Sharjah: The General Secretariat of the Sharjah Award for Artistic Criticism Research has officially revealed the winners of its sixteenth session. This prestigious award is organised by the Department of Culture under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
According to Emirates News Agency, the announcement was made following a meeting held by the General Secretariat with the award's judging committee at the Department of Culture. The meeting was convened to review the committee's report, which outlined the judging process and identified the names of the winners.
Azzedine Bourka from Morocco secured the first place for his research titled 'Manifestations of Heritage and Moving Identity in Contemporary Arab Visual Patterns: A Cultural Approach'. The second place was awarded to Ahmed Gamal Eid from Egypt for his research on 'Visual Memory: Arab Heritage in the Manifestations of Contemporary Plastic Art'. Riad Ben Haj Ahmed from Tunisia won the third place for his study 'The Image of the Horse in Contemporary Arab Arts: Towards Deconstructing the Symbol and Creating a Different Discourse'.
Mohammed Al Qasir, Director of Cultural Affairs at the Department of Culture and Secretary-General of the Award, emphasized the significance of the award in promoting critical culture within Arab fine arts. Al Qasir highlighted that the award has enriched the Arab critical library with contributions from over fifty critics, showcasing its unique role in the artistic and creative landscape of the Arab world.
He further explained that the judging committee employed a rigorous mechanism to select the winning research based on scientific and critical criteria. These criteria included the alignment with the session's theme, the depth of intellectual exploration, methodological clarity, and linguistic accuracy.
The committee evaluated 46 candidates for this year's award, demonstrating the vibrant nature of visual arts criticism in the Arab world and reflecting the overall quality of the nominated research.