FOCAL POINT - Annual Art Book Fair - Sharjah Art Foundation

We set out to Focal Point on Friday evening eager to get our glances and grab some exciting stuff from the various curated tables set forth by Sharjah Art Foundation's annual art book fair. This year it was at Bait Obaid Al Shamsi Art Square. a 174-year old heritage site located in the heart of the city, within the Al Shuwaiheen Arts Area and opposite Sharjah port. Originally built in 1845 and renovated in the 1990s and then again in 2017, the former residence hosts artist studios, exhibition spaces, SAF exhibitions and Sharjah Biennials.

It was a pleasant evening, the winter slowly setting in except for the weekend traffic which took us one and a half hours to reach the almost specific point when our GPS unexpectedly took the liberty and took us on a bylane tour! Finally, we had to seek human intervention and got to the book fair. Since there wasn't a parking space my daughter and I almost flung ourselves out of the car as cars were lining up behind but thanks to the timely signal. 

When we stepped in, the sun had begun to set leaving a golden glow through the canvas roofs and the faint shadows dancing against the walls and the tables, the hip music, the colorful flags, the bustling crowd had a carnival effect on us. We instantly loved the setting, the ambience!

This second edition of Focal Point had over 150 independent publishers and artists presented across 55 booths and curated tables. Over three days from 14th to 16th, the visitors, am sure, must have discovered art books, art projects and journals, catalogues and monographs, comic stips, zines and booklets, picture books, bookmarks, pins, stickers and tote bags. The focus this year was on zines and comics. Focal Point was divided across five sections - Edit, Independent, UAE, SAF Publications and Magazines. Each one had a colour code for easy identification of its location in the brochure. SAF/Edit is the Sharjah Art Foundation's curated presentation of printed matter from across the world with a focus on the UAE and MENASA region. They had publishers like Arab Comics, Art 21, Asia Art Archive, Fantagraphics, Illusion Comics, Jabal Amman Publishers, Khoj, Minaa Zine, etc. Independent publishers included one of our favourites, Tara Books among others like Blaft Publishers, Africa Institute, Perimeter Books, Afterall, Tosh Fesh, Lendroit editions, Tok Tok Magazine, Lars Muller Publishers, Sharjah Architecture Triennial, etc. UAE publications included catalogues, zines, etc. from art institutions and galleries from across UAE like 1X1 Gallery, Art Jameel, Emirates Fine Arts Society, Green Art Gallery, Ishara Art Foundation, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah Museums, Tashkeel, The Third Line. etc. Magazines like Canvas, Selections and Tribe were present too.

Visitors also had the opportunity to participate in the workshops organized by SAF for kids and adults that were free but needed registration. They had workshops like zine-making, freehand drawing, bookmark making, How to draw manga and pen and ink illustrations. 

We got talking to representatives of many of the curated tables who were eager to explain it all and it was wonderful to get to know them and what they did. I did buy a couple of lovely pieces too. My daughter was particularly in love with the "Tamil Pulp Fiction" tote by Blaft Publishers. Dhwani, a graphic designer with Tara Publishers was lovely and lively talking in detail about each piece and she exuded the energy and love that she so cherished for each one of those works. I met a couple of awesome artists, one of whom I know for the last couple of years, whose comic book I ended up buying as it did have some awesome comic strips and some favourite people in it. 

We had been there on Friday and so we could hear the band, Sways N Edges, playing which really added to the ambience. Visitors on 16th would've heard Adiga; both local bands. After all the book hunting if the visitors happened to feel hungry or wanted to grab a snack the food and beverage vendors were at hand too.

It was a beautiful evening well-spent and we did return home without much hassle, heartily. It's actually wonderful to see Sharjah Art Foundation coming up with so many initiatives and projects as part of bringing in the community and the kind of awareness that they are creating not only among artists of the region but also among the masses. This needs to be emulated! Kudos to the whole team and the participants!

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Books and Authors - Sharjah International Boookfair

Sharjah International Book Fair – Final Part

On both the earlier days I couldn’t ‘see’ books and bookstalls…I could meet only the authors. So on Friday(25-11-2011), we made it to the bookstalls, drifted around devouring the titles and pictures of the various books and wishing to own this ocean of mesmerizing Other World of letters. I bought some for my litlun but couldn’t get one for me…the place was thronging with feet and voices.

My husband who is very much interested in Malayalam Lit noticed that some big shots were to adorn the Dome that day. So we purchased their book and rushed to find a place for ourselves. As few minutes passed, there was absolutely no place even to stand except near the dias.

Mr. Mukundan (a leading Malayalam novelist) along with Mr.Benyamin (a young Expat/NRI novelist from Bahrain), Mr.Ramanunni (A Banker/Novelist) with Shajahan Madampat, a critic, commentator and writer graced the dias. Each one of them addressed the audience and spoke of their latest work. I feel each one would be a Best Seller from what I heard. There was also the launch of Delhi Gathagal (Delhi Tales) of Mr. Mukundan.

Mr.Ramanunni spoke eloquently and interestingly regarding his book, Jeevithathinde Pusthakam (Book of Life), with catchy words and phrases, asking for our attention and not letting us divert even for a second. Benyamin, the young and the dynamic, an NRI himself threw some insight into the world of NRIs which was so common in this part of the world. He mentioned few instance from his latest book, Manhaveyil Maranangal (Yellow Shadows of Death) Both these books I feel is pretty interesting. While the former was out of stock when I asked for it, I got hold of the latter.

The Question-Answer session with Mr.Mukundan was a good one. I understood how down-to-earth the great writer is. His simple style when he spoke, spoke volumes about his personality. He has spent several years in Delhi and that’s where the book Delhi Gathakal originated as the name reveals.

A young poetess was also introduced after the crowded dispersed for the book signing so I couldn’t get the name of her work. She is Heba, an eighth grade student. I couldn’t get any other details but managed to get a click though. A Budding Poetess! Best of Luck HebaJ

My daughter, Lil A and Heba

I am waiting for next year to be swarmed by more books and authorsJ

Ps: Thank you for adding my story in your site…and Letting me know about it RupertJ

Finally, Thanks to Mr. Suresh Kavassery for submitting my work to the OICC (Overseas Indian Cultural Congress) and Thanks to the OICC team for selecting and publishing my work in their magazine.

My poem 'Waiting for Twilight' published in

Overseas Indian Cultural Congress(OICC)

Have a Wonderful Day, My dear friends...

See you soon.

Jaishree Misra and Rani - Sharjah International Bookfair

Sharjah International Book Fair – Part 2

24-11-2011

Thursday

I had just recovered from fever when I had gone to ‘Meet’ Ruskin Bond. After I came out of the Dome I saw that the next day The Chair was to presided over by Jaishree Misra. I had not read any works of JM but I wanted to go the next day to hear her. My husband knew my LOVE for Lit and he agreed. 

So there I was the next day running to get a book of JM as I had to get it signed. We were late as it’s a working day and I had to finish my daughter’s homework and stuff before I could make it to the Dome. All her books had been sold out except for few copies of Rani and Ancient Promises in Malayalam. I always preferred reading the original. I thought “Ok. Rani is Jhansi ki Rani’s story which I knew what it is. So I will buy Ancient Promises even though it’s in Malayalam. I can give to my mom who just loves books.” (I got this Love for Lit from Her!)

Jaishree Misra as a matter of fact is a very Lovely lady, extremely delightful to be with and listen to, jovial and pleasant and there I was deeply influenced by her. I loved her, my daughter did too. I must say my daughter is such a sport. She was as excited as I was (everyday)!!!

pictures projected during JM's presentation on Rani.

Rani, Lord Dalhousie's letter to Major Ellis, Rani's Fort,

The famous Rani of Jhansi's statue,

Supposed portrait of Rani Lakshmi Bai,

Memorial of Rani

JM gave a presentation on her latest work Rani and I enjoyed it thoroughly. As she read excerpts from the book and narrated the thought process that went behind I regretted my decision of not buying Rani. It is basically from the point of view of Rani Lakshmi Bai as a woman – daughter, wife, mother, queen. The inner turmoil that Rani went through each phase of her life.

There was an interactive session too where I even had the opportunity to ask her a query. I was so elated that I don’t remember what she replied. I was in a trance! During the book signing, she asked to whom I want it to be addressed…even struck a conversation on my daughter’s name and joked. I just wondered even in the busy schedule that they were, many wouldn’t even notice to whom they are signing (and I totally understand that).And here was JM who took time to do some small talk with the audience. I loved her!

 Thank you dear friends for taking out your precious time to read it :)

I am Bond, Ruskin Bond :)

Sharjah International Book Fair - Part 1

Sharjah International Book Fair happens every year at the Sharjah Expo Center. This year it was filled with much more zest than I have witnessed in the previous two years. This year some Great authors were associated with it. They  were making their special appearances to the delight of people like us, the Book Lovers’.

Nov 23rd was the day Mr. Ruskin Bond, got to the Dome where the authors meet and interact with the audience. According to RB he was seeing something like that for the first time, “It is like sitting inside an Ostrich egg…with good company.”

RB did have company on the dias; His Excellency Sanjay Varma - Consul General of India, Mr.Kalpesh from Rupa Publications and Karen who joined Mr.Kalpesh in the Talk with RB.

The first story that I read of Ruskin Bond was The Night Train at Deoli. It still lingers in my mind. The visuals are still there and Prof. Vijay Nair’s words are still in the air. It’s as if I haven’t got off the train yetJ. That was when I fell in love with his simple yet intense web of words. I was 17 then.

Yester’ I heard RB’s voice for real and I was getting goosebumbs! My god! Was this real!!!!! His smile, his gestures, his speech…so surreal! Yet, he was there sitting on the dias speaking to us of his experiences and tidbits which was otherwise not so common or shall I say impossible for us to have heard it.

Five Anecdotes

First : In a School

Ruskin Bond was in a school where he was interacting with kids. The teacher there asked one of the students (a 10 year old):

“What do you think of Ruskin Bond as a writer?”

She looked at him, observed him up and down and replied:

“You are not a BAD writer!”

Second: First Work

To one of the questions asked by Mr. Kalpesh…

Is there any work of yours, still in the closet, yet to be published?

RB said that he wrote his first story when he was 8. The flaw was that he included his teachers as characters in the story. He wrote about his Principal’s wife who fell from the stairs and such other interesting tales of his teachers. Once he had it in his classroom which was obviously confiscated by the teacher which was later submitted to the Principal. RB got his summons from the Princi’s office and obviously he was flogged for wasting his time with his useless writing. His first work, story reached the Princi’s trash bin in bits and pieces. That was end of his first story!

Obviously it didn’t see the light of day. He advised young writers’ not to include their teachers as characters and if at all they wanted to then do it once they are out of school.

Third: At the Bookstore

When RB was a novice and his book had made it’s appearance in the bookstore, he used to meander through the store to feel the thrill of seeing his work in paperbacks. And one such occasion he found his book dumped under a pile of books by authors famous during that period. He looked around, no one was found observing him, took his books from under the pile and stacked it on top. Immediately, he heard the person at the cash call out “Yeh nahi chalta…neeche hi rakh deejiye!” (It roughly means “It doesn’t sell. Keep it underneath itself.”)

Fourth: At the Location of 7 Khoon Maaf

RB says he was offered a role in 7 Khoon Maaf, a movie based on his book – Susanna’s Seven Husbands. His role was small where he had to kiss the cheek and give an advice to the lady lead played by Priyanka Chopra. The first time he did it, it turned out to be clumsy. He had to retake it a few times and after the twelfth retake, the director, Vishal Bharadwaj said “Now Mr. Bond, you are doing this on purpose!”

Fifth: A Taxi Journey

On one of his journey to a book fair or some meeting, he was traveling by taxi. The driver sped so fast that he had to pick on his brake at some point so harshly that RB’s reading glasses toppled and fell over the Driver. The driver on procuring the glasses refused to return it to RB saying that if he wore it may be he could become a writer too. In return he readily offered his glasses to RB. RB replied that if his glasses could make the driver a writer, then the driver’s glasses could make the writer a driverJ

Book Signing

There was a book signing session as well. There was too loud a hue and cry by the teens for it. I had bought a couple of books – a book of verse, a journal, a memoir and two for my daughter who wanted to get her book signed by RB as well. I must say she was a great sport. We went after the rush and got it signed. We were so very thrilledJ