Indeed, the exhibited works are remarkably upbeat: “The main aim was to give the girls a sense of achievement and perhaps keep their minds occupied for a short while,” says Simon, the artist who led the sessions and sought to bring out some buried creativity in these women. “When I first started the workshops I didn’t know what to expect. Most of the girls had never painted before in their lives.
“Although many sad stories circled the air, what was most rewarding was seeing the power of the human spirit and how brave these girls are.”
Tonight’s exhibition is organised and supported by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation. All proceeds from sale of the works go to funding the efforts of Ewa’a in helping those escaping modern slavery.