Abu Dhabi, UAE - 2016
If I knew the cultural foundation would shut down, I would have taken all the pictures when I was younger. The past couple of weeks I participated in a festival that took place in this beautiful building. When kids weren't around, I found myself trying to remember everything that happened in this place and relate it to who I am (the person I choose to be).
I realized that everything that I currently am, started here. My passion for art, cinema, photography, and books; all originated here.
I watched Lion King, A Bug's life, Toy Story, Star Wars, Ants, Matilda etc here. My mother and grandma used to take us out on Thursdays as a treat. We'd make our own popcorn sometimes, and other times, we'd buy it from the mini-canteen. After a film, we cross the road for shawarmas & Baskin Robins. My mother remembers the first time I watched something in the cinema, she says I'd always ask about the time. She never got why I did that, till one day, I told her that it was to make sure we can stay longer.
I attended every single International book fair here. I had my monthly allowance, then I had 'buy books from the book fair' allowance.
I took drawing, calligraphy and film photography classes here. It was a walking distance away from our apartment and the first time my mother let me walk to alone (this is huge when your mother is paranoid of every single thing around you). I shot & developed my first film roll here.
I watched plays here. I don't remember many of the plays, but I remember it being a little scary when actors would pop-out of no where and ~interact~ with the audience.
Pretty sure I attended my first gallery exhibitions here. My mother and I would take our time, looking at the art while my sister ran through the hall.
These photographs don't do the place any justice, but I tried. Thank you mama and jaddah for every single day you took us to the cultural foundation and for every single fils you spent to make sure we were learning & growing and having a good time.