During the celebrations of “Muharraq Capital of Islamic Culture 2018” the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities launched a photography callout through the social media outlets named “doors of Muharraq”. The initiative aims to encourage the local community to discover the old town and the aesthetics of the old houses.

Muharraq is a pioneer city where the combination of history, art and architecture has served as the primary inspiration in revamping urban life. With its unique Arabic character combined with international standards of modernity, Muharraq plays a very special role within the Gulf Region.

The city presents many opportunities for creativity throughout various types of public events; all of which serve to reskill Bahrainis, build cultural confidence and create synergies on an international level.

The magnificent structures are not merely an imprint of the significant past but also an inspiration. As a center of trade, Muharraq has a multicultural character where different nations interact and live together as a part of the local community for centuries.

This exhibition brought together an artist movement in response to the artist community to an open call by the Shaikh Ebrahim Center. Reflecting on the recent and ongoing social lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Exhibition brought together artists in Bahrain through the shared power of their individual experiences and expressions.

Taking place at Memory of the place Bin Matar House, The Bin Matar House was built on reclaimed land in 1905 and at the time was surrounded by the sea on three sides. Where Do We Sit? represents Hala Al Khalifa’s latest body of work. Chairs and sofas take center stage in this series of paintings on canvas, an exploration of feelings of belonging and connection, emptiness and loss.

In a series of drawings and oil paintings, Omar Al Rashid explores moments and encounters in Bahraini life around that central and connecting element of traditional architecture, the courtyard. Happy memories filled with laughter mix with fleeting moments of quiet reflection and solitude, all encapsulated in this geometric microcosm of life. This exhibition is currently on going at Memory of place Bin Matar House.