EPAA’s Al Hefaiyah Centre introduces mountain wildlife

Vibrant colours, stainless steel, metals and paint are the various mediums used by artists to express their messages in a series of commissioned artwork exhibited at Al Hefaiyah Mountain Wildlife Conservation Centre, which was recently opened by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.

The exhibition features a series of artwork that aims to promote the culture of biodiversity conservation. Emirati artist Azza Al Qubaisi presents “Al Hamra”, a stainless steel sculpture that serves as an abstract, three-dimensional representation of the Asiatic Caracal and its prey.

Mark Adlington introduces archival giclée prints in watercolour, titled “Jeopardy”, which convey the unique expressions and characteristics of the critically endangered Arabian Leopard; this gallery depicts 1/3 of the known remainder of this species in the wild.
In a painting titled “Fact, Fiction and Fairytale”, Lamya Gargash depicts a visual narrative between literature and mountain wildlife. She deliberately combines fairytale with literary narration to keep a distance from stereotypical two-dimensional artwork.

In “Foxless”, a painted frieze that only appears under UV lighting, Noush Anand portrays an endangered species, whose image is mechanically reproduced and “breeds” right before our eyes, disappearing into the wallpaper of our thoughts until only one remains. In another piece titled "Now You See It", she represents nocturnal mountain creatures, influenced by 19th century taxonomic illustration.

In her digital photo-collage, Zeinab Al Hashemi introduces a kaleidoscopic abstraction created from satellite imagery that reveals the complex geology of the Sharjah & Kalba mountain range, influenced by arabesque patterns and Islamic architecture. In her blown glass piece, “The Animation Chamber”, the artist Lina Younes introduces the underground world of the Arabian Spiny Mouse; an imagined dream-like playscape that exists beyond our view.

In a mixed media artwork titled “Meal Time’, Khalid Mezaina uses utensils inside glass to communicate the necessity of biodiversity. The work is described as a feast of the carnivore, the herbivore and omnivore. Additionally, Amer Aldour presents two pieces of artwork titled “In the Wild”: the first one, a pixelated glazing installation, depicts a fleeting view of wildlife in the landscape, focused on the Arabian Gazelle; the second commissioned artwork is a light sculpture that shows the same scene, but of the Desert Eagle Owl.

The artistic duo Fari Bardley and Chris Weaver present a series of sound compositions titled “Ear to the Wild” in which they introduce the characteristic sounds in which wild animals express themselves.

Commenting on the commissioned artwork, HE Hana Saif Al Suwaidi, Chairperson of the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, said: “This series of artwork highlights the

critical importance of biodiversity in mountain areas by engaging the community and promoting the culture of environmental conservation through an inspiring visual language.”

She added: “The artwork on display, along with their descriptions, combine art with scientific and historical research. Paintings and images have a tripartite role, namely to amaze, educate and convey an environmental message to their viewers.”