With the opening of the “Folktales Reimagined” exhibition at the 36th Guadalajara International Book Fair, the House of Wisdom in Sharjah and the Guadalajara City Museum have joined forces with the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and the Mexico chapter of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) to promote intercultural dialogue.
Bodour Al Qasimi, founder and honorary president of UAEBBY and president of the International Publishers Association (IPA), inaugurated the display as part of Sharjah’s Guest of the Honor program at the book expo in Mexico, which ends today, December 4.
It was widely praised for culturally enhancing the folkloric histories of the UAE and Italy when Folktales Reimagined was initially released earlier this year in conjunction with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in Italy.
The current edition comprises the works of five commissioned UAE artists who have reinvented and produced artworks revolving around Mexican stories and fables to foster creative interchange between the UAE and Mexico. Five Latin American artists who have illustrated five works about Emirati folktales are also featured in the exhibition.
The cross-cultural initiative, which requests that artists from two very different cultures reimagine each other’s most well-known folk tales, was developed due to the collaborative relationships formed during the Sharjah World Book Capital.
A new generation of artists retells historical tales in the collaborative exhibition using their perspectives and experiences. This genuine cross-cultural exchange of ideas reflects the sociocultural values of Mexico and the Emirati.