Members of Dubai Ladies Club attend private art viewing for Miro Persolja at Burj Al Arab

Last week, distinguished ladies of the local art community and members of Dubai Ladies Club had the unique opportunity to attend a private art exhibition entitled, ‘Take My Time.’ for acclaimed Slovenian artist, Miro Persolja. Curated by art critic, Professor Dr. Antonio Maria Pivetti, the exhibition, which featured 100 unique pieces of artwork, welcomed the great and the good of Dubai to the iconic Burj Al Arab, a structure, which Miro considers to be the perfect backdrop for his first foray into the region. The event was hosted in partnership with Funoon, the Arts division at Dubai Ladies Club. 

On the occasion, Sarah Ayoub Agha, Funoon Supervisor, Dubai Ladies Club commented, “We are delighted to host this event for our members and ladies from the local art community. Persolja’s art have a palpable energy fuelled by his love of colour. This coupled with their size made for an experiential and visceral exhibition for the guests.”

During the evening, guests were personally escorted by Persolja to a tour of the exhibition, sharing details about each artwork and explaining his process in more detail. He later shared his impressions from his very first visit to Dubai with all of the guests and expressed his admiration for the Emirate and steady growth and evolutions of Arts within the city. This was followed by a Book Signing sessions where he personally signed each guests copy of the exhibition catalogue with a small message. He stated that his first experience in an exhibition in the Middle East was a success and will not be the last.

Inspired by the great masters like Picasso, Miro’, and Klimt, the artist pays homage in his works. At the prospect of his first Middle Eastern exhibition being held at the Burj Al Arab, he says, “It is a dream come true for me!”.  Born in Slovenia, but based in Italy, the twice-married father of three has established enormous credibility over the years in Italy, which he calls home. He has shown in solo and group exhibitions around the world, and now he will bring his mastery to the Middle East.

Abstract and figurative, Miro’s work is delicate, yet complex. His use of liquid colour and frequent strokes on the canvas add a depth and dimension, with the colours drying at each stage of the work. Many of the elements Miro uses are precious materials such as glass, crystal, 24 carat gold leaf, which lend a rare and elevated aspect to the canvas, and which serve to highlight the maestro’s personal experiences which are prevalent in the works.

Miro has amassed a coterie of famous followers and clients over the years, and these include such people as Pope John Paul ll, Silvio Berlusconi, Flavio Briatore, Ruud Gullit and Brigitte Neilsen amongst others.

It is worth mentioning that this event is one of several new art initiatives launched by Funoon – the art division of Dubai Ladies Club. The newly reinvented art division was established to guide and solidify the role that arts and other cultural resources play in defining and enhancing the social fabric and quality of life of people living in the UAE. Inspired by the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Women Establishment, Wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, UAE; Funoon will work with local, regional and international foundations to enhance the UAE’s reputation as a cultural destination through programs that educate and expose the public to a rich and diverse range of cultural expressions through a variety of initiatives.

Since its establishment earlier this year, the art division has already initiated several new projects such as the monthly Art Conversations sessions – designed as a casual gathering of conducted every first Tuesday of the month – that offer a grand opportunity for emerging artists living in the UAE to interact with art luminaries from both regional and international backgrounds. As well as recently launched a website Funoon.ae - an online space dedicated for established and emerging artists from the region to display their work and network with other artists. It will provide artists with a valuable public platform to share their portfolio of works with other members of the local and international contemporary art world; including collectors, curators, critics and galleries.

Among others, the art division will also organise and execute the various youth-focused cultural and artistic projects founded by H. H. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum such as ‘The Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award’ and ‘The Sheikha Manal Art Exchange Program’.