Ever seen US President Barak Obama in traditional Arabic attire? Well, head to Gallery Meem in Dubai for a display of portraits that captures not only President Obama, but various other world-famous celebrities wearing the traditional attire.
Others on show include Chinese leader Mao Zedong, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and, George W Bush.
The portraits are photographs ‘created’ by Emirati artist Mohammed Abdul Latif Kanoo.
Other portraits on show are those of Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Mohamed El-Baradei, Elizabeth Taylor, Sean Connery, Clint Eastwood, John Travolta, Will Smith and Angela Jolie and Susan Sarandon.
Kanoo’s exhibition is on till July 5.
Kanoo says that the idea originally began with a tinge of humor, but once he placed head-dress (ghotra and ekal) on the heads of the men, the perspective changed.
“Creating portraits of these historical figures raises the challenges of identity.
“The bottom line is that if tolerance is an important aspect of our faith as Arabs and Muslims, contemporary human difficulties are represented as common problems for all of humanity and that is what brings us together more than what divides us.”
He says, “I aimed at communicating a positive experience with the public.
“A sense of humor is the best way to stimulate the imagination of viewers.”