Capturing culture through a modern lens, Bahrain celebrates Khaleeji Youth Day 2022

By Zahraa Baqer Manama, June 7 (BNA): Celebrating youth through lenses and angles, Bahrain is honoring its talents by shedding light on the country’s top photographers as they spread their unique visions and artistic view celebrating the first edition of Khaleeji Youth Day 2022. Khaleeji Youth Day was celebrated in collaboration with the Art Center and Youth and Sports Affairs Ministry, presenting photographs from all over Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman. The exhibition was held under the patronage of Director General of Culture and Arts at Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and Youth and Sports Affairs Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hope Fund Ayman bin Tawfiq Al Moayyed who were briefed on the showcased photographs from Bahrain and other GCC countries. “It’s a pleasure to be involved today in the exhibition and I believe that photography has a huge platform of followers in Bahrain and the gulf region,” Shaikha Hala said. “The Art Center, in collaboration with the Youth Ministry, has put together a wonderful exhibition showcasing different forms of photography from GCC countries, and I am very proud of the Bahraini collection presented, we have diverse local photographers with strong statements to share with the audience.” Each photograph delivered a unique message interpreted through different colors, angles, and shades. The Bahraini photography collection presented powerful messages embodying the future of the youth with the influence of the Bahraini culture. “It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the youth with this annual experience and my own work represents the youths of Bahrain in a very different light as I combined the Bahrain Youth sign with skateboarding to symbolize freedom, and the name of the street perfectly embodies Bahraini youth,” Ishaq Madan, a photographer, said. The exhibition showcased each photographer’s vision as they shared the message of youth empowerment and Bahraini participant Enas Sistani represented the power of Bahraini women through her extraordinary vision as she combined both modernity and the originality of the Bahraini female figure. “My work represents the Bahraini woman and showcases her empowerment in accomplishing many over the years by overcoming different challenges and difficulties. I wanted to showcase Bahraini youth and women by combining the traditional and modern aspects,” Enas said. The deep-rooted GCC culture, community, and traditions were highly celebrated and addressed through the photographs as they represented the proud origin of each society and its empowering cultural essence captured by a wide selection of talented photographers through their lenses, celebrating Khaleeji Youth Day every year with yet upcoming prosperous artworks. The exhibition will continue until June 11 from 9 am to 8 pm at the Arts Center.