Displaced People/Daesh (ISIS) – a refugee’s depiction of the plight of the Iraqis. Courtesy Sultan Al Ramahi
Displaced People/Daesh (ISIS) – a refugee’s depiction of the plight of the Iraqis. Courtesy Sultan Al Ramahi

Iraqi refugees illustrate horror of conflict



The Art Blog has been running a regular series in collaboration with the National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, where the interns working alongside the UAE team regularly file first-hand reports from the ground.

Sultan Al Ramahi, an Emirati architecture and fine-arts graduate from Washington State University, shares his thoughts on the Iraqi booth at the world art event.

“For a country that has been subject to war and suffering for so long, the Iraq Pavilion chose to address the sad reality full on,” says Al Ramahi.

“While it is unfortunate that art from the region often focuses on politics, I think it is also necessary, as art serves as a vehicle to carry the message of suffering and the oppressed.”

Al Ramahi, who works as a professional planner at the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, says that the section of Iraq’s Pavilion dedicated to drawings done by Iraqi refugees, and selected by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, contain “the most powerful pieces” in the entire ­biennale.

Traces of Survival shows simple drawings in vibrant colours that seem joyful from afar, but on closer inspection reveal black figures shooting at women and children.

The works were compiled and collected in late 2014, when the Ruya Foundation, the commissioner of the pavilion, visited various refugee camps in northern Iraq and provided drawing materials to adult men and women.

Ai Weiwei then picked a selection of the ­submissions to be displayed at the Pavilion, and to be published in a publication of the same name.

• Visit www.thenational.ae/blogs/the-art-blog for more information

aseaman@thenational.ae

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PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS

2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
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Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

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Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

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Bio:

Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour

Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people 

Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite food: Fish and vegetables

Favourite place to visit: London

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

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Singham Again

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Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

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Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

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Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule

1st Test July 26-30 in Galle

2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo

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Name: Qyubic
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Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
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PROFILE OF CURE.FIT

Started: July 2016

Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori

Based: Bangalore, India

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Investment: $250 million

Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)

'Downton Abbey: A New Era'

Director: Simon Curtis

 

Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter and Phyllis Logan

 

Rating: 4/5

 
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The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km