CULTURE CORNER

Dr. Jawaher Al Bader is an architect, artist and art educational expert in studio-based instruction. She has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in Art Education with a specialisation in Studio Environment. She also holds an MFA in Painting from Pratt Institute and BArch and BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.

Dr. Jawaher is also a former faculty member at Kuwait University where she taught at the Department of Visual Communication Design and College of Architecture.

Dr. Jawaher is the visionary behind Art Studio Kuwait, a communal space that fosters artistic exploration and creation. The studio is a hub for creatives but also a catalyst for her own artistic journey.

In this episode of Culture Corner, we discussed art education and safe spaces for art creation. Is art represented by the final product or the process we undertake to create it? Which of the two carries more importance? How is our life reflected in art and can art help us overcome everyday challenges and struggles? What shift in education is necessary to allow students to create freely and instinctively?

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Razan AlSarraf is an artist and educator based in Kuwait. Through painting, drawing, video and sound, she reflects on the interactions of people with land and landscape. She received an MFA in Art from California Institute of the Arts and a BFA in Fine Arts with honors from the School of Visual Arts in New York. Razan exhibits internationally, within solo and group shows in New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, France, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.

Razan was one of the residential artists in our Visionary Lab programme and is currently at residency at Hunna Art, with the upcoming exhibition in September. Razan is one of the founders of Studio Eleven that offers workshops, seminars and art consultancies.

In this episode we spoke to Razan about the essence of "artist's identity" and their role in the world. Razan shared her rich experiences creating art and carving her path as a Kuwaiti, Arab young artist in the States and beyond. Her deep interest in the surroundings and human interaction with landscape heavily influence her art as shown in the most recent exhibition she had at Sultan Gallery titled With the land.

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Nada is a writer and literary translator from Kuwait. She is the author of Fountain of Youth, a semi-finalist in the 2016 Vine Leaves Vignette Collection Award, and Mischief Diary from 2018, a young adult short story collection. She has collaborated with Maha Al Asaker on Women of Kuwait (Daylight, 2019), which was a finalist in the Lucie Photobook Award. Nada translated Boyhayna Al Essa's Arabic novel Lost in Mecca, which was shortlisted for the 2024 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation.

Nada is also a creative writing teacher and a certified coach for creatives.

In this episode we tried to get to the true meaning of the term "creativity" and how much authentic living can help us manage and maintain our creativity. We spoke of the importance of poetry and reading, as well as the lifelong impact it has on the young people finding their way in the world. Literature was always Nada's choice and we discussed the obstacles she had to pass to stay true to the path she chose.

In one of her most important endeavours, Nada works with creatives as a certified coach, and helps them find ways to express themselves authentically and accomplish their creative goals.

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sara Abdulla is a Bahraini architect and entrepreneur, as well as a cofounder of Dust for Experience Design, a multidisciplinary design studio specialising in injecting soul into spaces, concepts and brands. She actively engages in promoting architecture as an inclusive discipline, through creating collaborative spaces, reviving historic and cultural buildings and designing experiences, workshops and events. Sara has also created Qirtas Shop, a homegrown stationery brand and is a higher education consultant at Al Mawred Education.

To our great delight, as part of Innarative platform, Sara is also an instructor at PCC's Hawally Map project - where we rediscover architectural jewels of Hawally.

A traveler, thinker, and an ever engaged creative, Sara shares with us what motivates her to constantly question and explore her education and experience. Do we define the spaces or do they define us, why it is important to be on the move, absorbing experiences and cultures, and how to measure one's growth are some of the topics we discussed with Sara in the new episode of Culture Corner.

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Ghadeer Ali is a cultural producer and a founder of Waha.

As a marketing and communications professional, Ghadeer has contributed to various companies over the years, while supporting non profit organizations and platforms. She has created Waha, a woman-led social, cultural and creative community, oriented to learning and collaboration.

In this episode, we were discussing the concept of community and knowledge sharing within the community. Can one be involved with the corporate sector as a social and brand strategist, while simultaneously engaged with community needs and non profit goals? With Ghadeer, we explored what diversity contributes to our growth and whether creatives require creative rest.

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Maha Hassan is the longest serving radio presenter of 99.7 RKFM, producer, and talented DJ. Maha has helped transform the English station on Kuwait radio to what it is today - modern, informative, contemporary and much adored station.

One can easily find a lot of followers who swear by Maha's music choices. Maha believes that music can always make your life a little bit better and her efforts in finding and promoting local talents are admirable.

In this episode we've discussed with Maha if the radio is here to stay, how her work embodies journalism, marketing and music. Why are more youngsters interested in work in the radio, and how to keep your bond with the audience strong, while keeping an open mind and wide interest in all music?

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Eleanor Burton is a Training and Relationships Manager at en.v. Throughout her professional career, Eleanor has been devoted to capacity building of civil society organisations. Her roles in en.v include programme and training design and implementation, strategic planning, working with youth, education, etc. Eleanor is also involved in cross sector partnerships and fostering the relationships with donors and civil society.

In this episode we are exploring the value and role of a community in any given society - how individuals in such communities work very hard to build resource, capacity and resilience within the community.

We have discussed how long it takes to measure results within a community, how long it takes for a social change to appear and bring betterment. Most importantly, how the relationships we build with people are not transactional, our communities need deep and real connections and a personal investment.

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Lidia Janakievska is an architect and interior designer whose career has been tied to Kuwait for more than 35 years. In more than 42 years of international experience, Lidia has worked in a variety of sectors, including hospitality, aviation, large public works, etc. Her everlasting goal was marrying architecture with interior design for functional and elegant public spaces.

Over the years in Kuwait, Lidia was involved in numerous relevant and awarded projects, such as the transformation of Salmiya Waterfront - Marina World, Marina Crescent and Tower, Marina Waves and hotel, Khaldiya campus project, Shahadia campus, Chairman's Club, etc.

In her role as an educator and reviewer, Lidia worked with numerous students at Kuwait University, accentuating the need for an architect to go beyond their field of expertise - striving to learn the needs of users, research continuously, travel and keep an open mind.

In this episode we visited her experiences in Kuwait and how much can one learn when entering a new culture, the important work she has been a part of, the heritage and cultural aspects of Kuwait she appreciates and the everlasting need to stay curious, learn and obtain knowledge.

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Chaitali B. Roy is a cultural journalist and a writer who has been a part of Kuwait's society for more than 20 years. Chaitali has written countless articles for the Arab Times, respectable newspapers in English language, covering topics in culture, arts, education, heritage, as well as personal inspiring stories of individuals and highlights from Kuwait's everyday life.

She has authored a book on prominent women of Kuwait - Women of Kuwait: Turning Tides and is currently finishing another book on the topic of women who have contributed to Kuwait's society.

We have also discussed with Chaitali her work as a Hindi radio host and producer, The Thursday Kashta podcast, Sadaaqa show celebrating India-Kuwait friendships, future projects and plans, and so much more Chaitali does with indomitable energy.

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

In this episode of Culture Corner we are searching for the answer on the importance of cultural heritage for a cultural identity of a nation, and examining our relationship to buildings. What qualities should one have to become a heritage specialist and are his or her contributions always in the shadow of other professions related to the cultural field?

Zahra Ali Baba is an architect and a cultural heritage specialist who works for the NCCAL. She is involved as a consultant on the restoration of the Al Othman mosque. We asked Zahra about the historical aspects of the mosque architecture and its changes over time, influenced by social, cultural and historic elements. Do heritage sites speak to us and how patient must one be to discover what is below their surface?

Social Media:

Instagram

YouTube

Credits:

Host: Ksenia Graovac

Project Coordinator: Farah Omrani

Editing: Mohamed Amin

Design: Mariam Mandani

Produced by: Promenade Culture Centre 2024

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED