Tag Archives: Kuwait

Generating Art Project

Come Fall, I’m planning to walk around the city and neighborhoods and take pictures of the various artwork one can find around Kuwait. I touched on this on my last post “Musings“.

One of my projects is to explore the art that covers up the electricity generators/hubs in neighborhoods. You could be walking around the city and you pass this on your walk. Art Kuwait City Electricity Generator HubWould you even notice it at first glance? Would you wonder what was inside?
Would you think it was an electricity generator/hub? I’ve had many friends who lived in Kuwait for years without noticing them until they were pointed out. The art serves its objective at disguising the hubs and not drawing attention to the buildings that stick out like a sore thumb.

Some of the artwork that is painted on these generators represent Kuwait’s history. Others promote national unity, with patriotic messages. Others still have religious messages and/or morals. Sometimes it just depends on what neighborhood you’re in. One of my plans is to visit different neighborhoods and see which ones stand out.

I’m not sure who is in charge of painting the artwork. Is it funded by the government or sponsored by various organizations? Maybe it’s the neighborhoods that decide? I have no idea. Hopefully I’ll learn more when I start researching them.

Here is a close-up of the artwork pictured above. I’ll make more of an effort in the Fall to take better photos. I just zoomed in for this one. The text above the clenched fist says “الكويت يد واحدة” that is “Kuwait is one hand“.

Art Kuwait City The hand has been colored with Kuwait’s flag: black on the left, green on top, white center, red on bottom. Below in orange, you can see a skyline of Kuwait.

If you look at the blue section near the palm tree, you’ll see the same flag is painted on an outline of Kuwait.

I’m excited to discover all the different artworks available in neighborhoods. It will also force me to truly look around and see what’s around me.

Yesterday

Imam Sadeq Mosque

Yesterday was a tragic day in Kuwait’s history.

During Friday prayers, a suicide bomber walked into Imam Sadiq Mosque and killed 27 people and injuring over 200. ISIS quickly took responsibility for the incident rejoicing at having struck out at a Shi’ite mosque.

What the “Islamic State” don’t grasp is that it doesn’t matter what mosque it was or what Muslim faction was praying there. When you strike at Muslims (especially during prayers in the holy month of Ramadan) you are striking at Muslims. A strike on Kuwait soil is a strike against Kuwait. And that is unacceptable.

The response to the incident has been overwhelming. The people of Kuwait rallied around the victims of this senseless tragedy and their families. I have never been more proud of Kuwait and its residents, both citizens and expats. The Amir was among the first to visit the site of the tragedy. The Kuwait Central Blood Bank initially said they would open after iftar at 7:30pm but had to open immediately due to the overwhelming presence of all the donors that showed up at its doors clamoring to help in any way they could. Doctors, emergency personnel, and security forces all came out in droves to help out in any way they could. Sunnis and Shiites stood together in prayer in response to this attempt at sectarian division.

The outpouring of support and unity is a testament to the Kuwaiti spirit.