World artist dedicates painting to HRH Princess Sabeeka

Manama, Oct. 16 (BNA): World British artist Sacha Jafri has dedicated his latest painting to Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW). Sacha Jafri named the painting, which took him between six and eight hours to complete, "The Soul of Bahrain", and highlighted Bahrain's main landmarks and some of its rich heritage. He painted it in the tent set up at the ArtBahrain Expo in the presence of participating world artists, crowds of visitors and correspondents of local and foreign newspapers and news agencies. "I offer this painting to the ArtBahrain officials on behalf of HRH Princess Sabeeka in appreciation of her great efforts to support art and artists in Bahrain and the world," he said in statement to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), noting that his masterpiece will remain a souvenir of his first to the kingdom to participate in ArtBahrain. He also praised HRH Princess Sabeeka's interest in all arts and support to all cultural and artistic events. Sacha Jafri spoke about his 18-year career in which he toured the world, and visited refugee camps and orphans' houses in 42 countries from the five continents, adding that he donated millions of dollars to charities and international organisations. He affirmed that art conveys a humanitarian message during times of war and peace, noting that he decided to donate the proceeds of his paintings to refugees in Darfur, Africa, Syria and Jordan. He praised the exhibition's organisation and exhibited artistic works, saying that it has conveyed a bright image of the Kingdom of Bahrain's civilisational image, and rich artistic, cultural and heritage . He added that ArtBahrain provided a platform for artists, gallerists, cognoscenti and art lovers from around the world to share space, ideas and inspiration. ArtBahrain opened on October 12 and will conclude tomorrow, is held for the first time with the participation of over 170n acclaimed artists. The expo was inaugurated by HM the King's Personal Representative HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa on behalf of HRH Princess Sabeeka, and has been successful. Born in London in 1977 to an Indian/English father and French/English mother, Sacha Jafri graduated from Eton College in 1995, and obtained his MA from Oxford University in 1999. Since then, he has been widely respected for being among the most famous and influential artists all over the word.