Honoring the Winners of the Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism Research

Honoring the Winners of the Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism Research

Al-Qaseer: The Patronage of the Ruler of Sharjah Has Given the Award a Prominent Position in the Arab World

Sharjah

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah Department of Culture honored the winners of the 15th edition of the Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism Research, organized by the Department's Cultural Affairs Department.

The award for this edition was titled "The Arab World in Artistic Orientalism: Civilizational and Aesthetic Dimensions."

The honoring ceremony was attended by His Excellency Abdalla bin Mohammed Al Owais, Head of the Department of Culture, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Qaseer, Director of the Cultural Affairs Division and Secretary-General of the Award, as well as the winners, the judging committee, and a crowd of artists and research enthusiasts. The event took place in the Department's conference hall.

Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Qaseer delivered a welcoming speech, during which he acknowledged the continuous patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for the award, saying: "We are pleased to gather today for the honoring of the winners of the 15th edition of the Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism Research, which this year is themed 'The Arab World in Artistic Orientalism: Civilizational and Aesthetic Dimensions.' Since its inception in 2008, the award has enjoyed continuous patronage from His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, which has granted the award a distinguished position in the Arab world, making it a leader in the field of artistic criticism. Over the past 15 years, it has strengthened the presence of the visual aesthetic concept and supported Arab critics."

Al-Qaseer elaborated: "The Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism Research has multiple goals, guiding us to important historical milestones in research related to aesthetic arts. These objectives have contributed to highlighting the award on the Arab level, thanks to its uniqueness in this vital field."

He added that throughout its successive editions, the award has presented more than 50 winners from various Arab countries, including Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and others, enriching the Arab library with their critical works.

He pointed out that "the award, within this historical and research context, establishes a new critical awareness at the level of visual arts, which is one of its main goals, constantly pursued through the various themes it presents each year."

Al-Qaseer praised the efforts of the judging committee, saying: "In every edition, the preparatory and judging efforts come together to create a complete picture reflecting the significance of the award. In this regard, we must acknowledge the vital and prominent role of the specialized judging committees in preparing the results over the years."

He continued, "As for the judging committee for the current edition, consisting of Dr. Abdul Nabi Istayf from Syria, Dr. Salam Jabar from Iraq, and Dr. Sharboul Dagher from Lebanon, they have exerted great efforts in reviewing and evaluating all the participating research papers. Their deliberations led to primary, secondary, and final selections, resulting in the announcement of the winners."

Al-Qaseer congratulated the winners, saying: "With every edition, the award reveals new critical names that add an aesthetic dimension to visual arts. In this edition, we are pleased to announce the following winners: Abdalla Al-Sheikh from Morocco in first place for his research 'The Arab World in Artistic Orientalism: Civilizational and Aesthetic Dimensions,' and Atef Saad from Egypt in second place for his research 'Aesthetic and Artistic Vision of Orientalist Artists Depicting Equestrian Scenes in 13th Century Egypt (19th Century). We congratulate the winners of the current edition of the Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism Research."

In the speech of the judging committee, Dr. Salam Jabar emphasized that over more than 15 years, the award has indeed made a significant shift in the field of artistic criticism research, considering the high quality of the studies and research presented in various themes. He clarified: "While the award has secured a distinguished position in the Arab world, this is thanks to the continued patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, which illuminates the paths of culture, knowledge, and creativity across the Arab world."

Dr. Jabar explained that the results of the award and the selection of the winners were based on criteria such as scientific language, the novelty of the research, the vitality of the approach, and relevance to the language and context of visual arts. He also congratulated the winners, wishing them continued success in this creative field.

Abdalla Al-Sheikh from Morocco, in his speech on behalf of the winners, expressed his gratitude, saying: "At this moment of recognition, I am pleased to extend my sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, for his generous and continuous patronage of critical research in the creative field of visual arts in all its directions. His support has indeed enhanced the role of visual awareness and aesthetic sensibility, which has been a significant achievement over the years, with each edition more solid and consistent."

He added, "Congratulations to all of us for these valuable intellectual gains that will enrich the Arab library and cater to the interests of those passionate about the world of visual arts and its critical and aesthetic issues."

At the end of the ceremony, Abdalla Al Owais and Mohammed Al-Qaseer honored the winners and the judging committee with certificates and commemorative trophies.