Crown Prince Opens 12th Bahrain Association for Contemporary Art Exhibition

Translation

His Highness the Crown Prince Sponsors the Opening of the Bahrain Association for Contemporary Art Exhibition And Praises the Performance of the Bahraini Artist and His Good, Evolving Output

His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Acting Prime Minister, honored with his generous patronage yesterday the opening ceremony of the twelfth exhibition of the Bahrain Association for Contemporary Art at Awal Hall in the Gulf Hotel as part of the country's celebrations of the glorious National Day.

Upon his arrival there, he was received by His Excellency Mr. Tariq Abdul Rahman Al-Muayyad, Minister of Information, Sheikh Isa bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Undersecretary of the Ministry, Mr. Nasser Al-Yousif, President of the Bahrain Association for Contemporary Art, and members of the administrative board.

The opening ceremony was attended by a number of Their Excellencies the Ministers, Sheikh Ali bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Sheikh Ali bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Director of His Highness the Crown Prince's Court, a number of state officials, diplomatic corps members, and a number of invitees.

A child presented His Highness with a bouquet of flowers, then His Highness cut the ribbon announcing the opening of the exhibition. Then His Highness and the invitees toured around it, during which he viewed the displayed artworks numbering two hundred paintings and artistic works that forty Bahraini artists participated in preparing. The paintings represent portraits of His Highness the beloved ruler of the country, His Highness the Prime Minister, and His Highness the Crown Prince... The paintings and artworks also represent features of the local environment and our folk heritage, as well as modern trends by Bahraini artists painted in oil, watercolors, and other materials. His Highness listened to explanations from the artists participating in the exhibition about these paintings and works.

At the end of the tour, His Highness the Crown Prince and Acting Prime Minister recorded a statement in the guest book saying: "I was greatly pleased by what I saw of artistic exhibits that truly reflect the development of the Bahraini artist and his ability to express truthfully his reality and feelings." His Highness praised the exhibition and said it was good and refined in terms of performance in expression and good organization, which indicates the tangible development in the performance of the Bahraini artist and his good, always-evolving output. His Highness expressed his appreciation and admiration for their works, directing thanks to those in charge of the exhibition for their sincere efforts that showed the exhibition in its current state of excellence and quality.

His Highness Sheikh Hamad was bid farewell with the same warmth and honor with which he was received. On this occasion, Mr. Nasser Al-Yousif, President of the Bahrain Association for Contemporary Art, expressed his thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Crown Prince for his patronage of this exhibition and for His Highness's continuous support and encouragement of Bahraini artists. He said that the support and attention was a motivation for artists to continue their creative output and develop it, and this was reflected in the artists' production whether in this exhibition or other artistic exhibitions. He praised the support that artists receive from the state in appreciation of the role that art plays in society.

He said that His Highness the Crown Prince's directives to artists will have a positive impact in pushing the artistic movement in our beloved homeland forward, especially in the field of highlighting historical events and folk traditions in future artistic production.

The exhibition will remain open until next Friday, corresponding to the eleventh of this January.