Artist Mariam Janahi wins top prize

Bahraini Mariam Janahi has today won the first prize in the Bahrain 38th Fine Arts Exhibition. His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday opened the annual expo at the Bahrain National Museum. The event is the first expo in the month-long "Tashkeel" art theme, being held as part of the Manama Capital of Arab World 2012. Headed by Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, the jury found that work of the young artist deserves Al Dana Annual Award for the difference it presented in expressing womanhood. The artwork focused on the depth of a woman and detailed its content rather than the known shallow and symbolic mention of her. The art piece that Janahi introduced was a set of two separate paintings, telling the ferociousness and contradiction the free side of the woman, and picturing the attempt of rebellion or overthrowing the social restraints and the judgment of others. "what I meant to tell in this painting is the idea of assassinating love, or the liberation of love, an idea of sacrifice aiming self-realization", Ms. Janahi said. "We need to liberate from the other that grows within and from the pollution of this piling caused by these regulations, traditions". She underlined that the state of inspiration, for many people, is connected to the other and aims to please it or represent what remains of it. She added that this is the negative and complicated effect that limits the space of a person, and is what she tried to get rid of to reach the sole truth coming from the essence of an ego, and from the sacred and pure part of a human. Janahi specialized in Arts, and became devoted to plastic arts when she studied in Scotland. She then went to Australia to improve her skills. She is currently doing higher studies in Germany. Janahi has participated in many Exhibitions around the world in Finland, South Paul, New Zealand, Australia, and Berlin.