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The Artist between Ancient Heritage and Modern Aspirations

Halima Abdullah Rashid Al Sayegh: Member of the Council of Emirati Businesswomen, consultant and writer in the heritage of the gold craft and designer of jewelry, art and heritage, worked in the field of teaching and received a certificate of educational guidance, and also received many awards in various fields, and was the first prize in creativity where I was honored by the campus of the President of the United Arab Emirates, and the second prize is the award of the best printed book for the United Arab Emirates, and was honored twice in the field of business and economics by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Foundation for supporting projects Youth in the category of best project in The Emirate of Dubai.

Dubai represents to me the development of the stages of my life, Dubai was in the past houses converging and warm hearts and now it has become a high-rise building and a global tourist interface and a destination for the investors in the world and Dubai is full of global achievements in all fields thanks to the good government and its vision in building human and interest in the development of health services and infrastructure to suit the requirements of the times.

From my point of view, the role of women in the family is a bridge to their success at work, the successful leadership and administrative women start their success from home and work is essential in the life of each individual because it is a source of income and stability, so working is one of the priorities of women through the ages, where it provides them with selfsufficiency to manage their lives without being dependent on their family.

I started my writing career in 2007 as I was going through a major family challenge in my life so I decided to challenge this problem by directing my abilities in positive action, my decision was to try to document the history of my family in the craft of gold and silver crafting, then I began to work as a researcher in the Department of Tourism and Culture in Abu Dhabi and my idea was welcomed by the printing of my first book, which resonated greatly in the local and global community and was the unexpected surprise to win my book the best printed book award for the UAE.
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (Mother of the United Arab Emirates) represents my ideal and ideal in her policy of empowering Emirati women in various fields, as she is the main supporter of women’s progress in education, health and the economy through her vision and strategy.

The heritage and customs of the Uae represent a school for the education of the world Etiquette, as it is in line with the development and contemporary, the customs and heritage of the United Arab Emirates stems from the Islamic culture, which calls for honoring the guest and respect for the stranger in the UAE and respect for the diverse cultures and tolerance and this is the main reason for the world’s demand for the UAE because it enjoys beautiful customs, traditions and human values, and the civilization did not change the habits of emiratis in confusion or in morals and transactions, but remained as it is characterized by Iraq and authenticity.

There are many projects that I plan to accomplish, including at the literary level, a book about my life and the challenges I faced and how I employed those challenges to success, as I am in the process of launching my second book and I hope to publish soon, and there is a large educational project that I hope to apply, a project that employs hydroponic technology in the education of the educational curriculum, where I implemented this project in the kindergarten stage, and the most important project is what I plan to establish a council of women around the world to achieve various high goals I also wish to visit all museums in the world to study the treasures of ornaments, ancient artifacts and the techniques from which they were made.

In fact, my romantic and dreamy nature makes me love countries that have a picturesque nature and there are rivers and mountains, and I want it to be the first destination I’m going to go after this global crisis, Turkey, Norway and Socera.
Hussein al-Jasmi is a well-known Emirati singer who sings in all languages, and I love some Turkish and Iraqi songs as well as old Hindi and Persian songs, as I believe that language is not an obstacle to expressing feelings, as all languages are tools for expressing feelings.
The Arabic word that I love and always keep in mind patience and positive is the basis of success and continuity in life The Arabic word that I love and always keep in mind patience and positive is the basis of success and continuity in life Dubai represents to me the development of the stages of my life, Dubai was in the past houses converging and warm hearts and now it has become a high-rise building and a global tourist interface and a destination for the investors in the world and Dubai is full of global achievements in all fields thanks to the good government and its vision in building human and interest in the development of health services and infrastructure to.

Halima Al Sayegh is one of my friends who can easily understand my literary targets.
She feels and writes in the same way as I do, flowing around the treasures of the past, discovering the mystery of Emirati architecture, archeological jewels, old customes, habits, historical origins and the beauty of being an Emirati.

 Halima is a teacher, a writer and artist dedicated to the old times and origins of her country and ancestors.
I first met her at the Arab Women Conference in Denmark, Royal Palace Christianborg.
Our encounter was the beginning of a beautiful cultural friendship showing me again than my own literary credo is right : Culture unites people.
I am talking to Halima Al Sayegh with the confidence and trust of a writer having a rich conversation with another writer, building a cross cultural project with so many similar ideas, visions and targets, going beyond our identity, nationality or traditions. 

In fact, Art is the perfect universal language accessible to all of us regardless origins, customs or birthplace.
To all my questions, Halima Al Sayegh responses are direct, open and confident, and her main purpose is to promote not only her country values but to discover and write about everything that bring new lights and colours in the modern UAE society.
I love the conversation with Halima Al Sayegh - it isn’t an interview, but more a journey going trough our cultural background and futuristic visions.

The Magnificent Burqa

Unique Oeuvre D’Art created by Halima Al Sayegh as a tribute to Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Al Ketbi

Halima Al Sayegh is a passionate artist.
Dedicated to her country’ s ancient, precious heritage and loyal to her parents traditional legacy, she creates jewelries with the delicate devotion of her sensitive soul and high aspirations.

She is in love with the ancient customs and the way of life of her childhood.
Nostalgic, sensible she has always admired her mother and grandmother wearing the marvelous kaftans in bright colours, using the amazing scents of buhour, enjoying the traditional Arabic coffee with the flavors of cardamon and sweet dates under the palms.
Halima looks back to her childhood with the eyes of her artistic senses, to find new inspiration for her creativity and inventivity.
She tells me that from thousand of her marvelous memories, the dearest one is the time of wearing burqa.
«It is something mystical, glamorous, tender, feminine , full of endless beauty".
It is a splendid traditional symbol of our tribal past , when women knew that the real beauty is the mystery and innocence of the eyes behind the burqa.

I was wearing burqa too, with such a pride and respect for our customs.
When I have started to create designs and manufacture jewelries, a dream came true for me.
My family is one of the eldest in our country to work as goldsmiths.
I remember my father telling me : when you create something think to be inspired by our history and traditions. Keep our past alive. It is our value and our treasure from our ancestors.

I have started to create a burqa in gold , delicately designed with arabesques embroidered with finesse and smooth touch.
Incorporated in the burqa you can see a precious traditional earring.
It was my most important success, I have never show it before to another person and it is in fact not a jewelry but a real oeuvre d’ art inspired by the Mother of the Nation, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Al Ketbi.
Sheikha loves burqa, all her life is dedicated to our nation traditions and development. When I have started to imagine the burqa and design it on paper, I remembered every minute our Sheikha Fatima how she preserves our heritage, our old customs with such love and loyalty.
My burqa artwork jewelry is inspired and created as a tribute for Her Highness. 

"Nothing can be more precious in my heart".

I can easily feel the passionate artist describing her art. And I understand that history is the real source of inspiration for her : the history of UAE written by the marvelous couple Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak.
The fabulous burqa created by Halima Al Sayegh is a masterpiece - a symbol of an entire generation of women born between the golden Emirati dunes, in love with their country’ s past, present and future.
The Golden Page of Emirati History - The Glorious Sword Tribute to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan created by artist Halima Al Sayegh.
I love to speak about our history.
I’m really founded to every single event of the past.
I remember all stories from my grandparents times , the old times of our nations. When I think about heritage I feel not only love and admiration. I feel responsibility.
Trough my own creative work I am giving artistic expression to all my feelings and ideas. When I have been selected and invited by Al Hosn Museum to recreat the legendary sword of the famous Sheikh Zayed the First, grandfather of our Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, immediately I could feel that kind of pride, the pride of an artist to be recognized for his
artistic ability and talent.
In the same time I was not only honored but overwhelmed by the responsibility.
Don’t ask me more details please but now, I’m working on the most important artistic project of my life as artist.

It is the sword dedicate as tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed .
Let me keep my precious creative secrets, but you can have a look on my design.
It is a hard work process but a marvelous one.
Working on the historical sword with the engraved story of our heritage it
is extremely emotional and needs full attention and dedication.
I am creating not a precious weapon but a golden page of our Emirati history book. I am working on the sword, thinking of His Highness the late

Sheikh Zayed who has opened the horizon for us.
I am thinking about His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed who continues proudly his father’ s historical legacy.
I am thinking of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum , the visionary leader who transforms Dubai in spectacular way more and more.
When I’m recreating the historical sword now, I am thinking to the future Emirati generation to make them understand the beauty of our nation and heritage.
I love deeply our heritage.
Here are my roots as human being and artist.
The most beautiful and inspirational territory for me : my land.
Dreamland UAE.

Halima Al Sayegh is enthusiastic , creative and devoted to her visions and feelings.
Her artworks are results of her emotions and ambitions.
Her high aspirations are not surprising me at all, because I know, a real artist needs to transform the dreams in the most beautiful reality.
I am honored to present as a premiere the Burqa jewelry tribute to Mother of the Nation Sheikha
Fatima Bint Mubarak Al Ketbi and the precious sword creation tribute to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed between the pages of my humbold book Two Masterpieces for Eternity.

Monica Mergiu

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