To celebrate International Women’s Day, the beautiful carpet designed by H.E. Sheikha Wafa Hasher Al Maktoum, and woven by Afghan women, for Artists for Change programme by Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative (FBMI) was recently displayed at the residence in Abu Dhabi supported by Embassy of Canada. The event was attended by top dignitaries and bureaucrats and included many exciting activities such as live weaving.
Artists for Change is a collaboration between well-known UAE artists and artisans in Afghanistan. It is aimed to empower underprivileged women by showcasing their talent as well as raise awareness about their cause. As part of the initiative H.E. Sheikha Wafa had taken part in an exclusive exhibition at Dubai Festival City last summer alongside three other prominent Emirati artists.
The theme for International Women’s day this year was ‘Time is now: rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives. H.E. Sheikha Wafa said, “International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements. I am honoured and delighted to see my carpet take centerstage on the occasion. It was created as part of the FBMI project (Artists for Change) to raise awareness about women empowerment in Afghanistan and is very symbolic being handwoven by Afghan women. The circle has always been an interesting shape for me. It represents the notions of wholeness, perfection, eternity, timelessness and infinity. I had chosen my geometric Camel motif for this project, working with FBMI and developing a design for the carpet. The symbol itself has been deconstructed within the mandala shape and re-constructed anew in the final work.”
#iwd2018 #timeisnow #pressforprogress #artistforchange #uae #mydubai #dubai #wafahmart #wafahasheralmaktoum