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I had already come to realise that Kuwait was
a more open society than some of the other Middle East countries;
they openly permitted and accepted other religions, the Abaya,
the traditional veil worn by women, was not obligatory, and generally,
the welcomes were warm and heartening but nothing could prepare
me for what I saw once we had greeted the artists of the art
association and entered the permanent exhibition.
Not only is art in Kuwait broad, skilfully executed
with strong and well controlled colours, they also span most
of the art forms in the world and are full of expression and
joie de vivre. Some artists stray and explore themselves using
unique media and techniques. Some artists involve Kuwait classicism
or recent Kuwait history, such as the ’91 invasion or historic
motives. Some female artists, such as Dhamiaa Alayoubi and Thuraya
Al-Bagsami, are truly exceptional and portray the female emancipation
and freedom that women have in today’s Kuwait vis-à-vis
the traditional, sometimes oppressing, conditions that women
experienced in the patriarchal society of the old Kuwait.
I firmly believe that Kuwait art could, and
should, be seen around the world. There is no better way to understand
another culture. And also, as far as art goes, the Kuwaiti can
hold their own and be successful even at the highest international
levels and I have the strongest urge to take a group of talented
young artists from Kuwait and arrange an exhibition for them
in Denmark. I just hope that we Danes can treat them as well
and welcoming as they treated us.
Last stop was the parliament of Kuwait. The wife of the Danish
trade commissioner, Vibeke Jørgensen, had pulled strings
and worked hard to arrange a guided tour to see the very heart
of the Kuwait society – the parliament.
The Danish architect Jørn Utzon is perhaps
best known for the design of the opera house in Sydney, Australia.
Whereas the Sydney opera house is unique and truly exceptional,
the perhaps lesser–known
but equally exceptional design of the Kuwait parliament did pose
a much bigger challenge which he solved with brilliance and a
flair for the culture and metrological conditions under which
it is built.
Jasem Al-Matrouk, the head of Protocol & Public Relations
greeted us as we entered the building. There is one fabulous
feature that stands out as you first view the building; an enormous
tent shape with its front to the Gulf Sea to catch the cool breeze
from the sea. This also, as you experience once you are in the
National Assembly hall, channels the light and funnels it into
the large hall and also, from the inside, acts as an acoustic
device to spread and even the sound during sessions.
The Arabian tent is also the symbol of hospitality
and in this case, the openness of the Kuwait democracy. Jasem
Al-Matrouk underlined this by telling us that any person, from
any country, is welcome at all times to participate as a spectator
during the National Assembly sessions.
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This is a 7 page article from my exhibition in Kuwait in
2005 where I was invited in honour of Queen Margerethe's
60th anniversary by the Royal Danish Embassy and SAS Radisson.
It was originally published as a 9 page article in Thoughts
Magazine, 2005.
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PDF of original article
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