Curators Statement
The tradition of storytelling in the region is an ancient as its sands and seas. Zayed University’s Al Kharareef Storytelling Club was created to enrich and contribute to the revival of the cultural heritage of the storytelling tradition within the United Arab Emirates.
Last year, the Club in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation launched a collection of original fairytales and fables featuring folkloric characters from the UAE. The stories were written and illustrated by Zayed University students from various disciplines and translated by ZOWD volunteers into the language of its characters, Emirati dialect.
The project has continued to grow and this collection of 50 illustrations is a compilation of some of the best art that has been developed for this endeavor. It consists of stories that were carefully crafted from the imagination of our visual artists to bring to life iconic characters from the rich oral tradition of Emirati folklore, while preserving other key aspects of Emirati culture The Story Mile art collection stands as a testament to the wealth of creativity and talent that lies in the Emirates and the success of the training provided by the College of Arts and Creative Enterprises.
Take a journey across the four corners of the Emirates with the characters of the Story Mile and re-discover the jinn from the bygone days of childhood as they honor the traditional heritage, culture and values of this land of many blessings. Step into a world crafted from the imaginations of our 26 Emirati visual storytellers as their characters guide you on a voyage of remembrance and celebration of the best of storytelling art in these sumptuous tales.
THE STORY MILE ISEA EXHIBITION:
- Amna Mohammed Al Tunaiji – When Mountains Speak
- Amna Mohammed Al Suwaidi – Saber The Brave
- Amna Mohammed Al Suwaidi – Nahessa The Nanny Owl
- Amna Mohammed Al Tunaiji – Al Rouaa´s Kids
- Anoud Abdulmalik Al Obaidly – The Sacrifice
- Ayesha Ahmad Matar Al Mehairi – The Gentle Giant
- Aysha Saif Al Hamrani – The Queen Of The Jinn
- Aysha Saif Al Hamrani – The Fateful Decision
- Aysha Saif Al Hamrani – Al Kharareef Storytelling Club
- Aysha Saif Al Hamrani – Al Medfah
- Aysha Saif Al Hamrani – Loving The Wrong Perons
- Aysha Saif Al Hamrani – The Fat Camel
- Aysha Saif Al Hamrani – Al Roua´a
- Arwa Ahmed Al Amoodi – Mzraat Salama
- Aysha Saif Al Hamrani – Aisha & The Ghaf Tree
- Dana Naser Al Mazrouei – The Mangrove Masquerade
- Dana Naser Al Mazrouei – Fatouh
- Dana Naser Al Mazrouei – Sheikh Saher And The Hyena
- Dana Naser Al Mazrouei – The Spirit Of The Nation
- Eman Abdulrahman Al Ali – The Story Mile
- Fatima Mohamed Al Hameli – In The Souq
- Khawla Ali Al Marzouqi – A Box Full Of Memories
- Khawla Ali Al Marzouqi – The Hidden Enemy
- Khawla Ali Al Marzouqi – Mansour & Abu Ras
- Khulood Ghuloom Al Janahi – Marwa´s Ghost
- Khulood Ghuloom Al Janahi – Saleh´s Adventure
- Khulood Ghuloom Al Janahi – The Troublemakers
- Maitha Ali Al Attar – Meera´s Tale
- Mariam Fahed Al Zaabi – Koosa Boosa
- Mariam Mohamed Al Bin Ali – Sheikh Kasain´s Regret
- Mayyada AbdulHakeem Al Khateeri – Ghareeb
- Nauf Abdulrahman Al Shaikh – Donkey Noon
- Nauf Abdulrahman Al Shaikh – A Mother´s Love
- Nauf Abdulrahman Al Shaikh – Legend Of Khor Fakkan
- Nauf Abdulrahman Al Shaikh – My Secret Transition
- Nauf Abdulrahman Al Shaikh – My Secret Transition 2.0
- Nauf Abdulrahman Al Shaikh – Mansour & Abu Karbah
- Noora Abdulla Al Ali – Storymile Cover Art Design
- Noora Abdulla Al Ali – ISEA SM Poster Designs
- Nouf Ahmed Al Dhaheri – The Guardian Of The Liwa Fort
- Nouf Ahmed Al Dhaheri – The Heart Of A Woman
- Sara Mohammed Al Zaabi – The Jinni & The Abaya
- Sara Saif Buaseeba Al Ali – Loud Lesson
- Sara Saif Buaseeba Al Ali – The Fourth Room
- Sara Saif Buaseeba Al Ali – The Haunted Coffee Shop
- Sara Saif Buaseeba Al Ali – The Forth Room
- Sara Saif Buaseeba Al Ali – Loud Lesson
- Shaikha Khalifa Al Suwaidi – The Guardian Of The Mangroves
- Shemma Mohamed Bin Masoud – The Orphan Protector
- Shemma Mohamed Bin Masoud – Hemrat Al Ghayla
- Sumaia Mohsen Al Amoodi – Collaboration Brings Happiness
- Rabab Salman Al Haddad – The Revenge
- Reem Naser Al Mazroui – The Storymile
- Al Kharareef Storytelling Club, Zayed University, UAE library.zu.ac.ae/record=b1653326~S2
- ADMAF, Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, UAE admaf.org