Portrait exhibition by Emirates Fine Arts Society narrates the human story

Faces, the portrait exhibition by over 50 artists showing over 100 artworks under the theme 'One Human Story Unfolds' hosted by Emirates Fine Arts Society (EFAS) in its Sharjah headquarters and inaugurated on October 26, is a glorious example of how, as Tate UK explains, “portraits have always been more than just a record.

- Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

They have been used to show the power, importance, virtue, beauty, wealth, taste, learning or other qualities” of the subjects. The exhibition is organised and curated by Salem Al Junibi. The pictures are done in many schools of art, ranging from sharp realism to high abstract, from Mohamad Hussein's ‘Fairuz’ done in acrylic on canvas and Rawa’a Al Tartour's ‘The Afghan Girl’ with pencil on paper to Laila Daher’s ‘Fake Masks’ in acrylic on canvas and Karima Al Shomley’s ‘Kashkha’, also in acrylic on canvas.

Pioneering Emirati artist Najat Makki is also taking part in the exhibition; she is best known for her colourful and dreamlike, abstracted depictions of the natural landscape in the UAE. Faezeh Mohammed Hassan is an Emirati artist who is deeply inspired by her roots; she often turns her brush toward the heritage of the UAE, painting cultural landmarks, traditional architecture, and Emirati dress, transforming them into timeless celebrations of identity, memory, and place. Karima Al Shomely, another participating artist, is a frequent participant in EFAS's annual exhibitions.