Motherhood Without Borders
‘Sanctuary,’ by Klaithem Aljabri. Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
Motherhood is an important chapter in all our lives. It is a story of life, and has a great lasting impact on all those who have mothers, have been mothers, and have lost mothers.
At Kutubna Cultural Center’s new Motherhood Exhibition, we explore how motherhood can be told through different colors, formats and emotions. We met with Nora Qudah, one of the Center’s curators, and interviewed here about the amazing art on display.
The idea of the exhibition is to celebrate motherhood globally through carefully selected artworks, highlighting the remarkable range of talent among contemporary artists and photographers. In this exhibition Kutubna Cultural Center presents over 50 works by 28 artists and photographers from 17 countries: Albania, Bahrain, Belarus, the United Kingdom, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Russia, Tanzania, and Ukraine.
‘Mother and Child,’ by Nasta Martyn. Ink on paper. Courtesy of Kutubna.
The exhibition revolves around themes of deeply personal and unique experiences of motherhood as well as universal emotions and shared understandings. As a curator, I like to see the connections that arise between people who visit this exhibition as they view these works. I hope it encourages visitors to ask questions and learn more about other cultures when they see the colorful traditional outfits or practices some mothers pass to their children. I also hope that this exhibition highlights the challenges mothers face as they strive to protect and provide for their children.
‘Mother and Her Baby (Theatre of Like series),’ by John Parkes Railton. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
Motherhood is the miracle of truly loving a person unconditionally and with devotion. It is the drive to protect and guide, a commitment that gives life meaning and purpose.
Motherhood motivates me to improve myself so I can positively influence my children and contribute to a better world. This instinct extends beyond just biological connections, it is shaped by the drive to nurture and care for a child, which forms an important part of a mother's sense of self, and this is what leads some women to adopt when they are unable to have children of their own. This nurturing bond isn't exclusive to humans; I believe it exists in all living beings.
‘Untitled,’ Photo by Alia bent Sultan. Giclee print. Courtesy of Kutubna.
I was amazed by the diverse interpretations and variety of mediums, approaches, and visual languages that artists and photographers presented of the theme of motherhood. Additionally, I found it remarkable how enthusiastically this theme was received, with such excitement not only in Dubai but also among international artists.
'In Her Arms,' by Paresh Janardan Thukrul. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
Motherhood shares fundamental similarities across cultures. However, in certain cultures the role can be carried out by different family members. The responsibilities of motherhood may be undertaken by grandmothers or, at times, by elder sisters if the age gap is big.
‘Roots of Love,’ by Onuoha Columbus. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
Kutubna Cultural Center was established in 2023 as an independent bookstore, literary hub, and art venue for Dubai and the Gulf region. Kutubna offers an inclusive community space to enjoy books, art, specialty coffee, and cultural events. Kutubna’s vision is to become a premier destination for literary and cultural enrichment in Dubai and the Gulf region.
Kutubna celebrates the accomplishments of Khaleeji, Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and Muslim writers, poets, thinkers, artists, and researchers. We amplify these essential voices through lectures, readings, guided conversations, workshops, and other activities for people of all ages. Kutubna strives to make creative and scholarly pursuits accessible to people who are traditionally at the margins. We work especially hard to make cultural events easier for mothers with young children to attend.
Since the opening of Kutubna’s art galleries in August 2024, the center has hosted eight exhibitions. Works exhibited included paintings by Farid Aouad, Amine El Bacha, Saliba Douaihy, Farghali Abdel Hafez, Faek Hassan, Shaker Hassan, Paul Guiragossian, Saad El Khadem, Michel El Mir, Fateh Al Moudarres, Abdel Kader Al-Rassam, Georges Sabbagh, Najat Makki, Khaled Ben Slimane, Ali Hassan, Ismail Fattah, Khaled Al Jader, Louay Kayali, and Salah Taher.
‘A Mother’s Shadow Never Fades,’ Photo by Mohammed Buhasan. Courtesy of Kutubna.
It is important to note that this exhibition was made possible by the support and vision of our founder, Dr. Shatha Almutwa, who is also a mother of two. I felt truly honored when Dr. Shatha invited me to curate this special exhibition. My journey with Kutubna began in May 2024, when I participated in the Mothers/Work program led by Dr. Shatha to support mothers who want to join the workforce. I had the opportunity to share both my challenges and ambitions openly. Soon after, I started working at Kutubna as an art instructor, curator, and support the center in various other roles. I consider myself fortunate to work in a field I am passionate about while still having the flexibility to spend time with my children.
To explore and enjoy rest of the art and photography, please visit the website: www.kutubna.ae
Please enjoy more of motherhood art and photography here:
‘In Her Arms,’ by Anxhela Elahmadieh. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Braiding Time,’ by Anna Grosheva. Inkjet on Epson-enhanced matte photo paper. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Mother’s Love,’ by Karin Stumpf. Water on color paper. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Embrace,’ by Komaldeep Makkar. Acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘In Her Arms,’ by Anna Grosheva. Inkjet print on Epson-enhanced matte photo paper. Courtesy of Kutubna
‘In Her Arms,’ by Ibrahim Nagi. Photographic matte print. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Mum,’ by Latifa Ahli. Pastel on paper. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘A Mother’s Shadow Never Fades,’ by Mohammed Buhasan. Photographic print. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘The Final Embrace,’ by Malak Yasser Dalloul. Oil on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Dream,’ by Wafa Khazendar. Mixed media on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Abundance,’ by Rima Wehbi. Photographic print. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Cradle of Love,’ by Tumpa Banerjee. Acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘She Mirrors Me,’ by Zaheda Muntazir. Giclee print. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Family Flow,’ by Renata Athanasio. Acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Mother Earth, The Pale Blue Dot,’ by Mona Biswarupa Mohanty. Mixed media-soil, ink and acrylic on cotton canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Intertwined Forms,’ by Shrutika Gosavi. Mixed media and ink on paper. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Safety,’ by Maha Abdelmaged. Acrylic and mixed media on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
‘Golden Hour,’ by Nisreen Mounib Shawwa. Mixed media on canvas. Courtesy of Kutubna.
