Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi has inaugurated Folktales Reimagined, a cross-cultural exhibition in Warsaw that brings together artists from the UAE and Poland to reinterpret each other’s folk narratives through contemporary illustration. Presented at the National Library of Poland, the exhibition forms part of Sharjah’s Guest of Honour programme at the 2026 Warsaw International Book Fair and highlights the growing role of visual storytelling in international cultural exchange.
Developed through a collaboration between the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and the Polish Section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), the exhibition features works by 12 Emirati and Polish artists. Rather than illustrating stories from their own traditions, participating artists were invited to engage with folklore from other cultures, creating new visual interpretations that bridge geographical and linguistic boundaries.
Speaking at the opening, Sheikha Bodour, Founder and Honorary President of UAEBBY, emphasised the enduring significance of folk narratives as cultural memory.
“Folktales represent the memory of nations and their timeless human voice,” she said. “They do not merely preserve stories, but carry the values, emotions, and experiences that have shaped societies across generations.”
Folk Narratives Through a Cross-Cultural Lens
The exhibition explores how traditional stories from different regions often share common themes, including resilience, identity, morality, and human aspiration. Consequently, the participating artists approached the narratives as opportunities for dialogue rather than simple illustration.
Among the featured works is Polish artist Joanna Czaplewska’s interpretation of the Emirati tale Netifan. The story follows a sultan’s son who overcomes ridicule and betrayal through courage and ingenuity. Czaplewska translated the narrative into a richly layered composition dominated by red, yellow, and green tones, depicting the protagonist carrying a magical palm branch while confronting a series of challenges.
Notably, many artists chose to portray characters from the other culture in the traditional attire of their own country. As a result, the artworks create visual hybrids that reveal shared human experiences while celebrating cultural distinctions.
“This was a great opportunity to get to know, a little bit closer, a different culture,” Czaplewska said. “And I felt really honoured to be among those illustrators who got this opportunity. It was really lovely.”
Contemporary Illustration as Cultural Exchange
The exhibition also includes Emirati artist Khalid Mezaina’s interpretation of the Polish legend The Basilisk of Warsaw. In his version, the young hero appears in traditional Emirati dress, complete with a khanjar, as he confronts the mythical creature that terrorises the city.
Furthermore, Folktales Reimagined continues a long-running international initiative launched by UAEBBY in 2019. Previous editions connected Emirati artists with creative counterparts from Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Greece, Russia, and Morocco.
By encouraging artists to reimagine stories beyond their own cultural frameworks, the project demonstrates how illustration can function as a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy. At the same time, it reinforces Sharjah’s commitment to fostering international artistic dialogue through literature, design, and visual culture.
The exhibition remains on view at the National Library of Poland as part of Sharjah’s wider cultural programme at the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026.