Unique art exhibit highlights Queen of Sheba

Opening an art exhibit on Yemen's renowned Queen of Sheba, organized in cooperation with the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL), Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah hailed the excellence of works on display as well as appeal of the exhibit's theme.The governor told KUNA artist Ali Ghadafer succeeded in relaying the beauty of the legend of the Queen and expressing the rich arts history of his homeland. An engaging mix of painting and sculpture, the works beautifully brought together historical fact and the imagination of the beholder. They also reflected "woman" at her best and in full splendor, he said.The Queen is referred to in Habeshan history, the Bible, the Qur'an, and Josephus, and was a wise sovereign ruler of a mighty country at her time, he added.Yemeni Ambassador Dr. Khalid Rajih Sheikh said, "the story of the queen was known far and wide. The magical journey of the prophet Sulaiman's (King Solomon) Hoopoe bird and the Queen's flight to Al-Quds (Jerusalem) brought together the cultures of north and south Arabian Peninsula to start a new era."The Queen was known as a believer, to have a strong character as well as beauty, and above all prudence and might as a ruler of one of the biggest empires of history. She is thought to be the first sovereign ruler to practice democracy and had a council she referred to in all major decisions, which all boosts her appeal." The artist himself, who has been living in Holland for 25 years, told KUNA he is displaying result of over 10 years of work, starting from an idea of shedding light on Yemen's long history through a roaming exhibition.Explaining more about his choice of subject matter, he said "this is a story mentioned in the Quran, Bible, and Old Testament, and I have found the many translations of the story very close to our version in the Holy Quran."I have been contemplating the idea of a museum about the Queen and King Solomon and his Hoopoe bird for many years, and I hope to see this project realized soon in one Arab country or the other." A NCCAL statement said Yemen's history is very rich in culture and the art history reflects this strongly, and this inspires generation after generation of Yemeni artists.Ali Ghadafer was born in Hadhramaut in 1947, and is an arts pioneer in his country. His works had exerted great appeal to many Kuwaitis since his early career with his vibrant colors, homogenous compositions, and incorporation of brass and some silver accessories to his works to a delightful effect.