“Women In War – Palestine” art exhibition by Intisar Foundation kicked off at CAP Gallery in Kuwait, on September 24, 2024

Group photo of HH Sheikha Intisar AlSabah and the artists that attended the “Women in War – Palestine” exhibition at CAP Gallery in Kuwait

Held under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Abdullah Ali AlYahya, the impactful art exhibition features more than 250 exhibited artworks by 100+ renowned artists from 20+ countries.

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Kuwaiti art curator Amira Behbehani. It will be open at CAP Gallery, Kuwait, from September 24 – October 8, 2024.

The high profile opening event on September 24, 2024, which was held in the presence of His Excellency Ambassador Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad AlSabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, brought together more than 300 art enthusiasts, collectors, and philanthropists, and representatives of government and civil society.

The opening event resulted in significant funds being made available in support of the Intisar Foundation’s mental health support programmes for women in Palestine, as more than 50% of exhibited artworks were sold the same evening.

Her Excellency Sheikha Intisar Salem Ali AlSabah, founder and Chairwoman of Intisar Foundation said, “There has never been more urgency to include mental health in all first aid responses than now. With all the exhalations and struggles around the world, mental health has become a priority one cannot neglect. We at Intisar Foundation, with all our work and efforts invested throughout the years, are urging the humanitarian world to include mental health in all their first aid responses after any war or catastrophe.”

The artworks will also be available online after October 8, 2024, on the Intisar Foundation website and the official Instagram page of the exhibition Women In War (https://www.instagram.com/womeninwar.art/) to make them accessible to a wider community of art lovers and supporters of Palestinian women internationally.

The exclusive event on September 24, 2024, also included a roundtable discussion entitled “Women, Peace, and Mental Health,” which featured HE Sheikha Intisar Salem Ali AlSabah, Founder and Chairwoman of Intisar Foundation; HE Sheikha Jawaher Ebraheem Duaij Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs; Mrs Maha Barjas Hamoud Al Barjas, General Secretary, Kuwait Red Crescent Society; Dr. Hussein Quwaian Al-Mutairi, Orthopedic Consultant, Former Chairman of the Health Committee in the National Assembly; and Dr. Faisal Mohammed Al-Hajri, Urology Consultant.

The discussion was moderated by Abdullah AlMoshawah, a Journalist and Volunteer at the Kuwait Red Crescent Society.

The high-profile speakers unanimously agreed that mental health support should be included in the first aid response to any war, crisis, or catastrophe, by all local, regional, and international humanitarian actors.

HE Sheikha Jawaher Ebraheem Duaij Al-Sabah, Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs, shared her recommendations for improving the outcome of peace-building processes in the Middle East. She advised focusing on women’s empowerment, providing protection for women from violence and being affected by wars or being forced to take part in them. In addition, HE Sheikha Jawaher recommended ensuring women’s participation in peace-related decision-making and negotiating processes. She also advised ensuring women’s participation in humanitarian and post-war reconstruction operations under the condition of securing women’s privacy and support while providing humanitarian aid.

The exhibition is organised in partnership with CAP Gallery, Kuwait, and sponsored by Lenotre Paris, Channel, Matbakhi by Sawsan, Mubarak Alrandi, Apache Photography, Grass, Claude Lemand Foundation, The Regency, Ovo Restaurant, Kuwait Airways, AlQabas, Markaz, and Albaz.

Amira Behbehani the curator said, “Regarding my expectations for the exhibition, during and after the opening event, I, honestly, didn’t expect to have such a big audience, and all the daily visits that we have been having till now. So, I didn’t expect that we would have so many people purchasing the artwork. People have been so supportive of the idea of helping women in Palestine, and they expressed it by purchasing the art. I expected that the exhibition would be a success, but this has really, honestly, surpassed my expectations.”

Karima Anbar, CEO of Intisar Foundation, added, “I am deeply touched by the success of our exhibition. The turnout was incredible, and the generosity of our attendees and artists has truly touched our hearts. It’s inspiring to see how art can bring people together for a greater purpose. The funds raised will make a tangible difference for Intisar Foundation and our mental health support programmes for women in Palestine, and we couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who contributed to achieving this. This event not only highlighted the power of creativity but also the compassion and dedication of our community.”