President of the Kyrgyz Republic’s statement

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The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Almazbek Atambayev’s statement. Bloody criminal carnage in Minsk laid on a recent day by notorious Zhanysh Bakiyev over his former close associate from the criminal world, leave no doubt that the members of the Bakiyev family do feel in Belarus complete impunity and, along with their daredevils, will continue to kill. This fact is obviously demonstrated by crime witness’ released testimony that leaves no shade of doubt that Zhanysh Bakiyev and his accomplices killed Almanbet Anapiyaev right in the residential area of the Belarusian capital. I hope that honourable Mr. Alexander Lukashenko and friendly Belarusian people shall finally realize that they had sheltered villains. As well as the Belarusian will never forget the spring of 1943, world-shaking tragedy of Khatyn village, the Kyrgyz people will not forget the spring of 2010, when the ordinary people were shot in the central square of the capital – Bishkek – by the order of the Bakiyev family. Bakiyev brothers are remembered in Kyrgyzstan as monsters of cruelty. The people remember how these inhumans were burning people alive, how they maimed and killed journalists; how they were breaking businessmen’ arms and legs, and how they cut their victims’ ears and noses off. Who else does the Bakiyev family have to kill for the Belarusian authorities finally see their bestial and cannibalistic nature of this crime family? These monsters will spill blood wherever they will be, including host Belarus! For nearly five years, Kyrgyzstan is seeking obligations fulfillment from Minsk for tracing, prosecution and extradition of criminals in accordance with international conventions. Instead, the official Minsk chose to deny our legitimate demands. At the same time we have constantly received confirmation of the fact that the presence of these criminals has been encouraged in Belarus, they have been given national passports, state awards and congratulations on the anniversaries. I am confident that criminal actions of Zhanysh Bakiyev in Minsk must serve as an alarm signal for the Belarusian authorities, the citizens’ safety of which is under the threat due to the sheltering obviously criminal and felonious elements on its territory. It is also a dishonor to the image of Belarus. I express hope that the Belarusian authorities will no longer cover the criminals convicted of the killing of civilians in Kyrgyzstan. I am sure that harsh condemnation of these crimes by the Belarusian side and taking effective measures for detention and extradition of the murderers to Kyrgyzstan will strengthen the credibility of Belarus and its leadership in the international arena. ministr_photo

Official statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic

In connection with the murder on the territory of the Republic of Belarus of Almanbet Anapiyaev, the citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic, wanted by INTERPOL for committing serious crimes, as well as the testimony of the citizen Gulzhigit Abilazizov, a detainee under the relevant criminal proceedings, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic reiterates its deep concerns and bewilderment regarding the position of the authorities of the Republic of Belarus on detention and extradition of Zhanybek Bakiyev and other wanted persons.

The competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic had repeatedly applied to the state bodies of the Republic of Belarus with the request to take actions to fulfill the obligations assumed by the Belarusian side under the Convention on the legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family and criminal cases, and other international treaties. According to this Convention “the parties are obliged to search, prosecute, and extradite persons to bring them to criminal responsibility or execution of a sentence.”

The Kyrgyz side is deeply concerned that Zhanybek Bakiev and his closest associates, the convicts of committing especially felony crimes on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic, despite the fact that they are in the international wanted circular, move freely and, moreover, have been committing felony crimes on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

The Kyrgyz Republic believes that this position of the Republic of Belarus does not comply with the spirit of friendly and allied relations between the two countries, and regrets that in this way the Republic of Belarus, which claims to be the “territory of global hope”, and had recently hosted the summit of “Norman Quartet”, has chosen the way of blanching over and protecting obvious criminal elements.

Kyrgyzstan once again calls on the Belarusian side to take specific and effective measures for detention and extradition of the above mentioned criminals in accordance with international obligations.

Swazi King opens parliament

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By Mete Erdurcan and Baron Henri Estramant.   The Ngwenyama of Swaziland, His Majesty King Mswati III, opened the new session of the Swazi parliament on Thursday, 26 February 2015. He addressed the nation and urged them to ‘protect the country’ from certain groups that can portray a negative image of Swaziland to the world. To maintain the country’s good image, the Ngwenyama of Swaziland (lit. “Lion of Swaziland) urged his subjects to remain “loyal” and be “patriotic”. King Mswati III, born under the name of Prince Makhosetive Dlamini (of the Royal Clan Dlamini) on 19 April 1968, is the last semi-absolute monarch of Africa, and the world. At the time of his appointment to the throne, he was the youngest reigning monarch, being merely 18 years and 6 days back in 1986. The Ngwenyama of Swaziland sways a lot of political power in the sub-Saharan country, fully engulfed by South Africa. He appoints the Prime Minister, other top governmental posts, as well as the traditional chieftains. However the King’s powers are not “absolute” as often stated in the international media. He must adhere to Swazi customs, and cannot even choose his own successor amongst his sons as rules of succession are complicated, and determined by tradition and origin; though the Ngwenyama must belong to the Dlamini Clan. He is considered to be the country’s administrative Chief of State whereas the Indlovukazi (Queen Mother, or lit. Great-She Elephant) is the traditional, ceremonial and religious Head of State. According to Swazi protocol the Indlovukazi, Queen Ntfombi even outranks her son.   In 1973, the Parliament of Swaziland was disbanded by the late King Sobhuza II (reigned 1921-1982), but reinstated by King Mswati III. To decide on the matter of cabinet appointments, The King is advised by His Prime Minister.    

The Office of the Prosecutor concludes mission to Colombia

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  In the context of its on-going preliminary examination of the situation in Colombia, a delegation from the Office of the Prosecutor (“OTP” or “Office”) of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”) conducted a mission to the Republic of Colombia from 1 to 13 February 2015. The purpose of the mission was for the Office to continue its constructive engagement with the Government of Colombia and to assess progress on national proceedings in relation to the areas of focus identified in the interim report on the situation, published in November 2012, in particular on sexual crimes, the killings known as “false positives” and forced displacement. These are three of the five areas on which the Office is focusing its attention. The current phase of the preliminary examination of the situation in Colombia requires the OTP to examine relevant national proceedings to determine whether all those most responsible for the most serious crimes under the subject matter jurisdiction of the Court are being brought to account. In particular, the OTP is required to assess whether on-going investigative steps in relation to specific cases are concrete and progressive. The evaluation is not based on future developments, but rather on concrete existing facts. The Prosecutor reiterates her support to Colombia’s ongoing efforts to bring an end to the decades-long armed conflict, in line with its obligations under the Rome Statute.  The principles of the Rome Statute reflect the consensus of the international community in recognizing the integral role of justice in ensuring sustainable peace, stability and security.  Peace and justice are indeed mutually reinforcing. During the visit, the Office held talks with senior officials from the executive and the judiciary, as well as with representatives from civil society and international organisations.  Meetings were also held with the Inspector General of the Nation (Procurador General de la Nación) and members of Congress, at their request.  The Prosecutor is grateful to the Government of Colombia for facilitating the visit and for providing the necessary support. The OTP looks forward to continued engagement with the Government of Colombia, and civil society.

Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation and the Abu Dhabi Festival

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The Abu Dhabi Festival is organized annually by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), a not-for-profit organization that has been advancing arts, education, culture and creativity in Abu Dhabi since 1996. The Abu Dhabi Festival one of the UAE’s foremost celebrations of art and culture, bringing together the great musicians, performers and artists from the East and West to the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It seeks to reflect the determination of the city to take the lead in cultural understanding. The Abu Dhabi Festival endeavors to reflect the vision for the future of Abu Dhabi as an international hub for the arts. The vision of the festival is aligned to the vision of Abu Dhabi as a thriving metropolis for creativity and excellence in arts and culture that places art, education and culture at the heart of the UAE. The Festival is a committed advocate of cross cultural understanding and plays an intrinsic role in supporting the artistic renaissance across the Middle East by further pushing the boundaries of creativity and excellence in innovation. Since its inception, the Abu Dhabi Festival has placed education at its core, building on the vision of the Festival’s Founder and Director H. E. Mrs. Hoda Al Khamis Kanoo to invest in learning opportunities for the next generation. The Festival’s education work provides young people across the seven Emirates with the opportunity to interact with visiting artists and Festival participants. Through its education program, the Festival supports the education and development of UAE young minds as well as tomorrow’s leaders, and enhances their appreciation for the arts and music. As part of its commitment to education, to the community and to tomorrow’s leaders, the Festival presents the Abu Dhabi Festival Award on an annual basis to participating national university students who excel in the field of performing and visual arts, music, film, literature and communications. More details on the Abu Dhabi Festival and its programming may be found on their website at www.abudhabifestival.ae   ADMAF’s main curator, Ms KARIN ADRIAN VON ROQUES For the past twenty years, Karin Adrian von Roques’ professional focus has been modern and contemporary art from the Middle East. Upon finishing her studies of Islamic Art in Bonn, Germany, she became interested in modern and contemporary art from Arab countries and pioneered academic exploration and exposure of outstanding artists in this field. She began a series of strategic programs to bring concepts central to the works of contemporary Arab artists to the attention of a broader public by means of museum and gallery exhibitions. Aware that contemporary art from Islamic countries takes place within a wider socio-political context and dialogue, Ms. von Roques has organized and participated in seminars, interviews, publications and auctions throughout the world to generate intercultural dialogue on Arab culture. Ms. von Roques has been an art advisor and art historian to numerous museums and has worked as a special consultant for Islamic exhibitions such as From Bagdad to Isafahan — Islamic Manuscripts and Miniatures, Musée du Petit Palais, Paris, 1994–95. In 1997 she became the Founding Director of the Hesse Museum in Lugano, Switzerland focusing on programs about ethics and intercultural dialogue. She has curated more than twenty international museum and gallery exhibitions, among them: Written Cosmos — Arabic Calligraphy and Literature throughout the Centuries, Museum of Applied Arts, Frankfurt, Germany, 2004; Languages of the Desert — Contemporary Arab Art from the Gulf States, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Kunstmuseum) Bonn, Germany, 2005 (traveled to the Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris, France, 2006; the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2007; and Galleria Metropolitana, Barcelona, Spain, 2006); The Present Out of the Past Millennia — Contemporary Art from Egypt, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Kunstmuseum) Bonn, 2007; and The Art of Writing — Contemporary Calligraphy from Three Cultures, Art Forum, Kurhauskolonnaden, Wiesbaden, May 2011.      

Picasso, Renoir, Rensse.

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By Carel Reisch. Galerie Patries van Dorst was recently presented the exhibition, Picasso Renoir Rensse. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) needs no further introduction. Patries van Dorst have commissioned some original, rare lithographs, etchings and pochoirs of his work and each piece came with a certificate of authenticity. BW KW  0150102 06 web Jacques Renoir, (born in France in 1942) is the great grandson of the painter Auguste Renoir. The Renoir family has a continuous art tradition through various generations from paintings to theatre to film and photography. BW KW  0150102 02 web Jacques Renoir discovered his passion for film and photography at an early age. After graduating from the ‘Ecole Nationale de la Photographie et Cinématographie Louis Lumière’, he works as cameraman and director of photography on films with, Vadim, Sautet, Stanley Donen, Lewis Gilbert… From 1967 to 1975 he collaborates as cameraman and film director of L’odyssée sous marine du Commandant Cousteau travelling the world with Calypso, crowned by four nominations and an Emmy award by TV in the United States. The relief photographs by Jacques Renoir are being shown for the first time in the Netherlands. Erik Renssen (born in the Netherlands in 1960) is a figurative painter with a genuine interest in the beauty in people and objects. His oeuvre comprises painting, sculpture and graphic works. With great virtuosity he paints a world of both vibrant and subdued colors. The range of subjects is classical; portrait, still-life, the reclining nude and the occasional landscape. In the past 10 years Renssen’s oeuvre and worldwide sales grew tremendously. He is today one of the most successful exporting artists of the Netherlands.

King of Tonga in Europe

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Picture credit PA Images

By Baron Henri Estramant. 

 

Their Majesties The King and Queen of Tonga are in Europe to heed businesses concerning their upcoming coronation due to take place in July 2015. 

The Royal Couple of the “Friendly Islands” were received in audience by the British monarch, and her husband at Windsor Castle on 27 February. The royals discussed bilateral relations as well as relations within the Commonwealth of Nations of which Tonga is a member. Queen Elizabeth II is the Commonwealth’s figurehead. 

Before their jaunt to London, King Tupou VI addressed delegates at the opening of the 38th Session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on Monday 16 February, and later in the day had an audience with the Bishop of Rome, Franciscus in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican City-State.

The reason behind the courtesy visit was the election of the very first cardinal from the Pacific archipelago, hailing from Tonga, Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi. Thereby making him one of the élite cardinals entitle to vote for a successor of St. Petrus. 

 

Justice will ultimately be dispensed for LRA crimes

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Statement of the ICC Prosecutor at a press conference in Uganda: justice will ultimately be dispensed for LRA crimes.   ‘Welcome and thank you for your presence here today.  As you may know, while I have had the privilege to visit Uganda in the past in my previous role as Deputy Prosecutor, this is my first official visit to the country as Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”). I am honoured to be here. I attach great importance to personally visiting situation countries under the jurisdiction of the Court; first and foremost, to meet with affected communities as well as the authorities, civil society, and members of the media, among other stakeholders. I’m sure you have many questions.  I look forward to answering them following my remarks. Allow me at the outset to recall where we started, where we stand today and where we are headed in our long journey to bring justice to the victims of mass crimes committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army (“LRA”). Let me first reassure the people of Uganda and, in particular, the people of the North as well as Mr. Ongwen’s family, that Mr. Ongwen will be treated with dignity throughout the proceedings at the Court and subjected to a fair and impartial judicial process of the highest international standards that will fully respect all his rights as a defendant. A panel of three independent judges will listen to all sides and assess all evidence and submissions before taking any decision. At all times, it will be up to my Office to prove its case against Mr. Ongwen. The Republic of Uganda ratified the Rome Statute – the Court’s founding treaty – on the 14th of June 2002. On the 16th of December 2003 and in the exercise of its sovereign right under the Statute, the Government of Uganda referred the situation in Northern Uganda to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC. The referral letter cited LRA and called for its members who had committed crimes in Northern Uganda to be brought to justice. The Office of the Prosecutor made it clear to the Government that all sides involved in the conflict in the North would be investigated and the evidence alone would determine which individuals would ultimately be charged, irrespective of status or affiliation. I wish to underscore here that, without exception, we conduct our investigations in complete independence and impartiality.  We have always been, and continue to be, guided by these same principles with respect to our work in Uganda. On the 28th of July 2004, following a rigorous process of assessing whether legal requirements for opening an investigation had been met, the Office of the Prosecutor opened investigations into the alleged crimes committed in Northern Uganda. The evidence we collected demonstrated that crimes against humanity and war crimes – including the mass killing and mutilation of civilians, the abduction of tens of thousands of children and the sexual enslavement and rape of young girls – were committed by the LRA in all regions of Northern Uganda. The evidence also implicated senior commanders in the LRA, namely Joseph Kony; Dominic Ongwen; Okot Odhiambo; Vincent Otti and Raska Lukwiya as being the most responsible for mass crimes. We presented the evidence at our disposal to a panel of three independent international judges and requested the arrest of these five individuals. After careful consideration and assessment of the evidence, on the 8th of July 2005, the Court’s judges issued warrants of arrest against these top five commanders. All LRA commanders who are the subject of ICC warrants of arrest, including Mr Ongwen, were charged for crimes they are alleged to have committed as adults. We do not prosecute child soldiers for crimes committed under the age of 18. This is a strict requirement of the Rome Statute. We remain confident that one day, Joseph Kony will face justice for the enlistment and recruitment of children – including Mr. Ongwen – to participate in his campaign of violence. Over the course of many years, the LRA, under the leadership of the five commanders, has continued to commit heinous crimes not only in Northern Uganda but in the Central African Republic (“CAR”) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”). On the 16th of January 2015, the numerous coordinated efforts over the years by civil society, the governments of Uganda, DRC, CAR, and the United States of America, as well as the African Union and the ICC, finally paid off when Mr. Ongwen was transferred to the custody of the Court after nearly a decade of evading justice. His transfer sends a firm and clear message that no matter how long it takes, the Office of the Prosecutor and the international community at large will spare no effort to ensure that victims of mass crimes ultimately receive justice. This is a promising development, but it is only the beginning. Let me emphasize this message to Joseph Kony: Leave the bush and encourage other members of the LRA to do the same. Stop committing crimes against your own people and others, do the right thing and surrender. At the ICC, you will be treated fairly and impartially, in accordance with highest standards of justice, and with full respect for your due process rights as a defendant.  You have the opportunity to plead your case in Court and let the judicial process establish the truth.  There is no future in violence and brutality. Let me be equally clear to all other LRA fighters and followers: You have nothing to fear from the ICC. We are only concerned with those five top commanders against whom the Court has issued warrants of arrest.  Abandon violence and choose a new, more promising path; a path which has a future.  Return to your families, communities and country, and start the process of rebuilding your life.  It is not too late. So, what comes next in the Ongwen case, you may ask? As a first step, on the 26th of January 2015, Mr. Ongwen appeared before the Court’s judges who explained to him his rights, including the right to freely choose his own lawyer. The next step will be the confirmation of charges hearing.  Although the judges have provisionally scheduled these proceedings for August of this year, my Office has asked for an extension in light of the many years that have passed since arrest warrants were issued in this case. The additional time requested can also be of assistance to Mr. Ongwen in preparing his defence. The process of facilitating preparations for Mr. Ongwen’s defence has started. This entails, amongst other things, providing Mr. Ongwen’s lawyer and legal team with all the information he needs to prepare his defence, such as the evidence my Office has gathered against him. My Office has always benefited from the strong cooperation of Ugandan authorities, for which we are thankful.  Throughout this process, the continued cooperation of the Government of Uganda with both my Office and the defence will be crucial. Following my meetings with Uganda government officials today, I am confident of the Government’s cooperation and support to my Office, to the defence and the Legal Representatives of Victims, as we continue on the path of fair and impartial justice for the people of Uganda. I am also pleased to announce that tomorrow, I will be travelling to the North of the country where I will meet with community and religious leaders as well as affected communities in Gulu, Lira and Soroti, as part of my efforts to explain our work and to listen and address concerns.  I very much look forward to this opportunity. I have ensured that my team will regularly visit Uganda, and in particular the North, to continue engaging with affected communities and to keep them all informed of the latest developments in the case as proceedings progress. My appeal to you and to all Ugandans, and in particular affected communities, is this: The wheels of justice may turn slowly but turn, they surely will; let us leave justice to take its course. Let us embrace the independent and impartial judicial process offered by the Court as a means of bringing healing and closure for victims of mass crimes and to ensure the atrocities that devastated communities in Northern Uganda will never happen again. We are committed to these goals. We are committed to seeing peace and stability thrive in Uganda on the strength of justice and the recognition of the importance of the plight of victims and affected communities.’

Appeals Chamber decision

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Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, following the Appeals Chamber decision upholding the acquittal in the Ngudjolo Chui case.   The Appeals Chamber today dismissed, by a majority 3-2 decision, my Office’s appeal against the acquittal of Mr. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui in December 2012 on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in relation to the attack on the village of Bogoro on 24 February 2003.  This decision brings the case to a close. The decision does not negate the fact that crimes were committed in Bogoro or the suffering of the victims. My Office spared no effort in the prosecution of the case and exhausted all judicial remedies available to it. Today’s final outcome is one that has been reached through an independent and impartial judicial process that fully respected the rights of all parties and participants to the proceedings. My Office remains most committed to bringing an end to impunity for mass crimes perpetrated in the situation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This crucial work will continue unabated.

Reopening of “Canada House”

  Her Majesty The Queen of Canada reopened on 19 February 2015 “Canada House” in London. Accompanied by her husband, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh As Queen of Canada she was greeted by two mounties, in their famous wide brimmed hats and red tunics, sat on horses (named George and Elizabeth respectively) that were gifts to the monarch from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Her Majesty’s Personal Canadian Flag, a symbol of sovereignty, was raised over Canada House upon The Royal Couple’s arrival. Queen Elizabeth II toured the High Commission, and was presented with a set of keys to the newly revamped building by the recently decommissioned John Baird, former Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs (2011-2015). When King George V first opened the building in 1925, he was presented with a similar set of keys. To mark the occasion, the building’s atrium – clad in Canadian hemlock and featuring red oak flooring – has been named the Queen Elizabeth Atrium. The High Commission was previously also housed in Macdonald House in Mayfair, but has now been consolidated into Canada House. Macdonald House itself was sold in 2013. The oldest part of Canada House’s building is the combined former Union Club and the former home of the Royal College of Physicians both built in the 1820s. Sir Robert Smirke who designed the British Museum and Royal Opera House in Covent Garden also built the Union Club. It is located in London’s Trafalgar Square, High Commissioner Gordon Campbell, a former premier of British Columbia, said in a statement: “We are honoured that Her Majesty and His Royal Highness were able to join us to celebrate the opening of a High Commission that is very dear to Canadians, and that reflects the depth of our friendship with the United Kingdom”. The High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom is one of Canada’s largest overseas missions, offering a range of services, including consular support, trade promotion, foreign policy and diplomatic services, the Canadian Defence Liaison Staff, and immigration and visa processing. Back in the Dominion of Canada the country’s Supreme Court refused to hear a case of two legal residents with anti-monarchist opinions who refuse to swear the required oath of allegiance to The Queen and her heirs in order to gain Canadian citizenship.  Government lawyer Kristina Dragaitis argued that the monarchy symbolises the Constitution, the rule of law and the right to dissent. She said, the appellants are taking a “literal approach” to the oath. Two days before reopening Canada House Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II met for 20 minutes with her personal representative for the Canadian Province of Ontario, The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell on Tuesday, 17 February 2015. Her Honour the 29th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, stayed for lunch at Buckingham Palace, and was introduced to the private secretaries of senior members of the Royal Family. The day after, Her Honour was welcomed in an audience by HRH The Prince of Wales In May 2015, Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Netherlands are due to pay a State Visit to Canada at the invitation of the Dominion’s Governor General, David Johnston and his spouse Sharon, who visited The Netherlands in October 2014. The State Visit shall take place from 27 to 29 May in the company of of the Batavian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aid, Lilianne Ploumen shall lead an economic mission, and Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Jet Bussemaker, an academic mission.  The State Visit and Dutch missions are being arranged in close collaboration with the ambassador to The Netherlands, HE Mr. James Lambert.  Personal Standard of The Queen of Canada   For more information:  Canada’s High Commission in London: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/index.aspx?lang=eng Opening of “Canada House”, 1925: https://twitter.com/BritishMonarchy/status/568351674483527680 Lieutenant Governor of Ontario: http://www.lgontario.ca/en/pages/default.aspx    

Rashid Al Khalifa, his realm of art from Bahrain to the world

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By Richard Noyce and Baron Henri Estramant.   Perhaps one of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s most well-known and prolific artists is Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa, a man behind realist, impressionist, individualist, and abstract pieces of art that have served to put his homeland in the map of artistic hubs worldwide. Particularly enhancing intercultural exchanges through his exhibitions, and often fostering cultural diplomacy in an indirect manner. The timeline presented on his website, illustrated by key works in his œuvre, gives a concise account of his development as an artist, as well as his other roles and activities, and delineates the phases through which his devotion to painting has gone. While this account is illuminating and of contextual interest, it has to be considered not only in terms of the rapid development of Bahrain during his lifetime, but also against the wider context of evolution in the international art world. It is important to note that this artist has concentrated on painting as the medium through which to express his inspiration from the natural world and the world of perception. He has so far not allowed himself to be diverted into the currently fashionable mediums of installation or time-based media such as video that too often grab the headlines in the press and broadcast media. Instead he has been steadfast in his use of paint on a surface, and the exploration of this medium as a way of modulating colour and light to convey emotional and observational reflections of the world as he sees it, and, importantly, to communicate this to others through his works. This is not to say that Rashid Al Khalifa has become stuck in a rut, as some of his international contemporaries have done and who, having found a style that works and is commercially successful, continue to use it with very little development. Instead, he has gone on exploring the possibilities of paint, and the manner in which an essentially limited range of materials – paint to paint with and a surface to paint on – can be used to create works of art. The decisions that he has made have been considered, each one developing logically from the preceding ones, and have led to a dynamic evolution in his approach to the making of art. It is significant that his commitment to the making of his own paintings has been accompanied by a parallel commitment to the advancement of the cultural life of his country through his founding role in the “Bahrain Art Society”, and more recently in the development of the online monthly art journal, artbahrain.org; which, together with its biannual print editions, highlights the work of artists and events in Bahrain, in the Gulf area, and internationally. Thus helping to promote cross-border cultural understanding as well as the personal contacts amongst the artists from a variety of nationalities and backgrounds based in the Gulf region.   For Rashid Al Khalifa Works: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157650635683857/   The new paintings At the beginning of 2014 the artist made a series of paintings on a unified theme, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his marriage. Each painting, 60cm square, intended for display as a grid of 5 x 6 elements, was made on a convex chrome surface and comprised a heart shape in a range of pastel colours with an interlaced set of dripped lines in enamel that are of necessity made swiftly, and which can be seen to refer to the fabric of society and relationships: as the artist says, ‘Lines are endless, they can go into infinity and create an endless story.’ This work, that has deep personal connotations for the artist, played an interesting interim part in his work of that year, and led on to a further set of paintings on convex chrome, lacquered in a range of greys, once again featuring the motif of the circle in the square. Devoid of colour, and perhaps more sharply because of this, these paintings offer a quietly meditative proposition to the viewer. The strength of Rashid Al Khalifa’s work lies in its simple and yet complex initial appearance that on deeper consideration reveals a powerful evocation of abstract form and colour, which reaches out from the walls of the places in which it is seen and into the experience of those who encounter it. Such directness of expression and communication, with such a diversity of potential personal interpretation, is to be welcomed. This is work with a truly international relevance that offers much to consider, slowly and with open eyes, in an art world that, like so much else, is sometimes prone to rapid changes of taste and fashion. By contrast, the work of this artist has a strong quality that has the power to withstand the passage of time, remaining thought-provoking and relevant, offering stillness and strength that transcends all boundaries. About the artist: His Excellency Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Isa AL KHALIFA (b. 1952) is currently Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs at the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Bahrain. He is married to Her Excellency Sheikha Lulwa bint Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, only daughter of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman, Prime Minister of Bahrain. Together they are parents to six children, Sheikh Abdullah, Sheikh Khalifa, Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikha Noor, Sheikha Hessa and Sheikha Aisha. As a government official he served also at the former Ministry of Culture as Undersecretary for Tourism and Antiquities. He is a grandson of Bahrain’s Hakim (Ruler), Sheikh Sir Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (reigned 1932-1942). Sheikh Rashid serves as Honorary President for Bahrain Arts Society. He lives in Rifa’a just outside of Manama, Bahrain’s capital city. He began experimenting with art at an early age in Bahrain, and moved to professional instruction in the south of England (University of Hastings).   A book entitled Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, 40 years of painting, from himself, by himself, for himself (ISBN 978-99901-03-52-6) showcases his life’s œuvre.   For more information: Homepage of Rashid Al Khalifa: www.rashidalkhalifa.com Bahrain Arts Society: www.bahartsociety.org.bh Art Bahrain: http://artbahrain.org/home/ Wikipedia profile: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashid_bin_Khalifa_Al_Khalifa Well-known persons: http://www.wellknownpersons.com/person/lsp.Rashid_bin_Khalifa_Al_Khalifa.sq75954.htm   Richard Noyce is a writer and artist, who has for the past thirty years written about the international visual arts. His reviews, interviews and features have appeared in press and online journals in a number of countries. In recent years he has specialised in writing about Polish Art, including two major books on painting and graphic art in that country, and international contemporary printmaking, on which he has written three well-received books. He is also an experienced international competition juror, curator, conference speaker and lecturer.)