“SEIF” Featuring work by 3 extraordinary Arab artists Azzam Al-Mannai (Qatar), Ismail Al-Rifai (Syria) and Ismail Azzam (Iraq)

Azzam Al-Mannai, holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. However, he developed a deep passion for photography and capturing the beauty of nature, which led him to create breathtaking aerial images, landscapes, and underwater scenes. Al-Mannai’s work has appeared in reputable publications and media outlets, such as: CNN; National Geographic; Al Jazeera Documentary Channel; The New York Times. As an artist he is constantly motivated to develop his artistic practice, always searching for new opportunities and possibilities.

Ismail Azzam is a well-known Iraqi curator and artist with extensive experience and knowledge of working with museums and galleries. He is one of the most important contemporary portrait artists, renowned for his outstanding skills in painting prominent regional figures. Azzam’s works have been exhibited both locally and internationally, and he has taught art in several countries. He is also an important member of the Artists Syndicate and Association in Iraq.

The artist and author, Ismail Al-Rifai, is known for the diversity and richness in his works and his long experience in the contemporary art scene, both in visual art and written works. His impressive accolades include, The Dubai Culture Award in 2015, first prize in the annual exhibition of the Emirates Fine Arts Society in 2013, and the Sharjah Prize for Arab Creativity for his novel “Drawers of Clay” in 2006. He is a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Damascus in 1991.