness of The Circle’s narrative and its novelty style, immediately christening it a milestone in the regional cinematic history. The film has consolidated Al Janahi’s reputation as one of the most brilliant directors and paved the way for Emirati filmmakers to experiment with stories that break away from the more traditional moulds.
With Sea Shadow, his second feature film in 2011, Al Janahi solidified his position as one of the leading film directors in the region. The film was released across the Arabian Gulf and fared reasonably well at the box office, rising to number two in the UAE top five upon its release during the first week-a position that was by no means easy considering the UAE was one of the largest cinema markets in the Arab world. Sea Shadow toured 27 countries, a feat for an Emirati film. It engaged with facets of identity, coming-of-age experiences, and the tricky balance between tradition and modernity in Gulf societies. By telling such stories, the skills of Al Janahi resonated with global audiences; Sea Shadow was a cultural export, representing Emirati life on the world stage.
Throughout his career, Al Janahi has worn many hats, including film festivals and competitions. He has worked as the Arab Program Manager at the Dubai International Film Festival, Competition Manager at the Gulf Film Festival, and Artistic Supervisor at Emirates Film Competition. His work within these structures has been cardinal in shaping the cinematic landscape in the region, availing many filmmakers with the opportunity to showcase their work and sharpen their talents. Al Janahi extends his leading role in filmmaking beyond the UAE to giving lectures and holding workshops in various countries. His contribution to film culture earned him places on the jury committees of several well-known film festivals: the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, Egypt’s Ismailia International Film Festival, and the US-based Chicago International Film Festival.
Nawaf Al Janahi’s career epitomizes creativity, leadership, and an overall deep sense of commitment to the development of cinema within the Gulf region. His films, The Circle and Sea Shadow, have not only brought Emirati stories to global audiences but also encouraged a whole new generation of filmmakers to pursue their passion for the cinema. Through all his initiatives, Al Janahi continues to champion the local film industry by providing a platform for emerging talent and ensuring that Emirati cinema is in good, strong hands for the future. As he continues to shape the cinematic landscape of the Gulf, little doubt should be cast that his work will leave an indelible mark for both the region and the global film community in the years to come.
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