"Self Expressions of the Orient" by Zeina Barhoum and Diana Hawatmeh @ Foresight32

Foresight32 Art Gallery cordially invites you to attend the opening of an art exhibition entitled
"Self Expressions of the Orient"

By
Zeina Barhoum and Diana Hawatmeh

At 7:00 pm on Saturday 1 August 2009
Exhibition will continue until Saturday 15 August 2009
Open daily from 10:00 am- 8:00 pm except Fridays

Diana Hawatmeh -of Jordanian origin- was born in the Emirates in 1982. After graduating from the American University of Sharjah with a Bachelor degree in Visual Communication, she worked for several years as a graphic designer in branding, publishing and television in Dubai and the Netherlands. She has been also working independently as a graphic designer developing numerous projects, one of which is most noticeable, the design of the environmental wall graphics at the Dubai International Financial Centre ( DIFC) a joint project with the Iraqi Calligrapher Wissam Shawkat. Her work has been published in the book "Arabesque - Graphic design from the Arab World and Persia" and the book "Bold Visions - Modern & Contemporary Arab Art in the New Century". She has been actively involved in type and calligraphy workshops in the Emirates and Switzerland. In search for an inspiring representation of cultural identity and striving to shape the visual culture Diana Hawatmeh is playing a role in promoting a contemporary Arab image by marrying the Old & New and breaking the boundaries of one's familiar cultural comfort zone.Inspired by contemporary Iranian and Arab typographers, who have explored and expanded the possibilities of Farsi and Arabic script. Throughout the years, Diana Hawatmeh has built a strong passion for Arabic calligraphy and typography, which stemmed from her belief that the Arabic culture has a rich history of visual arts and the better part of this heritage consists of calligraphy. The challenge is how to push further the use of Arabic letters and manipulate individual words to achieve a unique experimental typographic style.

Zeina Barhoum, born 1984, has a BSC in Visual Communication from The American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE. Throughout her studies, Zeina has developed a great interest in Renaissance and Impressionist painters such as Giovanni Bellini and Claude Monet. Coming from an enriched background of image making and commercial art & design, during her degree, she was drawn to the famous French commercial poster artist and typeface designer A.M. Cassandre, and hence the recreation of one of his posters with a contemporary cigarette brand, Vogue, which she simply entitled "Vogue". Her combined artworks of abstract imagery and type depicts a mélange of 2 cultures; the western and the Middle-Eastern, of which is a mirrored reflection of her own character. Considering her interest in Music, Zeina has also approached the implementation of her artwork in creating visual harmony using creativity and inspiration of the 2 worlds, therefore illustrating a great deal of surrealism in her imagery. She has attended several painting and design workshops in the UAE, Switzerland and Jordan, and Typography and Calligraphy in the UAE.
Her versatile academic exposure in Architecture, Interior Design, Product/Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Photography and painting has encouraged her to open a multidisciplinary design firm now in Jebel Amman, called CCI Art & Design, a sister company of CCI Apparel & Textile. Zeina is also a classically trained Jordanian Soprano, started singing in 1997 in the school choir, and was advised to take her vocal talent on to a higher level as she was discovered by her music teacher consequently won The Eisteddfod Competition award for best Soloist, held in Jordan, as well as acting and dance; including Ballroom, Street Jazz and Palestinian Folklore. She pursued her passion further by getting private training in Rome and attending an voice course for Opera singers in Accademia Di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 2008.
In June 2009, She organized a concert entitled " Jordan and Italy Come Together with an Exclusive Evening of Classic Charm" in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in Jordan including performances from famous Italian Operas and songs from the Italian tradition. As well as several famous classical Arabic songs and cross over music. She invited her private tutors from Rome to participate in the concert, Signora Alberta Valentini and Signor Walter Alberti, where Signor Alberti participated in performing in the concert and Signora Valentini assisted with the preconcert training.
She is currently enrolled at the National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan as a voice and piano student.

Foresight32 Art Gallery | Ibn Al Roumi St. | Amman/Jordan | T:96265560080 | F:96265560090 | foresightart@gmail.com | www.foresightartgallery.com | www.lamahourani.com