Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, a member of the Bahraini royal family, is a man of many faces. An artist, art collector, chairman of the National Arts Council, and honorary chairman of the Bahrain Arts Association, he juggles a variety of roles, combining them with his love of family and travel.
Known as one of the Arab world’s greatest artists, the septuagenarian’s creative journey began nearly 50 years ago. He was surrounded by beauty and elegance around his home, and his travels around the world became the driving force behind his artistic journey. After graduating from Hastings College of Art and Design in Sussex, England on a scholarship, he began painting landscapes, capturing the rugged landscape of his beloved Bahrain on canvas.
beginning and journey
“I loved dabbling with color and drawing more than studying other subjects at school,” he says. However, the young artist also took advantage of the opportunity to immerse himself in top-notch art by touring the country’s historic museums and galleries while interacting with other artists while studying abroad in the UK.
“I basically get my inspiration from my surroundings,” explains Sheikh Rashid. “The light, colors, and atmosphere unique to Bahrain’s landscape greatly influence the content of my art. I use these elements to create paintings, wall sculptures, and sculptures that blend traditional and contemporary architecture with the natural environment. I like to transform it into an installation.”
The figurative and ephemeral oil paintings of the 80s gradually paved the way for the abstract forms of the 90s. This also led to the artist’s experimentation with a myriad of materials and surfaces. Aluminum became preferred as a medium that requires first applying a glossy lacquer coating to the facade and then applying enamel, a painstaking process that requires extraordinary patience and perseverance.
Shaikh Rashid said he feels lucky to have participated in prestigious group exhibitions, trade shows and biennales around the world. The artist has participated in numerous international exhibitions, including “First Light” (2023) at the Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku, Azerbaijan, and “Tesselate” (2021) at the Mario Maroner Gallery, Vienna, Austria. Exhibited at art fairs and biennales. “Rashid Al Khalifa”, Opera Gallery, Dubai, UAE (2021) “T’ransverse Wave”, Me Collector’s Room, Berlin, Germany (2019), “Penumbra”, Saatchi Gallery , London (2018). Moscow Biennale, Moscow, Russia (2019). “Modern Istanbul”, Istanbul, Türkiye (2019, 2021). “SCOPE”, Miami Beach, Miami, USA (2021). Art Brussels (2022); Art Geneva (2023); to name a few.
Art initiatives in Bahrain
With encouragement from friends and family, Shaikh Rashid and some artist friends started an art club in Bahrain. Thus, the Bahrain Arts Association was born, and today it promotes a thriving ecosystem for nurturing the arts in the Gulf. The exhibition is held to support local talented artists as well as the general public from outside Bahrain and beyond. Lively debate, state sponsorship, and global exposure for artists have created a vibrant foundation for Bahrain’s creative arts.
Founded in 2010, Art Bahrain has sponsored a repertoire of cultural initiatives, art exhibitions and educational projects locally, regionally and internationally. Sheikh Rashid’s vision has had a major impact on Bahrain’s contemporary art scene and its integration with other parts of the world. He says he once dreamed of becoming an architect. Although he never pursued his interests professionally, he is now an active contributor to the Gulf Coast island’s architecture and design scene. In 2020, he launched the Rashid Al Khalifa (RAK) Art Foundation, making his historic family home and personal art collection available to the public and the world. “The underlying idea is to provide a platform where people can be inspired and encouraged to pursue their interests in art and architecture while contributing to society in a meaningful way,” he explains. Masu.
The RAK Foundation operates out of a renovated traditional Bahraini house built in the 1930s. This disappearing traditional plaster house was actually where Sheikh Rashid grew up and lived with her mother. Today, its formidable international collection includes works by artists from across the Middle East, America, and Europe, including Farhad Moshiri, Monir Sharroudi Furmanfarmain, Frank Stella, and Yves Klein.
Solo Spotlight “First Light”
But for now, Sheikh Rashid is most excited about his solo exhibition, First Light, which will be held at the Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi, Georgia, from September to November. Featuring a selection of the artist’s latest installations. “We are thrilled to be exhibiting First Light at the Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art, a vibrant, dynamic and important museum in Tbilisi, Georgia. In a country with such a unique and ancient culture and heritage, It’s an honor to have the opportunity to present my work,” he says.
Just as his native Bahrain is itself a melting pot of cultures, Sheikh Rashid’s work brings together seemingly diverse attributes, resulting in compelling formations with distinct identities. First Light was previously exhibited at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, which opened in March 2023. Tradition and contemporary design. environment and industry,” Sheikh Rashid elaborates.
Interestingly, the exhibition also features three rugs hand-woven by Azerbaijani carpet weavers. Each of these was inspired by works exhibited at First Light, which pays homage to Azerbaijani heritage through thoughtful interweaving of Sheikh Rashid’s designs. In a world filled with geopolitical tensions, Rashid’s thought-provoking art connects people and cultures.
Shaikh Rashid’s eldest daughter, Shaikha Noor, carries forward her father’s artistic legacy in her own unique way. She is the co-founder of luxury fashion brand Noon by Noor. It is clear that creativity is passed down and nurtured within families.
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