Artist Zaahirah Muthy presents the collection of her latest works which depict different animals, their habitats, and the connections they have with the natural world. This 7th solo exhibition of hers called Le Village des Animaux (The Village of Animals) is being housed by the Park Hyatt Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The show will run through the 30th of September 2023.
While working on the exhibited series, which spanned for 8 years since 2015, the artist explored the fauna world, the significance of animals, and their impact on our lives. Celebrating “God’s creations”, the 13 artworks on view executed in a warm brown colour palette portray animals adapted from their mentions in the Holy Quran’s surahs, the chronicle of Noah’s Ark, and from Zaahirah’s relevance to them. Using the sgraffito technique with a resin finish, the artist etches the animal silhouettes into the build-up of paint layered on the canvas. Among the depicted creatures, endangered species have a special place. This way, the artist highlights the harm caused by human exploitation to the animal kingdom.
Speaking about the exhibition, Zaahirah says that with the help of the displayed collection, she hopes to inspire the viewers to take action in preserving and safeguarding wildlife. Paying tribute to the animal world, through her work the artist aims to raise awareness about how important it is to coexist in harmony with “our fellow creatures”.
About the artist
Born in Mauritius, Zaahirah Muthy is an artist, activist, art consultant, and curator who has been living and working in Dubai for 10 years. She is also the founder of ZeeArts, an international organisation connecting artists from across the globe through many various artistic projects (Artist Empowerment Program, Women Art Therapy, etc.) and provides art consultancy services.
Zaahirah creates mostly mixed-media works. Apart from painting, her artistic practice also involves sculpting. She gets her inspiration from “ideas of spirituality and paradigm shifts towards evoking positivity”.
The artist is a recipient of numerous awards, which include the Leonardo Da Vinci Universal Award (Florence, Italy); the Femina – Women International Leadership Award (Artist Category) (India); and the Artist of the Year by RAK Fine Arts Festival (2016). She has also received the Oscar de la Jeunesse in Artistic Pursuit and Youth Leadership award from the Government of Mauritius.
To learn more about Le Village des Animaux, please visit the hotel’s official website.
You might also be interested in visiting Artist’s Garden: Samur by Zheng Bo and Inhale/Exhale by Sonu Sultania.