Excited to announce my participation in the upcoming group exhibition ‘Reesha wa Qalam’ with my encaustic triptych “Forgotten Wisdom” (120 x 50 x 4 cm). Inspired by Dr. Hasan Madan’s reflection that “Whenever a person has more knowledge, and his experiences stretch wider, the broader and richer their scope of observation becomes” and “Life, as one dramatist says, is the greatest author,” this piece transforms a fragment of a weathered wooden railing bearing an elderly hand into a meditation on the isolation of age. The separated panels symbolize generational chasms, critiquing a world too rushed to heed the wisdom of its elders. Amid the cracked wood and blooming flowers, the word “Care” is concealed in the wax, a gentle plea to nurture bonds that preserve knowledge, revealed only through an intentional gaze. Rooted in the idea that experience enriches observation, the work invites a pause to bridge disconnection, fostering empathy in an era of haste.

Deep Exploration of the Theme: From AI-Generated Fragment to Abstract Encaustic The act of selecting a fragment from an AI-generated image and rendering it into an abstract encaustic painting is not merely a technical choice, but a profound philosophical stance, a deliberate unravelling of the digital veil that shrouds our perception in today’s world. This process begins with the creation of an image through MidJourney. This tool weaves artificial intelligence into a tapestry of hyperrealistic visuals, offering a simulacrum of reality that mirrors the fragmented truths Byung-Chul Han critiques in his exploration of the transparent society. The AI, fed with prompts, constructs scenes that are both familiar and alien—such as the weathered wooden railing cradling an elderly hand, entwined with delicate flowers—yet these images lack the lived authenticity of human experience. By isolating a fragment—perhaps the cracked grain of the wood or the subtle bloom piercing through— I extract a sliver of this artificial construct. This piece holds within it the potential for deeper meaning, much like Dr. Hasan Madan writes, “Whenever a person has more knowledge, and his experiences stretch wider, the broader and richer their scope of observation becomes.” This fragment becomes a canvas for abstraction, a space where the raw data of the digital is reshaped through the tactile, organic medium of encaustic wax.

‘Reesha wa Qalam’ honours the expressions of 6 selected Bahraini writers, while they articulated their inspirations and shared their experience through a variety of themes, including the power of knowledge, the power of writing, national identity, family, and community, and more. The exhibition will showcase a collection of Artworks that respond to these literary pieces and excerpts, aiming to raise questions and spark dialogue on how we, as a community, can best utilise our creativity and knowledge to bridge connections, continuing to grow as individuals and as a collective. The showcase will run for 10 days, with promotional efforts by MKF Connect, Amana, and the participating artists to support the sale of artworks, prompt conversation, and raise scholarship funds for Bahraini students. The event will also host pop-up shops by MKF Connect, Amana, and others, in a way that supports the exhibition’s themes and promotes its objectives. In the 10 days, workshops will be developed within the components of bringing literature and art together, to help support sales, and also educate individuals and the community on the value of the written word and its staple role in the community.

Join us from October 8 to 18 at AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation (4HH7+W32, Riffa). For more details, visit https://mkfbh.org/. I look forward to seeing you there and sparking meaningful conversations! 😊