UAE Background booklet so far: UAE_background_Version6
Overall messages/tensions
UAE has been cobbled together by colonial powers from 7 emirates that find it quite problematic to work together, because of historic rivalries. MKuch of what has been built has risen out of the desert because of a wish for self-aggrandisement by sheikhs like Sheikh Zayed. Sheikh Rashid of Dubai is however more progressive and visionary. Nevertheless there has been considerable and development and progress that is likely to continue and gradually democratise. The situation for women is quite conservative, but there are women airplane pilots and entrepreneurs coming up. The main issue seems to be the human rights of immigrant workers and an almost apartheidt system.
Colours
Red, Green, Black and White from the flag.
Shape dynamics
Horizontals of the desert and verticals of sky-scrapers.
Materials
Collage, tissue (the sheikhs seem to always have coloured tissues at hand), wallpaper textures.
Allies
- Sheikh Zayed (Abu Dhabi): pdf UAE_ShKZayed
- Sheikha Fatima (Zayed’s favourite wife): pdf UAE_ShKaFatima
- Sheikha Sanaa: pdf (Rashid’s daughter-in-law poet) UAE_ShKaSanaa
- Sheikh Rashid (Dubai forthcoming)
- Margaret MacKay (British Labour politician living in Abu Dhabi forthcoming)
- Ghaffar Hussain (planning minister forthcoming)
- Hugh Boughstead (ex British Army forthcoming)
Background Booklet pages so far
Page 1
This needs to be properly developed, but shows the prehistoric art against the skyscrapers. Should be something more on social/political situation too.
Page 2
initial issue overview in shape of dows
Page 3
British involvement from the beginning. Paper was painted with red acrylic, then crumpled and soaked in water. The map was varnished. The butterflies were from a glossy sheet from ‘Tidy Box’. I quite like the idea of these British butterflies flying in to ‘save the world’. This scan was a bit too contrasty, the original is more weathered.
Page 4
This scan is too desaturated – all these three pages are the same contrast. I used a printed frame with imperial maritime images. I had removed some earlier images and quite like the torm background.
Page 5
This page is more saturated, and covered with OHP transparency film to ‘protect the treaty’ like a photo frame.
Page 6
This page has a collage of blob paintings – I really like them individually, but I will probably rearrange them and maybe print. The original is not so contrasty.
Page 7
Page 8
This page needs a cartoon drawing of Shakhbut with his mirrors and chair, or the mirrors and chair without Shakhbut. I will probably do this in black pencil direct on the page as printing would be too difficult to place unless I can sort this issue out with my printer.
Page 9
I quite like the laughing British penguins here – busy bodies interfering in everything.
Page 10
This is just a digital mockup. Still to be done.
Page 11
This is just a digital mockup. Still to be done.
Page 12
Collage of Abu Dhabi
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
From here onwards are just digital mockups on the painted pages. A lot still to do, but gives the idea.
Page 19
Page 20
#
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Allies
- Shk Rashid Dubai (to be done using dreamy tissue and wallpaper)
Shk Zayed Abu Dhabi
Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak
favourite wife of Shkh Zayed
Sheikha Sanaa bint al Mana al Maktoum
Dubai princess and entrepreneur
- Abdul Ghaffair Hussain: deputy director of Dubai Municipality (to be done)
- Mahdi Al Tajeer – billionaire ambassador to London (lack of safety, Billionaire list) (to be done)
- Margaret MacKay: British MP invited by Shkh Zayed (to be done)
- Col Sir Hugh Boughsted – romantic British expat (to be done)
Players
- Sam Cummings small-scale US arms dealer (to be done)
- ‘Man from Wisconsin’ – hapless businessman trying to make an entrance on the scene (to be done)
Telexes:
To be done
Technique Discoveries
Distressed paper (forthcoming)
