SEASHELL & RHYTHMS OF LIFE - OIL PIANO -
Al Suwaidi's works trace an economy's journey from pearls to prosperity.
Two valuable resources and the part they have played in defining and redefining several of the region’s economies are explored in these milestone sculptures by the Emirati Artist Jamal HABROUSH AL SUWAIDI, titled Seashell and Rhythms of life – Oil Piano, which are included in OPEC’s permanent collection. In his broader message, AL SUWAIDI reminds us that pearls were the primary commodity for many GCC countries, sourced by skilled divers who gathered oysters from the seabed, before the discovery of oil. Viewers are inspired to contemplate the way in which economies such as the UAE have evolved on the back of their in-demand resources, transitioning from a land marked by desert and coastlines to sophisticated, prosperous and welcoming destinations. Yet equally importantly, their socio-economic development is carved out with a clear vision, built on solid foundations and with sustainable growth at their core. AL SUWAIDI’s work also relays another significant message, which is that the UAE’s economy continues to evolve, never stops.
In Seashell, the artist cleverly combines the two elements that represent both the foundations and the bulding blocks of the UAE’s economy. Created in polished matte bronze on a granite base, the back of the sculpture appears to replicate a traditional oyster shell, complete with the immediately recognizable ridged lines caused by the sea’s ebb and flow. Yet in a brilliant and unexpected twist, AL SUWAIDI chooses to place a barrel of oil, rather than a pearl inside the shell. By juxtaposing two valuable resources so pivotal to the UAE’s economy, the artist reminds us that even as a country moves into a new era of wealth, it remains shaped by the past and owes much to its heritage.
Oil and beyond is the theme of the second sculpture featured, in a contemplative allegory channeled through the keys of a piano. In Rhythms of Life – Oil Piano, AL SUWAIDI draws parallels between the power that classical music compositions hold when it comes to evoking emotion and mood, all due to the combination of notes assembled by the genius composers of the time, and the way in which oil’s highs (inflation) and lows (economic growth) have affected market sentiment in recent years. The gold-plated keys remind us of oil’s potential as a driver of wealth, while the smaller, matte bronze, black keys on top, suggest a change in the tone of society, alongside the inevitable and perpetual rise and fall of life’s rhythms.