This week the Emirati arts community mourns the passing of Saleh Al Ustad, a beloved photographer and dear friend to many in the creative scene.
I am honored to have had the chance to meet Saleh in June 2017, with my dear friend Dr. Mohamed Yousif. It was out of urgency Dr. Mohamed told me we should meet him as soon as possible. With my camera in hand and with Dr. Mohamed accompanying me, I was again on the road during the hot Ramadan months and endured one of the most powerful interview experiences of my time here. My memories and recordings I have of him are fond keepsakes of the loving artist he was to the community.
Along with photographer Jassim Al Awadhi, Saleh worked to have the Emirates Fine Art Society construct a dark room and space for photographers. Teaching photography courses to the younger generation of artists, Saleh was instrumental in promoting UAE art abroad. First attending in the late 1970s an English language program in Missouri, he then studied in Southern California, graduating from Chapman College in 1984. Saleh well integrated into the American society, participating in American holidays, and visiting national monuments in trips to Chicago and Washington DC.
He brought back this knowledge to the UAE and wanted to create photography workshops for members of the Emirates Fine Art Society beginning in 1984-85. The Chairman at the time, Dr. Mohamed Yousif, a dear friend to him, allowed Saleh to construct a dark room out of the old Art Society building, and from that moment, photography programs began to emerge and exhibitions began to take place.
It is Saleh's determination and good will to continue his practice and train others while doing this, that we are enlightened by his ability to document incredible moments of people, and the lights and shadows of his home country.
In 2013, Saleh had received the Mansoor Bin Mohammed Photography Award. He has also been awarded the Photographer of the Year in 2016 by the GCC Ministry of Cultures as well as The UAE Photography Personality in the Arabian Region by the Arab Photographer's Union in 2017.
The following footage below was filmed by Aref Harb, and published in 2013 when he was awarded the Sheikh Mansoor Award. It is a beautiful way to capture the man behind the camera on film. To view more of Aref's videos, click here.
With a handful of footage and voice recordings yet to be edited of Saleh, Mid East Art will look towards the next coming months to do this.
My last memory with Saleh was a few months ago, when I visited his majlis, a beautifully decorated home and was singing to old Arabic songs with his family with the oud instrument playing. Saleh helped me to remember the song I learned in Arabic class and was able to hear his nephew play on the oud - 'Lama Bada Yatathana'
May you continue smiling Saleh, and may you Rest in Peace.
From, Suzy Sikorski at Mid East Art