Bodour Al Qasimi Inaugurates Polish Edition of “Folktales Reimagined” Exhibition at 2026 Warsaw International Book Fair
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and Founder and Honorary President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), inaugurated the Polish edition of the “Folktales Reimagined” exhibition on May 30, 2026. This event took place at the National Library of Poland as part of Sharjah’s Guest of Honour programme during the 2026 Warsaw International Book Fair, themed “Two Civilisations: One Language of Letters.”
Key Attendees at the Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Dr. Tomasz Makowski, Director-General of the National Library of Poland; His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al Harbi, UAE Ambassador to Poland; Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People; and Joanna Piekarska, President of the Polish Section of IBBY. Heads of delegations from the Sharjah Pavilion and representatives from Emirati and Polish media were also present.
Significance of the Exhibition
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi emphasized the importance of folktales as a reflection of national memory and human experience. She stated that these narratives not only preserve stories but also embody the values and emotions that shape societies over generations. The “Folktales Reimagined” exhibition aims to reintroduce this shared heritage through contemporary artistic expressions, fostering cultural dialogue across geographical and linguistic boundaries.
The Polish edition of the exhibition is particularly significant, as it highlights the belief that culture can build genuine bridges of communication and mutual understanding between peoples. Sheikha Bodour noted that the artworks presented by Emirati and Polish artists go beyond mere reinterpretations of traditional tales. They offer new visual readings that revive folk narratives, affirming that creativity is a powerful means of connecting cultures and preserving shared human memory for future generations.
Overview of the Exhibition’s Vision
Marwa Al Aqroubi provided insights into the vision behind the “Folktales Reimagined” exhibition, explaining its journey since inception. The project aims to reinterpret folk tales from various cultures through a contemporary visual lens, allowing both artists and audiences to discover shared symbols and values. The artworks featured in the Polish edition blend heritage with modern storytelling techniques, showcasing the role of art in fostering dialogue and cultural understanding.
Al Aqroubi described the initiative as a cultural project that seeks to revive folk tales for new generations in a format that resonates with today’s art scene while preserving the original stories’ spirit and human values. The project aims to create an open platform for creative dialogue between cultures, enabling artists to explore and reinterpret the heritage of another culture through their unique artistic perspectives.
Artistic Contributions from Emirati and Polish Artists
The exhibition features contemporary visual interpretations of celebrated Polish folk tales by Emirati artists, who draw inspiration from their symbolic worlds and mythical characters. AlReem Al Mannaee reimagined the tale of “Dratewka The Shoemaker,” highlighting themes of kindness and compassion. Fatima Al Zarouni offered an artistic interpretation of “King Popiel and the Mice,” focusing on the duality of power and punishment through tension-filled compositions.
Khalid Mezaina drew from the legend of “The Basilisk of Warsaw,” creating a work infused with mystery and echoes of the old city. Safa Al Mazrouie reinterpreted “The Fern Flower,” emphasizing the human pursuit of dreams and the accompanying costs. Naama Al Awadi presented a contemporary visual narrative of “The Devil’s Paw,” using contrasts of light and shadow to reflect justice within collective memory.
Polish artists also contributed new visual readings of Emirati folk tales, exploring local environments and symbols integral to the UAE’s cultural memory. Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka reinterpreted “Salama and Her Daughters,” evoking the sea as a space of memory and mystery. Nika Jaworowska-Duchlińska explored “Dinuh and Arbab,” highlighting themes of deception and survival through a blend of Eastern and European folk traditions.
Joanna Czaplewska focused on the hidden strength within marginalized characters in her interpretation of “Netifan,” while Magdalena Kozieł-Nowak celebrated loyalty and friendship in her work inspired by “Hamda and Badiha.” Piotr Fąfrowicz concluded the Polish contributions with a poetic reinterpretation of “Al Barmah” (The Clay Pot), reflecting the emotional connections between people and objects that carry deeper meanings.
Visitor Engagement and Cultural Impact
The exhibition garnered strong engagement from visitors, who praised the artworks and described the experience as rich in cultural and human significance. Attendees expressed admiration for the artists’ ability to provide deeply personal interpretations of the tales, creating an interactive dimension that encouraged reflection, dialogue, and the discovery of shared human experiences across cultures.
The Polish edition of the exhibition, which was launched by UAEBBY in 2019 as part of the celebrations for Sharjah World Book Capital, adds to the project’s previous international editions. Through collaborations between artists from various countries, the initiative aims to present folk tales from diverse cultures in ways that promote mutual understanding and creative dialogue, while reintroducing community narratives through contemporary visual frameworks. Previous editions have been hosted in Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Greece, Russia, and Morocco.
As reported by www.emirates247.com.
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Published on 2026-05-30 16:51:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk