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Duqm – 30 November 2022 

As part of the events accompanying "Amad Duqm 22", the activities of the Nufoon Sculptors' Forum concluded in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. The Event was attended by a group of international sculptors from Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania and Tunisia, in addition to a number of the most prominent Omani sculptors. The sculptors came out with wonderful marble art forms that mimic the geological nature of Duqm.

Artist Khalil bin Salim Al Kalbani, one of the sculptors participating in the Forum, expressed his happiness at participating with a group of international sculptors. He also pointed out that the Forum allowed him to benefit from sculptors who came from various international sculptural schools.

"I presented a sculpture entitled "From the Periphery to the Self". The idea that I wanted to convey through this work is related to the reality we live in," he added.

“I relied on the overlapping linear movement and employing the aesthetics of mass and void. The sculpture was named to express the reality in which we live. The term “surroundings” that we interact with and the term, “self” came to express man and his suffering during “Covid 19” and beyond. There are many concepts that need a clear explanation that we may all disagree on. There is no definitive indication or a clear and direct concept from which we can derive certain information. Social media platforms broadcast daily pictures and messages and a huge amount of information. This situation does not make us differentiate between malicious rumors and correct information. We live in a very big state of interference and ambiguity, and everyone is still searching for the truth," he added.

Mohamed Sahnoun, a   calligrapher and sculptor, a professor at the Higher Institute of Arts and Crafts from the Republic of Tunisia, expressed his happiness at having the opportunity to participate in the Nufoon Sculptor Forum alongside with a wonderful group of international sculptors. He pointed out that his sculpture was inspired from Arabic calligraphy and the rock garden in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. He also showed that his sculpture was divided into two parts, a base and a column, with a height of 3 metres.

For his part, the German sculptor, Klaus Hesnicker, expressed his happiness with his participation for the second time in the sculpture Forums in the Sultanate of Oman. Klaus presented at the Nufoon Sculptor Forum an artwork consisting of 3 pieces that reflect the development and growth that different things go through in life. 

“The idea of ​​his sculpture is that things start with a foundation and base on which they are based and then grow and develop with the passage of time. This is like the life cycle of trees that begins with a seed we plant in the ground”, he added.

While the Romanian sculptor, Ana Maria Negara, expressed her admiration for the sculptors' Forum in Duqm. Negara presented a wonderful 3-meter-high artistic sculpture that reflects the movement of water from the bottom of the earth and upwards through its fine details. Directing the work required a lot of effort, time, accuracy and patience to produce an artistic object of the utmost beauty.

The Special Economic Zone at Duqm had organised a number of visits to the Sculptor Forum. The visits programme included a number of school students and members of the Omani Women's Association in Duqm. Participants expressed their admiration for the aesthetics of these sculptures, which will be transferred to decorate a number of sites in the Special Economic Zone in Duqm.

The village of Nufoon also received many tourists and visitors to see the sculptures that reflect the geological nature of the Sultanate of Oman.

The participating sculptors produced works of art of different sizes, ranging in height from 2-3 meters. The Forum also included holding workshops by the participating sculptors to introduce visitors from the local community, employees of companies operating in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, and school students to the art of sculpture and the works executed in the Forum.