Mawaheb talent with special needs will feature artworks, conduct talks and lead creative workshops in fusion of art, entertainment and education

Dubai, UAE, April 6, 2017:  As part of its goals to bring affordable and accessible art to the Dubai masses, World Art Dubai 2017, which returns to Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for a third season from 12-15 April, has teamed up with Dubai-based Mawaheb for Beautiful People, a progressive art studio for adults with special needs.

The partnership will see Mawaheb and its associated artists exhibit numerous works and host daily workshops and talks in The Blah Blah Lounge – a dedicated forum for interactive, art-focused sessions and seminars running throughout the four-day event. 

“It’s a great honour for Mawaheb and its artists to be part of World Art Dubai 2017,” says Wemmy de Maaker, Managing Director of Mawaheb for Beautiful People. “Not only will it bring our artists into the spotlight and give them a chance to shine, but it will also allow them to be recognised for their talent rather than their disability.”

With artistic talent commonplace among people with special needs, it’s often challenging for learning-impaired artists to find an appropriate outlet for their talent, or even a safe place to practice. Mawaheb was conceived to provide learning-impaired student artists with such a haven, a place where they can learn artistic skills and develop their self confidence in a relaxed and safe environment. With three homegrown Mawaheb talents now attracting attention from across the international art world, the progressive studio has already left an indelible mark on the domestic arts scene.

One Mawaheb-honed talent artist overcoming his disability and pursuing his passion for art is Victor Sitali, a 26-year-old Zambian artist who lost his hearing and speech when he was just three. Having been introduced to a volunteer sign language specialist by Mawaheb, Victor is now educating others on his belief that art is a universal language without barriers. At World Art Dubai, Victor will hold a Speed Painting Creative Workshop where he will create an original artwork in just seven minutes. Victor will also host a sign language workshop perfect for anyone eager to learn the basics. 

Born with Kabuki Syndrome, James Casaki’s appetite for both music and art remains undiminished. Indeed, James’ positive attitude has allowed him to become a motivational speaker, and the 29-year-old artist will be holding a workshop exploring ‘Kabuki Syndrome and art has changed his life’ at World Art Dubai.

Similarly, Sharan Budhrani, who was just six years old when he was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy – a disease which causes progressive weakness and a loss of muscle mass – will take to The Blah Bah Lounge stage to discuss how art has helped him overcome the problems caused by his disability. 

With other Creative Learning Workshops including open-to-all drawing, painting and sculpture sessions with Mawaheb artists, the studio is also brining its ‘Squiggly Wiggly’ workshop to World Art Dubai this year. An art form designed to enhance team effort, the ‘Squiggly Wiggly’ workshop opens to music and all participating artist drawing small, simple shapes that speak to them emotionally. The artists then rotate around the canvases, completing and complementing each other’s work in a collaborative process designed to build their individual and collective confidence and encourage them to express themselves using paint, music and dance. 

Living up to its promise to offer unrivalled access to the most accessible and affordable art from across the globe, World Art Dubai will showcase an impressive collection of more than 3,000 paintings, prints, sculptures and photographs ranging from USD100 to USD20,000. 

Prospective buyers looking to make their first move into the world of art collection should make a beeline for the ‘Art for Every Wall’ section, a dedicated activation featuring original work from over 45 artists where prices range from AED500 to AED3,000. 

Entry to World Art Dubai is AED15 for tickets purchased online and AED20 tickets purchased onsite during the fair. Children of 16 years and under are admitted free of charge, upon showing a student ID.