‘Met by the Ocean’ marks the first collaborative art initiative for emerging visual storytellers in Yemen. The initiative connects the Yemeni art scene with the art scene in the Netherlands by pairing up three Yemeni artists with three Dutch artists, whose artistic practices represent a rich range of mediums ranging from painting, photography and writing to design and film. Through intimate correspondences with each other, the artists explored the intricacies and opportunities of engaging in a collaborative storytelling approach with an artistic peer thousands of kilometers away. The participants were supported and mentored by Yemeni artist Thana Faroq based in the Netherlands, who encouraged them to create a playful, engaging and experimental artwork that responds to the notion of ‘ Home’ In a stroke of memory and horizon
In Alifya’s and Eman's series, they invite the viewer to come with them on their collaborative journey of understanding what home means to them. Alifya used her photography as a medium of discovery and Eman, her paintings. Both being of Yemeni origin but raised behind very different cultural backdrops, they wanted to put into conversation the similarities and differences between their lives. In the process of doing so they explore themes of family, religion, national identity, and the longing for home.
Full project to be seen on: Met by the ocean
