Biography
Maha Ali Abdulla is currently studying visual arts at Zayed University while participating in an internship with a gallery in Dubai. Her practice aims to bring the history and tradition of the UAE into a contemporary visual dialogue.
Artist Statement
Maha Ali Abdulla is an emerging Emirati artist that maintains a respectful nostalgia for the historical traditions of the UAE. Through vibrant, textured paintings, Maha Ali Abdulla re-contextualizes the Emirati sarood, a hand-woven mat made of dried palm fronds traditionally used for food presentation. Through her work, Maha Ali Abdulla hopes to rekindle an interest in this symbol of hospitality, referencing the rituals associated with breaking bread, which have brought people together for millennia. Selecting colors that reference the flags of nations both near and far, the artist speaks to His Highness Sheikh Zayed’s vision to bring people together from across the globe to find unity and prosperity in the UAE.
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