Local gallery celebrates women artists in eclectic exhibition

AMMAN — The walls of NOFA Creative Space, a venue promoting local talents in the fields of art, music and dance, are covered with the works of some six Jordanian women artists, in celebration of women's month.

"As we marked the International Women's Day on March 8, I wanted to honour female artists, especially Jordanian ones who have incredible stories to tell through their art," said Ghada Khalil, manager at NOFA, adding that "we want to show our support to all creative women established as artists in Jordan".

Organised under the patronage of Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab, “Artists and Colours” invites the visitors into a world of charm and delicacy, portrayed by women from all walks of life.

"This exhibition includes works by long-established artists, others who work as art teachers, while some are using art as a way to express their feelings. These artists are mothers, some grandmothers, all with a rich life experience which you can sense in these artworks," Khalil told The Jordan Times. 

All connected, yet all different, the art pieces showcase various art techniques, some quite unlikely, such as Sahar Qamhawi’s method of engraving, who engraves all of her design on zinc. "This is an incredible and extremely rare technique, which takes a tremendous ability, artistically speaking," said Khalil, noting that "the minister was very impressed at the inauguration, as the painting gives the natural impression of a canvas".

Qamhawi's works are all displayed along with some lighting installations, in order to provide an additional dimension to the viewer's experience. Once the visitor's attention goes past the first impression of natural landscapes depicted on the canvas, he/she reaches a deeper layer, echoing with each personality's appropriation of the lighting, figures and techniques used in the painting.

This duality is also found in the work of Maha Moheisen, who makes use of colourful palates spread out in thoroughly arranged brush strokes to reveal human life scenes inside a seemingly abstract background. 

Reflecting on her work, Moheisen said: "My work is obsessed with the pink colours from my childhood, as well as the wild flowers in the desert heat and the spring breeze... I try to fill the void with strokes of colour and knife."

For her part, Neimat Al Nasser, who gathered the group of fellow artists to take part in this collective exhibition, chooses another unique technique of engraving linoleum. 

According to Encyclopædia Britannica, engraving on linoleum — or linogravure — is an art form consisting of the production of images from an original plate engraved on a linoleum block. "The technique became popular after the 1950s, when Pablo Picasso used it to produce series of brilliant linoleum cuts," the encyclopedia noted.

"I move in a volatile mood between one subject and another as I am concerned with the public interaction with my subjects. I do not embrace repetition and monotony, and I love to change constantly," she said, adding "I cannot present a group of works with a single topic as I renew myself in every work."

"I like engraving; it empties all the negative energy inside of me when I scour the areas of material that I will dig with my tools," Nasser added.
Inspired by her Circassian origins, Amal Jalouqa offers yet another perspective on painting by depicting shapes reminding of traditional Circassian figures, in a variety of settings and colourful backgrounds. 

The only sculptor exhibited in the art show, Najah Obeidat also works as an art teacher and a sculptor, organising workshops to convey her passion for art to the public.