ADMAF_silent voices V_Ar

Letter Rack (4 editions)

Minimum Price: AED 400 each

Large Mosaic Vase (2 editions)

Minimum Price: AED 500 each

Medium Mosaic Vase (2 editions)

Minimum Price: AED 400 each

Small Mosaic Vase (4 editions)

Minimum Price: AED 300 each

Miniature Mosaic Vase (2 editions)

Minimum Price: AED 250 each

Love & Peace

JA, aged 30, Africa

“After our traffickers were put in jail, we threw our bad experiences behind us and we look to the future with peace and love”

Minimum Price: AED 1000

Having Faith MM, aged 32, Africa

Minimum Price: AED 700

Freedom KB, aged 15, Asia

Minimum Price: AED 600

Allah AY, aged 20, Africa

Minimum Price: AED 700

Childhood Memories #5

Group of residents (ages 15–30), Asia

“I yearn for my childhood, being far away from responsibilities and the stresses of life”

Minimum Price: AED 600

Childhood Memories #6

Group of residents (ages 15–30), Asia

“I yearn for my childhood, being far away from responsibilities and the stresses of life”

Minimum Price: AED 600

Childhood Memories #7

Group of residents (ages 15–30), Asia

“I yearn for my childhood, being far away from responsibilities and the stresses of life”

Minimum Price: AED 600

Childhood Memories #8 (right)

Childhood Memories #9 (right)

Group of residents (ages 15–30), Asia

“I yearn for my childhood, being far away from responsibilities and the stresses of life”

Minimum Price: AED 1800 each

Childhood Memories #1 Group of residents (ages 15–30), Asia “I yearn for my childhood, being far away from responsibilities and the stresses of life” Minimum Price: AED 600

Childhood Memories #2

Group of residents (ages 15–30), Asia

“I yearn for my childhood, being far away from responsibilities and the stresses of life”

Minimum Price: AED 600

Childhood Memories #3

Group of residents (ages 15–30), Asia

“I yearn for my childhood, being far away from responsibilities and the stresses of life”

Minimum Price: AED 600

Childhood Memories #4

Group of residents (ages 15–30), Asia

“I yearn for my childhood, being far away from responsibilities and the stresses of life”

Minimum Price: AED 600

ABOUT L’ATELIER DES ARTS

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

L’atelier des Arts was founded in 2011 by the Lebanese artist Shirine Saleh. For the past six years,it has grown to become Abu Dhabi’s leading centre for arts and crafts, o ering classes and selling materials as well as bespoke creations through its boutique. Located in the Fotouh Al Khair building in Abu Dhabi, L’atelier des Arts provides fully equipped workstations and organises workshops for a large array of artists and crafters. Spanning di erent arts activities for both children and adults, sessions include oil, acrylic and watercolour painting, sketching, decoupage, mosaic, crochet, scrapbooking, sewing, silk painting, porcelain painting, calligraphy, among others. The boutique is all about creating the finest handmade artistic pieces for the home. Each bespoke piece is designed and executed with great care by artists with an eye for detail. Visit latelierarts.com

Jennifer Simon was born in the UK, grew up in Australia and has lived in the UAE since 2000. She first emerged on the Abu Dhabi art scene in 2007 with her solo exhibition ‘Lifescapes’. Jennifer is widely known for her unique depiction of global urban cityscape’s, which consist of large canvases awash with bright colours outlined in black, or bold black and white compositions with a splash of colour. Her work has evolved and now includes the people who inhabit the cities, drawing inspiration from time spent living in the Middle East and earlier globetrotting experiences. Jennifer has also conducted many mural projects for schools and community spaces as well as team-building events for multinational corporations. Her work can be found in numerous private and corporate collections. Visit jennifersimon.co.uk

Kate Carter (aka Fabric Kate)

Kate Carter was born in the UK and has been living in Abu Dhabi since 2009. She began hand-sewing soft toys for her children and their friends as gifts. This soon evolved into a small business. Kate began attending handicraft markets in 2012, selling soft toys such as sock monkeys and ready-made bunting. Constantly looking to expand her collection, she enjoys experimenting with new materials to create colourful and fun products. In 2015, spurred on by her children’s love of colouring, Kate launched a range of hand-poured, wax crayons and later in 2016, started making hand-poured, glycerine soaps embedded with toys to encourage young children to wash their hands. Kate’s work has been featured in What’s On Abu Dhabi and Good UAE. Her creations can be purchased online at littlemajlis. com and ideyna.com

Isabelle Alves da Silva Neves

Isabelle Alves da Silva Neves is a mosaic artist and teacher based in Dubai since 2009. She grew up in Mauritius and moved to Durban, South Africa in 1996. There she worked on large sculpture and mosaic projects often in collaboration with local artists. Under the tutelage of artist Andries Botha, her passion for sculpting and working with textured materials was born. After receiving a BA in Fine Art, she returned home in 2002 and began a career as an art teacher. Isabelle’s work reflects a blend of organic forms, tactile materials and bright vibrant colours. Since moving to the Middle East eight years ago, she has opened the doors of her studio and share her passion for mosaic with adults and children. Isabelle says, “It is always a thrill to encourage a student to look for inspiration around them; be it on a cushion, in a magazine or a family portrait and create an artwork that is tactile and between a painting and a sculpture.”

Jennifer Simon

‘Silent Voices V’ is the fifth exhibition of art created by residents of Ewa’a Shelters for Victims of Human Tra cking and is the result of a series of art workshops involving 17 Ewa’a residents over the course of six months at shelters in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

The creative process was led by artists Jennifer Simon, Kate Carter and Isabelle Alves da Silva Neves with several sessions held in the inspirational surroundings of L’atelier des Arts. Jennifer says, “Being able to help people who have never created or even thought about making art is a unique experience. They often start o shy and reluctant but gradually they overcome this fear and their confidence grows as they improve in skill. They are strong, enthusiastic and continually amaze me with the way they overcome tragedy and look towards a brighter future. As well as paintings, this year’s exhibition incorporates mosaic and dolls. There is a sense of nostalgia in the works with the yearning for happiness, childhood innocence and wanting to be back with their families.”

The resulting artworks not only reflect each resident’s sense of personal achievement but also show the transformative role of the visual arts in assisting residents along the road to recovery. The exhibition conveys the experiences, dreams and ambitions of a unique group of women who have su ered tremendous psychological and physical trauma.

HOW TO DONATE

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dignified

United Emirates of Art.

ABOUT ADMAF

Est. 1996

Patron

H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan Minister of Culture & Knowledge Development

Established in 1996 by H.E. Huda Ebrahim Alkhamis, the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that seeks to benefit society and advance Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision through a dynamic range of year-round initiatives. Each year, it undertakes community and education programmes, in addition to the internationally renowned Abu Dhabi Festival.

ADMAF in association with Ewa’a Shelters for Victims of Human Tra cking launched ‘Silent Voices’ in 2012 and have been developing this initiative as an important element of survivors’ rehabilitation process as well as a major public advocacy platform against human tra cking. Over the last five editions, over 100 survivors have accessed the visual arts through ‘Silent Voices’ as part of their road to recovery and in doing so, have raised much-needed funds to support the treatment of future victims.

ADMAF is proud to collaborate with Ewa’a on this important project that testifies to the transformative power of the arts.

Visit: www.admaf.org

ABOUT EWA’A

Ewa’a Shelters for Victims of Human Tra cking was established within the framework of the UAE’s e orts to combat human tra cking and support human rights, and to provide safe refuge to victims and provide them with health and psychological care as well as social support.

Ewa’a is a non-profit establishment working in co-operation with the UAE National Committee to Combat Human Tra cking (NCCHT) under Federal Law No. 51 of 2006 (amended by Law No. 1 of 2015), which considers human tra cking as a crime subject to legal penalties. In November 2015, Ewa’a came under the auspices of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, The first Ewa’a shelter for women and child victims of human tra cking was established in Abu Dhabi in 2008 by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chair of the UAE Red Crescent Authority. This was followed by shelters in Ras Al Khaimah in 2010 and Sharjah in 2011. In 2013, the first Ewa’a shelter for adult male survivors was opened. Since its establishment, Ewa’a has assisted more than 250 survivors, 22 of whom were boys and girls. In 2016, it received 18 human tra cking survivors alone. The shelters can host up to 60 victims at any one time, including 20 in the men’s shelter. Survivors are of di erent nationalities and hail from di erent continents.

They come to Ewa’a through various channels such as o cial rescue services, embassies, social and religious centres and hospitals. They also make contact with Ewa’a through social media and the o cial hotline 800 SAVE.

Mission

To protect and respect victims of human tra cking and sexual abuse – men women and children – through providing temporary safe shelters, and preventing human tra cking in the UAE by raising awareness in the society to achieve peace and security.

Vision

To become a global leader in the rehabilitation of victims of human tra cking and participate in achieving a society free from all forms of human tra cking crimes.

Goals

Maintain the security and safety of survivors and sta

Provide immediate and long-term rehabilitation and support (psychological, financial, medical, welfare and legal) for victims of human tra cking

Establish and maintain e ective coordination with relevant stakeholders. Increase society’s awareness about the existence of human tra cking victims. Raising funds in order to ensure best practice and service

Deliver excellence in organisational performance

The Holy Qur’an, sūrat l-isrā (The Night Journey)

Mankind continues to search for knowledge, for the unknown remains far greater than that which has been discovered. This is particularly true in psychology, and the role it plays in building a human’s character. This is a secret only God knows.

The visual arts are described by scientists not simply as paint or colour but as the depiction of reality and the reflection of the imagination. It is often applied in therapy for those su ering from depression because of past trauma. For survivors of human tra cking, art therapy can be most e ective, especially for those who have endured sexual assault.

We at Ewa’a Shelters believe that survivors gain the greatest benefit from their rehabilitation journey through visual arts. In collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), we have witnessed its positive impact – how it changes a survivor’s state of mind; from feeling like an outsider to becoming a lover of life once more. Through art, they learn to embrace life again and attain an inner peace.

In ‘Art as Therapy’ by Alain de Boton and John Armstrong, art is presented as a tool, rather than something merely valued for its beauty. Art, after all, is complex and plays a major role in our existence:

“Like other tools, art has the power to extend our capacities beyond those that nature has originally endowed us with. Art compensates us for certain inborn weaknesses, in this case of the mind rather than the body, weaknesses that we can refer to as psychological frailties.”

This power of art resonates with survivors as they come to terms with their experiences of abuse and exploitation.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to ADMAF – a thank you that comes from every single survivor since 2012 whose lives have been rebuilt thanks to this outstanding initiative.

Sara Shuhail

“And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little.”

H.E.

General Director, Ewa’a Shelters for Victims of Human Trafficking

AN EXPRESSION OF HOPE

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation is proud to collaborate with Ewa’a Shelters for Victims of Human Tra cking on the fifth edition of Silent Voices.

We express our sincere appreciation to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, for her inspirational leadership, unwavering support and steadfast commitment to this pioneering art initiative.

Silent Voices is a cornerstone of ADMAF’s community arts programme and seeks to demonstrate that the visual arts process is an integral rehabilitative element for vulnerable individuals on their roads to recovery.

The resulting exhibition epitomises the remarkable strength and determination of each and every survivor. By enabling Ewa’a residents to express their fears, frustrations, hopes and dreams through art, we have been able to play a modest role in bringing back their confidence, self-esteem and, above all, dignity.

Each work also reflects the outstanding achievement of Ewa’a Shelters for Victims of Human Tra cking. With a network across the UAE, this organisation plays a fundamental role in the country’s on-going battle against this crime. The dedication of its General Director, H.E. Sara Shuhail, and her entire team are to be commended and encouraged.

Previous editions of this exhibition have helped to generate widespread awareness among the UAE public and raise much needed funds for Ewa’a.

I sincerely hope that ‘Silent Voices V’ continues to shine a light upon this global issue while reminding those of us more fortunate to be forever thankful.

H.E. Huda Ebrahim Alkhamis

Founder, Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation

H.H. SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK

“One way of thanking God is to indulge in charitable work as a way of returning the blessing that God has bestowed upon us.”

SILENT VOICES V

9 - 13 APRIL 2017 THE GALLERIA ON AL MARYAH ISLAND ABU DHABI

UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF H.H. SHEIKHA FATIMA BINT MUBARAK MOTHER OF THE NATION

SILENT VOICES V