Reflections from an artist visiting Kuwait

Traveling to the Middle East is never done with an easy mind even though I have to admit that I have exhibited in these regions before, in Jiddah and Riyadh in 1999 and again in Riyadh in 2001.

The very first thing that strikes you is the scents in the air; the air is not dry as you would expect, it is humidified by the Arab gulf that embeds the periphery of the small country like the outside of a horse shoe.

The air is as foreign as the tales of Ali Baba, spices and expulsions of exotic plants mingle and mix, carried with the scent of the turquoise seas and a desert far beyond.

The second thing that strikes you is the marble-clad, clean buildings that display an obvious opulent wealth and a mix of modern Western building techniques where the habitual patterns of the Kuwait traditions has managed to grab a foothold in the architecture.
An obvious American influence is also prevalent and you can’t help but staring, at least for a while, as large American vehicles pass by, baffling even the luxurious European sports cars that also can be seen in numbers.

With the tensions in the Middle East and the not too distant war, you would expect customs officials to be at least very thorough and serious in their work, and as customs officials go, some intimidation can take place everywhere in the world but this is not so in Kuwait, at least not during my entry to the country. They are surprisingly warm and welcoming, albeit of course professional at their job, you leave them with a good feeling and get a smile and a wish of a happy stay to follow you as you exit the airport.

I was here by invitation from the Royal Danish Consulate in Kuwait. I came with my range of hand crafted Tiramisu sculpture furniture, the “La Lumiere” series of lamps, a sculpture and paintings on canvas and hand made paper. I also had my son Daniel with me, who at the age of 18 already is a seasoned professional artist; he has exhibited world-wide since he was 11 and actually sold every piece he has ever done.

Taking on a new country for an exhibition with a son, furniture, lamps, paintings on canvas and paper in acrylic and ink is not an easy task; you have a two-day blitz of an exhibition and it’s up to you to take responsibility for working up each and every sale. I think this is why I like it so much; each time is a clean slate and it is a tremendous challenge to sell out, or just to break even.

A big issue is “beating the drums”, I’ve never exhibited in Kuwait and do not expect the public to ever have heard of me, no matter how many exhibitions and appearances in articles and on TV I have had elsewhere.
This time, or these days, I’m lucky. I have the fortune to have my own media manager and it’s his job to contact the papers and chase them until they turn up, give them material and then follow up after the visit.

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