If there’s one thing kids love more than drawing stuff, it’s space. Give a child a packet of felt tips and tell them to do you some pictures of a rocket, then, and it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be dragging them downstairs when it’s time for their dinner.
That’s precisely the request that UAE communications firm Yahsat recently put to the city’s youngsters, and boy did they heed the call. It came as part of a competition held to celebrate the launch of the nation’s first multi-purpose satellite, which Yahsat proudly sent into orbit back in April. After a short stint at the Souk at Central Market, the work is now on permanent display at Yahsat’s Al Falah HQ, in an exhibition called Kamarna Fakharna (or Pride in the Sky).
The collection of 30 images is incredibly endearing to behold, and, though themes of space and exploration are present throughout, the kids (aged six-18) have been extremely creative with their use of shapes and colours. One of the highlights is a piece by Uthman Yahya (pictured, right), whose contribution is one of the more abstract. In the blurb accompanying his painting, he cites Franz Marc and cubist master Pablo Picasso as influences, the latter evident in his slightly psychedelic space-scape, which cleverly incorporates the Yahsat logo. Not bad at all for a 12-year-old, we’re sure you’ll agree.
Another of the show’s envelope pushers is 11-year-old Madison Grant of GEMS American Academy, whose depiction of a hijab-clad woman (below) made out of mustard seeds offers a point of contrast against the multitude of soaring shuttles and starry skies. She explains that her image is intended as a redesigned logo for Yahsat, and key to the design was making sure the UAE’s heritage shone through.
‘I was thinking about the colours I could use, and when I thought of the colour black, a hijab jumped into my mind, so I wanted to draw that,’ she told us at the unveiling of her work. ‘I wanted to make it relevant to the UAE.’
There’s cultural relevance in her choice of material, too. Aside from lending her piece an interesting texture that almost demands to be stroked (don’t worry, Madison, we resisted), the mustard seeds are significant of a simpler time for the region. ‘In Medieval times people used spices as a substitute for money,’ she said. ‘So they would use things like peppercorns and mustard seeds to pay for things.’ Which just makes it all the more incredible to think that, just a few centuries down the line, we’re blasting shuttles into the sky.
Also speaking at the opening, Yahsat CEO Jassem Al Zaabi shared the kids’ sense of pride, both for the nation’s technological achievements and those of the artists they’ve inspired.
‘We are very impressed with the art submitted by our youth,’ he said. ‘The launch of satellite Y1A was a significant achievement for the Emirates. And, while capturing this accomplishment, these artists have done an exemplary job weaving nuances through their work reflecting both the cultural and technological progress of our nation.’
He’s bang on, too – it’d take the steeliest of hearts to deny that there’s bags of potential in this group of eager young artists. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised to see work from one or two of them hanging on the walls of the Abu Dhabi Guggenheim in 10 years’ time. If they’re not busy exploring the outer reaches of the universe, of course.
Pride in the Sky is open to the public throughout the month of August, at Yahsat HQ, Al Falah. Entry is free. For more information, call 02 510 0000.
