AN ARTY SUMMER

Al Riwaq Art Space is hosting a range of interesting workshops and events this month.

Get in touch with your creative side this summer. Bahrain’s beloved art hub, located in Gufool, is organising artistic activities for you to explore. Photographer Hesham Al-Ammal is showcasing his first solo exhibition – Hardboiled Wonderland: In Search of Lost Memory – throughout August. In it, the Muharraqborn shutterbug interprets the trade off between embracing modernity and preserving cultural identity and the environment through 38 images. The exhibition runs daily from 9am to 8pm. Hesham will also moderate a panel discussion on the challenges, opportunities and ethical considerations surrounding archiving practices, which will take place on August 5 from 10am to 12pm. The event is focused on archiving Bahrain’s photographic heritage, and is part of the Expanded Media Club meet-up, an open-format, casual community group dedicated to topics such as photography, videography, filmmaking and mediarelated subjects.

Hesham will facilitate a silver gelatin printing workshop for photography-enthusiasts of all skill levels. The two-day course will take place on August 7 and 8 from 6pm to 9pm on each day, and is priced at BD25. The silver gelatin printing process creates black-and-white photos with deep blacks, an organic texture and a timeless look.

Register for the three-day portfolio development workshop, which runs on August 2 from 5pm to 9pm, August 8 from 6pm to 8pm (online) and August 9 from 5pm to 9pm, and is priced at BD35. Participants will receive feedback and guidance on improving their existing portfolio or creating a new one, and gain a deeper understanding of their strengths, among other things.

A kids’ summer club will also be organised on Saturdays. The two-day Fiber Fun workshop will take place on August 5 and 12 and will explore material, colour and texture to create tapestries. Participants are encouraged to collaborate, share ideas and make joint pieces. The two-day Planet Loving: Art and Storytelling workshop will run on August 19 and 26, where children will develop an appreciation for the environment around them and learn about the importance of conservation in a fun way. You pay BD35 for both workshops or BD20 per workshop.

Explore the enchanting world of collage art with the Puzzle Pieces of Creativity: Unveiling Collage's Magic workshop. An interactive session led by experienced artists, it provides a comprehensive understanding of collage techniques and the power of storytelling through mixed media. The two-day workshop runs on August 19 and 26, from 10am to 1pm on each day and is priced at BD25.✤