Maldives Artist Community (MAC), an NGO that supports local talent by finding and offering free platforms to showcase their work, in collaboration with Manta Air, has unveiled the “Ocean Eyes” exhibition by Samiyya Shehenaaz aka Sam at Angsana Velavaru.
Sam, local artist, mostly known for her warm and dreamy turtle subjects, painted in sundry tropical hues, has introduced her debut solo exhibition titled “Ocean Eyes” to the guests of Angsana Velavaru.
After exhibiting her pieces at ‘Unveiling Visions’ exhibition held in 2017 by NGO Maldivian Artist Community (MAC), Sam stepped into the field as a professional artist. The “Ocean Eyes” was first held at Lecute’s store in Male’ city and has since drawn a lot of attention, with Sam’s paintings shared all across social media.
“I love to create meaningful art pieces that speak to people. Most of my work often has a message or a hidden meaning behind it. I love using the ocean as a way of delivering these messages to people. Mother nature often has her own way of explaining situations and life itself, which happens to capture my attention a lot. Everyone sees the world in their own perspective and I do my best to show people what I see through my eyes and my heart, make people move with just colours laid next to each other.” explains Sam.
Dr. Steve Newman, Banyan Tree’s Group Sustainability Director and Coordinating Director of Banyan Tree Global Foundation mentioned that supporting long-term societal prosperity is central to Banyan Tree’s ability to create value for local communities and this is achieved by empowering them through job creation, education, supporting artisanal cooperatives, community impact initiatives, humanitarian relief and connecting travelers to local culture and heritage.
The new collaboration between Angsana Velavaru and MAC (Maldives Artist Community) further enhances the local cultural experience and brings an array of art events such as painting classes and art workshops. With MAC’s permanent art exhibition at Kuredhi bar, guests will have the opportunity to purchase the artworks and with their contribution, support the local artist community.
