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FATHIMA MOHIUDDIN ARTIST
Dubai-born artist Fathima is a curator, writer and sociologist, with a goal to demonstrate the essential value of art to society. Dark, gothic graphics have become her signature. In 2010, Fathima won the Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award for Fine Art. She was also selected for the Cultural Leadership International programme to represent the UAE as a cultural entrepreneur. Her art and live public works have featured at galleries including Tashkeel and The JamJar. She has also produced scenic art and illustrations for the Dubai International Film Festival-nominated video 3 Act Circus and is now in the process of setting up an artistrun space for Dubai’s creative community.
HONOURING THE WOMEN WHO HAVE HELPED SHAPE THE FACE OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE REGION, FROM FASHION DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY TO VISUAL ARTS
REBECCA MCLAUGHLINDUANE
ALIA AL SHAMSI
AMNA DABBAGH
AMANDA NAVAI
PIONEERING FEMALE
OWNER/DIRECTOR OF
HANDBAG DESIGNER
PHOTOGRAPHER
GREEN ART GALLERY
AND ENTREPRENEUR
FOUNDER OF RMD MEDIA
Ignoring advice to steer clear of photography, as ‘it wasn’t a substantial career choice’, Alia followed her creative instincts to receive both a BA and MA in the field. Now a top photojournalist and the first female Emirati professional photographer, she also works to promote and support local talent through one-off, solo and group exhibitions, which serve as a platform for cultural dialogue between the diverse communities in the UAE. Her work has been published in newspapers and magazines across the Gulf and she has visited countries such as Pakistan, to photograph the devastation of an earthquake, and Saudi Arabia, to interview Prince Al Waleed bin Talah in Riyadh.
Acting as a fairy godmother to artists in the region, Amna tirelessly promotes and supports local and emerging talent. She is a co-owner of Green Art Gallery, which was founded in 1995, an institution renowned for recognising and showcasing artists from not only the Middle East, but also Turkey and North Africa. The gallery provides quality, contemporary exhibitions with a focus on art influenced by the heritage and culture of the Arab world. With a Master’s Degree in Health Education, Amna has also spent the last 10 years as a board member for Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs.
Iranian-born Amanda has lived a cosmopolitan life in Sweden and London, where she worked with brands such as Jimmy Choo before launching her own line of luxury python handbags in 2010. Each handbag offers a unique interpretation of the classic clutch from reversible designs, interchangeable straps and a selection of candy colour palettes. Amanda only uses organic-bred python for her bags, which must also have CITES certification. She also ensures that 10 percent of all proceeds go to charitable causes. Within one year, she had exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery and her bags were launched in Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Etoile.
Rebecca began her career in broadcast journalism interviewing CEOs and Heads of State on CNBC and Bloomberg. She also anchored Dubai One’s flagship business and current affairs programme. Working as a television and print journalist for more than a decade, Rebecca has interviewed countless modern day cultural icons from Kanye West to Vivienne Westwood. A champion of the arts, she’s also shared talk time with prominent Emiratis, such as curator and artist Rami Farook, film-maker Ali Mustafa and author Maha Gargash. She founded RMD-Media in 2010, providing solutions for local and international TV networks.
SHOT ON LOCATION AT TRAFFIC ART GALLERY, WWW.VIATRAFFIC.ORG
THE ARTISTS
OCTOBER 2011
EMIRATES WOMAN
165