Mestaria Gallery in Dubai is currently showcasing an exhibition by renowned Bahraini artist Areej Rajab, titled "Interwoven".

Running from October 17 to November 10, the exhibition invites viewers to experience an artistic and therapeutic play of colours and emotions where the intricate patterns of human behaviour are delicately overlapped with the rhythms of nature.

Rajab was drawn into the world of art from a young age. While her academic path initially led her to study business and general management at the University of Bahrain, her passion for art eventually steered her to the London College of Art, where her creative talents fully flourished.

Areej’s work has since resonated with collectors and enthusiasts across the Middle East and the UK, where she has exhibited extensively.

Interwoven lies in Areej’s expression of the deep connection between nature and human behaviour. Through her artwork, she reveals the intricate beauty of natural forms and how they mirror the complexities of human emotions. By layering colours, Areej symbolically reflects how human emotions and experiences intertwine, much like patterns in nature, echoing the masterfully harmonious designs found in nature.

She explains: "I find inspiration in nature as it is the purest source of colour. My focus is on colour combinations and how they blend and overlap rather than just colour itself, much like how human behaviour and emotions often intertwine and influence one another. Different cultures can interpret colour in various ways, which adds another layer of meaning to my work”.

Her paintings, with their fluid layers of paint, brushstrokes, and intentional lines, evoke a sense of movement and freedom, reflecting the rhythms and patterns found in both nature and human emotions.

Unlike artists who capture and document present moments to reflect current experiences and complexities they navigate, Areej’s paintings reflect a place where she aspires to be — expressing an optimistic and hopeful vision of the world.

Through her translation of nature, she shifts perspectives to convey joy and optimism, using a carefully chosen colour palette, weaving a spectrum of colours, with each hue and shade meticulously chosen to inspire specific emotions and moods. She leaves her paintings untitled, believing that each viewer should have the freedom to interpret and connect with the artwork in their own way.

This exhibition at Mestaria Gallery, Alserkal Avenue, invites guests to become part of an emotional moment, where each encounter creates a unique connection, “interwoven” between individual and canvas, leaving a lasting impression on Dubai’s art scene. Don’t miss being an added story to those brushstrokes of beauty.

Mestaria Gallery is a contemporary, affordable art space located in the heart of the dynamic Alserkal Avenue Art District in Al Quoz, Dubai. First established as a gallery space in the UAE in the 1990’s, it is now one of the region's foremost contemporary art spaces, specialising in works from accomplished regional and global talent, with a specific focus on work of an Arabic, African and Asian origin.