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'MALDIVES'- ART AND ARTIST OF THE ISLAND NATION''' by Ahmed Suveyb

Though there has been no official research of history of arts in the Maldives, I am convinced that the lime stone carvings and the lacquer work designs done about 800 years ago are considered as visible evidence of our creative artworks. These art works reflects the fusion of religion and the way of life of the elite community. It was used as an attraction on decorative art works like; the lacquer designs used in the self-defensive weapons such as Addana (shield) sileyha (wooden weapon) and on some customary occasions like Eid Festival,bondibaiygandukurehun (garnishing of rice pudding), which was very popular in the Maldives at that era. Decoration of “Anbalama”, a huge pyramid form of white sand collected and decorated with a banana tree on top and the sides, decorated with fruits and vegetable to mark the coming of Ramadan (month of fasting).

Speaking to me on 3rd of August 2012,Sarudharu Donmanik (my father)who writes his initial as “SDM” said that the two artists he knew before him are his Father Sarudhaaru Tutthu and Grandfather Maakanaa Kuda Thuttheedhi. Sarudhaaru Tutthu was a renowned and a popular lime stone carver and Maakana Kuda Thuttheedhi is a specialist doing lacquer designs on Copper shields, Dhunkani and Asaa (walking stick). He showed me the original pencil designs drawn by Kuda Thuttheedhi for lacquer works. These works and cultures have inspired many Maldivians and as a result, some few people like Noonuthaa Mohamed Didi, Sarudhaaru Don Manik commonly called as Sarudhaaru Dhombe came up with a new dimension and started working with pen, pencil, ink and enamel paint. During the days of Sultan Mohamed Fareed, calligrapher Thabah Ali fulhu and Noonuthaa Mohamed Didi were working in the Government press (chaapukhaanaa). Mohamed Didi (noonuthaa) was a teacher (amateur) and did several portraits with pen and ink and pencil. Later during the time of President Mohamed Amin (1953) an art lover, he asked Sarudhaaru Dhombe, Bodubaisa Ali Waheed and Dhon Moosa Fulhu to join the press (chaapukhaanaa) as illustrators to work with Thabah Ali Fulhu.

Apart from the work at the press, these artists were given opportunities to do decorative art on national ceremonies, stage decorations and installations(Gidige). In the era of President Mohamed Amin Didi; he decided to print currency notes and stamps designed by local artists, he then asked Thabah Ali Fulhu, Bodubaisa Ali Waheed and Sarudhaaru Dhonbe to design. Later they were asked to design stamps too.Sarudhaaru Dhombe still has some original works of his stamps which was done in the 1950’s. Visual Art was used as a disguise and as a protection of the country during the Second World War by President Amin Didi asking the artist to paint, a 80 feet long warship on cardboard and assembling it on the beach of the capital Male’ to create fear for the foreign vessels entering Maldives water. With the help from Sarudhaaru Dhombe these are the fine Artists of Maldives from the 1930’s or mid twentieth century; to name them, are; Noonuthaa Mohamed Didi, calligrapher Thabah Ali fulhu, Noonuthaa Ali Didi, Sarudhaaru Don Manik, Bodubaisa Ali Waheed, Dhamila Adam Fulhu, DhonMoosaFulhu, KudadhummaariThuttheedhi, Kudanevi Naseer, Noonuthaa Hassan Didi. Chiliya Moosa Manik and Mohamed Waheed (kurahaa) who came into the scene about a decade after them and most surprisingly, they are all self-taught artists.

Out of all the artists, the courageous, no looking back typed Sarudhaaru Dhombe started practicing commercial art, such as; stenciling on gunny bags for the export of fish, pencil sketching for “vora viyafaariverin” Indian merchants, designs for traditional kites. He then started painting with enamel on cupboards, which was a huge attraction for the public. On one side of the door of the cupboard is glass and on the back of the glass he paints sceneries of Maldives and sometimes gardens too. Then he started painting scenery's of Maldives on cowries and other shells which were mostly sold to the Britons who were stationed at Addu Atoll during the Second World War. Later when tourism was introduced in the 70’s he started developing souvenir art and crafts. By now, two individual artists Maizan Hassan Manik and Ahmed Abbas emerged as two popular artists. They introduced the modern methods of pen and ink and all two started as illustrators and then they both turned into amateur architects and interior designers. Late 90’s Hassan and Abbas introduced Art Gallery to the Maldives by naming the first gallery as “Esjehi Art Gallery”. Just after or almost when the second generation was working another batch (mid 1970’s) of individual artists emerged and they are Ahmed Najah, HussainAfeef, Ismail Abdul Gadir, Thaalhafili Ali Manik, Easa Shareef and Hussain Rasheed. Ibrahim Rasheed (Ibu) and Mohamed Madeeh came up in late seventies. Most of them painted sceneries and later they started to paint portraits of dignitaries, specially the leaders of the world who visited Maldives while Ibu and Madeeh concentrated on designs for T-shirts for hand printing.

As a result of introduction of Tourism in 1972 by President Ibrahim Nasir (1958 – 1978), Artists and Craftsmen had a better opportunity to work for the souvenir industry of the sector. Introduction of Tourism had a very positive impact and contributed to the field of Arts, hence it has helped to revive and sustain the cultural art and the skills of most Maldivian Artists. In 1974, Sarudhaaru Don Manik did a hand print of a Shark head (tones of brown) on a T-shirt which was the introduction of commercial hand printing in the Maldives. Pioneer SDM said that he recalls Saikura Naeem (personal secretary of the late President Nasir) came to him and said “I want you to print a fish reading Maldives on top of it”. As there was no fabric color available he told that it’s very hard to produce in quantity. After one week Naeem came to him with a bottle of Brown, Black, Red and Blue and the brand tag of it was removed. He has to return the empty container to get a new color container. When asked about the brand name of the color, Naeem said “sorry I cannot reveal it”. Later during the 80’s hand printing developed and was done on Sarongs and Kurthas, it became very popular among the tourists and had a great demand.

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (1978 – 2008) had a passion for art, therefore; he had a policy encouraging artists to show their talent and skill though he did not encourage expression. He commissioned Artists to paint portraits of world leaders of other nations invited by the government, for his residence, office and bought many artworks. His policies had an indirect but positive message to revive and to introduce Art in different forms, such as; floats for National occasions, Installation art (Gidige), Souvenir art and the National Art and Craft Exhibition. Till mid 90’s the National Art and Craft exhibition was held every two years. The exhibition concept contributed incalculably to the revival and sustainability of art and craft community, hence; it was an excellent platform to showcase the art works of the creative artistic minds of the country. The exhibition concept was ceased in the mid 90’s, which sounded disarray for the artists and the creativity of the country.

A passionate modern water colorist by the name Mauroof Jameel appeared on the scene on early 80’s and later he turned to a professional Architect. In the meantime Mohamed Shafeeq (Sappe), Abdul Hannan, Ahmed Tholal, Mohamed Rafeeu and Mohamed Gasim, all with virtuous academic artistic background turned to professional Architects together with MauroofJameel (Maai). Most of them did water color and some did pen and ink too. By converting and changing the architectural concept of Maldives with modern contemporary designs and thoughts, these artist have revolutionized the present landscape of Maldives especially Male’ and HulhuMale’.Mohamed Shafeeg (Sappe) is considered as a prominent Architect in the region and worldwide.

After about half a decade another artist by the name Naushad Waheed came into the high light with a controversial painting of then President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and created a signature style of his own. With the conviction of his elder brother Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik who is also a hobby artist, Naushad formed the first Art academy in the Maldives and it was named as “Naushad Art Academy”. Hassan Shameem (pink coral) and Ahmed Asif got themselves established by revolutionizing the designs for T-shirts and introduced a modern contemporary concept.

Maldives was getting ready to mark the new Millennium and the Ministry of Defense and National Security invited artists to show their talent and skills at a pavilion named as “Maldives Story”. The 300 feet long pavilion consisted of painting, murals, relief works and installation from our history. This was the biggest art event in the history of Maldives till today.

In 2004 Maldives had its first National Art Gallery. Mohamed Mamdhooh, the in-charge of the NAG initiated documentation of living artists and their work for the first time in history. In the year 1998 Government of Maldives introduced a ministry by the name Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture and a separate division by the name National Centre for Arts was established.By late 2005 Maldives was on the verge of getting a democracy, which echoed a sound of hope and optimism for the Art community to express their thoughts and feelings.

In the year 2000 a young generation of art enthusiastic group who worked at the Maldives Story formed a movement in 2000 to promote and aware about visual Art in the Maldives. Most of them inspired by the sacrifice and the commitment of the maestro Sarudhaaru Dhombe named the movement as “United Artists of Maldives” and it was the first art movement in the history of Maldives. Founders of the movement are Naushad, Suveyb, Naeem, Hussain Ali Manik, Shujau, Afeef and Dhunya Maumoon. Most of them were from the School Majeediyya, students of a Sri Lankan art teacher Mr. Swampillai, who was the master who introduced and taught how to use different mediums, basics and fundamentals of art.

When the movement was registered most people; independent agencies, government authorities, private institutes and schools knew that there is a group of artists whom they can ask for assistance, which made the art scene grow. Major competitions organized by different organizations and school were judged by the group (UAM).

The most powerful effects of the group was felt in the success of outreach and the formation of a serious regional program by organizing Art camps and exhibitions at home and in their neighboring countries like Bangladesh, China, India and Sri Lanka. Their hard work and commitment speaks of keen intention and need, to see art grow within Maldives as a powerful mode of expression which reflects the essence of this wonderful country. I shall say that the group’s biggest achievement was the exposure of Maldivian art.-“Going International”. The five distinguished artists who revolutionized the present Art scene in Maldives are Ahmed Naeem, Ahmed Shujau, Ahmed Suveyb, Hussain Afeef (from the third generation) and Hussain Ali Manik who are also, the founders of UAM.