The Sharjah Exhibition for Children’s Book Illustrations corner at the Sharjah Children’s
Reading Festival (SCRF 2023) is hosting yet another mind-boggling artistic showcase
this year featuring over 200 works from 85 artists. The exhibitions are showing in Expo
Centre Sharjah from May 3-14.
Notable in the exhibition is the work of Emirati Artist Asma Al-Hosani on UAE folktales.
The pieces in which she creatively depicts a figure in Emirati children’s folklore.
Traditionally, folktales have been passed down through the oral tradition, they were
honed for listening and easy to remember and share. As a result, folktales make it
easier for children to differentiate characters, follow a plotline or recall a sequence of
events.
As in Al-Hosani ‘s work, folktales help children develop the critical skills of
comprehension and this particular exhibition, it improves their artistic taste and
appreciation while acquiring some historical insights.
Furthermore, Asma Al-Hosani visual representation of folktales do not only offer a
glimpse of UAE oral tradition in a comic-like style, but it is sure to broaden children’s
view of the world and frequently develop a greater appreciation of their own heritage
and past.
The Sharjah Exhibition for Children’s Book Illustrations aims to encourage and promote
the development of high-quality children’s book illustrations, which play a significant role
in fostering the love of reading and creativity in young readers.