“Artists … reveal more about themselves than most politicians and often know more about themselves. This is why their testimony is historically so valuable”
[J. Berger, About Looking]
Education
2020 – PhD Candidate at Deakin University
2008 to 2010 – Master of Visual Arts, Monash University, Melbourne
1994 to 1998 – Bachelor of Fine Art, Lebanese University, Beirut
1992 to 1994 – Certificate Course in Painting and Sculpture, Fine Arts Centre of Lattakia
1988 to 1992 – Bachelor of Trade and Economics, Tishreen University, Lattakia
Professional Memberships
2018 – 2019 Barwon Estuary Project
2015 – present Mangroves from the Water Group
2019 – present The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
2020 – present Ausglass artist group
2017 – present Humans in Geelong
2000 – present Emirates Fine Arts Society (UAE)
2020 – present Corangamite CMA Community Engagement Network
2020 – present Climate Change Narratives Network (CCCNN)
2018 – present Community Radio 94.7 FM the Pulse
Environment Festival Organiser
Mangroves from the Water Festival 2017, Khor Umm Al Quwain, UAE, 8-11 March
In partnership with the Umm Al Quwain Government in association with the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology, Wasit Wetland Reserves and UAE ministries and schools. Achieved a partnership with the UAQ Government to host fine art, music, heritage and scientific exhibitions, workshops, tours and art competitions along with sporting events (walking and traditional rowing) in location in the mangroves over four days to raise awareness of the beauty and ecological importance of the mangroves regions of the UAE in order to protect them. Lead the Mangroves from the Water Festival 2017 team.
Please see Mangroves Festival 2017 booklet to download: https://mangrovesfromthewater.wordpress.com
Curator
Mangroves from the Water Exhibition during the Mangroves Festival 2017, Umm Al Quwain, 18-21 March 2017
Mangroves from the Water UAE series
New York University of Abu Dhabi, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Emirates Arts Society, Umm Al Quwain National Museum, thejamjar Dubai, October 2015 to March 2016.
- Multi-media: painting, film, installations, sculpture, short stories.
- Sought & negotiated sponsorship for the entire series from the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi.
- Prepared & coordinated all arrangements for 10 artists.
- Liaised & negotiated with artists, galleries & sponsors regarding budgeting, installation, accommodation, tours, timings & placement.
- Coordinated marketing including interviews with artists for MBC Arabia TV & national newspapers.
- Produced the exhibition booklet.
- Managed all sales at front of house.
- Organised inhouse sketching.
Organised & lead sketching from kayak workshops and boat tours in the Umm Al Quwain mangroves. - Participated as an artist.
Exhibitions
- 2020
Islamic Museum of Australia/ Islamic Museum Art Prize Exhibition, 18 August 2020 – 20 February, 2021
- 2018
Humans in Geelong Expo, Deakin Waterfront, Mangroves from the Water exhibition including a speech about the mangroves, 7 October
- 2017
Bellarine Art Trail, the Uniting Church, Queenscliff, Victoria 4-5th November
Mangroves from the Water Exhibition, Mangroves Festival 2017, Umm Al Quwain, March
- 2016
Connection, Steps Gallery, Lygon St. Melbourne, August/September
Mangroves from the Water, The Jam Jar Gallery, Dubai, 14-23 March
As an environmentalist I curated the ‘Mangroves from the Water’ exhibition project, October 2015 to March 2016. A touring multimedia exhibition project – watercolour sketches, film, photography, sculpture, installation art, folklore stories. The exhibition moved from Abu Dhabi, to Sharjah, to Umm Al Quwain, and finally Dubai. As part of the project Zahidah hosted sketching workshops on a kayak and boat tours in the mangroves of Umm Al Quwain.
- 2015
Mangroves from the Water, Umm Al Quwain Museum, Umm Al Quwain, 11-19 December
Mangroves from the Water, Emirates Fine Arts Society, Sharjah, 12-30 November
Mangroves from the Water, Environment Agency Headquarters, Al Mamoura Building, Abu Dhabi, 1-6 November
Mangroves from the Water, New York University – Project Space Gallery, Abu Dhabi, 22-28 October
- 2014
Expanding Horizons, Salwa Zeidan Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE, June-September
Alliance Francaise, ’Connection’, Dubai, UAE, November
Tashkeel in ‘Sikka Art Fair 2014’, Tashkeel House, Dubai, UAE, March
RAK Art Festival, National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, February
- 2013
Tashkeel in ‘Sikka Art Fair 2013’, Tashkeel House, Dubai, UAE, March
‘Women in Art IX’, Courtyard Gallery, Dubai, UAE, November
‘Salon des Refuses’. Happenstance Gallery, London, England, June
‘Ras Al Khaimah from the Mangroves’, National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, March
‘Women in Art VIII’, Courtyard Gallery, Dubai, UAE, February
- 2012
‘Zahidah‘ curated by Rodney Forbes, Switchback Gallery, Monash University, Gippsland Campus, Melbourne, Australia, 11 July – 4 August
- 2010
‘Between Bodies’ opened by the international artist Stelarc, Monash Prato, Italy, July
‘Tracking the Emirates, Contemporary Art Exhibition’Swiss Art Gate UAE, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, April
- 2008
‘From Al Safa to Starchitecture’(Solo), Higher Colleges of Technology, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
- 2006
Majlis Gallery, Dubai, UAE, December
‘Impressions’(Solo), Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, November
- 2004
‘Impressions’(Solo), Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, February
- 2002
Majlis Gallery, Dubai, UAE, December
‘Creativity’, Sharjah Art Precinct, Handicapped Guardians Association, Sharjah, UAE, April
Majlis Gallery, Dubai, UAE, March
‘The 21st Exhibition for Artists’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE, January
- 2001
Hilton Fujairah, April
‘Expressions of Faces’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE, April
‘The 20th Exhibition for Artists’, Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, UAE, March
- 2000
‘Fujairah in Art’ (Solo), Hilton Fujairah, Fujairah, UAE, December
- 1999
Forum de Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, May
Beit Al-Fen, Tripoli, Lebanon, February
- 1998
UNESCO Centre, Beirut, Lebanon, April
- 1994
Syrian Cultural Centre, Damascus, Syria, AugustFe
Bibliography
Art and Songs Push Our Ideas/ Quest in the ‘Sustainable Hour’ radio program, 22 July, 2020 climatesafety.info/thesustainablehour324/
Radio interview at (32.25), Sustainable Hour, 18 March, 2020 climatesafety.info/thesustainablehour305/
Sustainable Hour, radio interview, community radio 94.7 the Pulse, 23 October, 2019 climatesafety.info/thesustainablehour290
Humans in Geelong, Humans in Geelong (appearing in), Snap Printing Geelong, 2019
Nature Volve Magazine (Issue 1), ‘Mangroves from the Water’, 11 July 2018.
Ocean Wise magazine, ‘the Arab Guardian of the Mangroves’, 26 July 2018.
Queenscliffe Herald, ‘Mangroves from the Water, Zahidah’, 18 April 2017.
Humans in Geelong Website and Social Media, ‘Mangroves from the Water, Zahidah’.
Radio interview with Pakinam Amer, Special Edition; Mangrove warriors, December, 2017.
Official Exhibition Blog, Mangroves from the Water (2015/2017)
The Mangroves Festival 2017 selected press
Hoffert, B. Essay on Connection an exhibition with Cheryl Osborne, July, 2016.
Todorova, V. Umm Al Quwain mangroves illegally cut down by ‘camel farm labourers‘. The National. 4 February, 2016.
Stafford, A. Guardians of the Mangroves. Selections Magazine. 29 February, 2016.
Todorova, V. Artwork inspired by the beauty of Umm Al Quwain’s mangroves. The National. 2 August, 2015.
Seaman, A. Syrian artist in Umm Al Quwain paints with the use of brushes, canvas – and a kayak. The National. 18 August, 2015.
Anna Seaman Blog. Exploring the UAE’s Coastline with Art. 1 October, 2015.
Al Ittihad Newspaper. عين. October 5, 2015.
New York University Abu Dhabi Art Gallery presents: Mangroves from the Water. 22-28 October, 2015.
Imagine Science Films. “Mangroves from the Water” Exhibit Swirls into the NYUAD Project Space for 1 Week. October, 2015.
Mangrove Action Project: Exploring the UAE’s coastline with art. 8 October, 2015.
Al Ittihad Newspaper: مهمة عاجلة من أجل شجر القرم October 25, 2015.
Madame Magazine. L’Art au secours des mangroves des EAU. Novembre, 2015: p.66-69.
Global Art Daily. November, 2015.
Gulf News 24/7.Mangroves from the Water, Art Exhibition Opening. 12 November, 2015.
WAM Emirates News Agency. الإمارات للفنون التشكيلية تنظم معرض “شجر القرم من الماء” في الشارقة November 15, 2015.
Al Ittihad Newspaper. شجر القرم من الماء» معرض متعدد الوسائط في الشارقة. November 17, 2015.
Emarat Alyoum. فنانين يعرضون لوحاتهم في مقر التشكيليين الإماراتية “شجر القرم من الماء” …. اتصل بالتراث الشعبي الإماراتي . November 21, 2015.
Hoffert, B. Introduction: Bernard Hoffert introduces Zahidah in the context of Middle Eastern Art. November, 2014.
Seaman, A. Keeping Art afloat. The National. 19 August, 2014.
Nazy Beglary. In Conversation with H.E Zaki Nusseibeh. Harper’s Bazar Art, Issue 12, March/April, 2014.
Latrobe Valley Express.Playing Host to Arabian Gulf Artist. 26 July, 2012: p.34.
Hoffert, B. Zahidah in Perspective: Bernard Hoffert introduces ‘Zahidah’ in the context of Middle Eastern Art. June, 2012.
Swiss Art Gate UAE. Tracking the Emirates, Art Exhibition. Ras Al Khaimah,2010, www.swissartgateuae.com/projects.asp
Free Spirit. The Art Scene in RAK. RAK Free Trade Zone Magazine. Ras Al Khaimah, Issue 5, May/June, 2010: p.34.
Off Campus Connection. Zahidah Zeytoun Millie. Caulfield: Monash University, Issue 5, Jun/Jul, 2009: p.6.
Mavely, M. Art Exhibition Highlights RAK Heritage, Culture. The Gulf Times. Dubai, 13 Feb, 2004.
Khaldie, S. Openingof Exhibition for Syrian Artist in Ras Al Khaimah. Al Khaleej Al Araby. Dubai, 12 Feb, 2004.
Ahmed, A. 33 Local Artists Display Works at Exhibition. Gulf News. Dubai, 22 Mar, 2002.
Tabloid. Celebrating Arabia. Gulf News. Dubai, 15 Dec, 2002.
Raha, S. Arabian Treasures. Gulf News. Dubai, 3 Mar, 2002.
Al Dahahn, N. Zahidah Zeytoun: Art, an expression of all that happens around us. Arab News. Dubai, 5 Jan, 2001.
Shaghouri, T. Fujairah in Focus at Art Show. Gulf News. Dubai, 11 Dec, 2000.
Al Khaleej Al Araby. Hamad Bin Saif Opens Art Exhibition. Dubai, 3 Dec, 2000.
Kalish, G. The Second Exhibition Youth Painters at UNESCO Club. Different styles united by “Creativity and Variety”. Al Safeer Al Araby. Beirut, 26 Jul, 1996.
Residencies
Higher Colleges of Technology, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, June-August 2008
Representation
RAK Hospital, Swiss Art Gate UAE, Ras Al Khaimah, since April 2010, They All Want the Tallest Skyscraper, permanent display.
RAK Free Trade Zone, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, since 2004, Impression 3.
Fujairah Municipality, UAE, since 2000, Bull Fighting 2.
Art Awards
‘Conversation with the Moonah Tree’ painting has been selected as one of the final selection for the Islamic Museum Art Prize 2020 (AMA), www.islamicmuseum.org.au/ama-2020-exhibition
Certificate of Appreciation, Combined Probus Club of Lara, Vic, 17 October 2017
Certificate of Appreciation, Sharjah American International School, UAE, 8 June 2017
Certificate of Recognition, Municipality & Planting Department, Government of Ajman, UAE, 15 to 16 April 2017
Certificate of Appreciation, Umm Al Quwain Business Women’s Council, UAQ Government, UAE, 2017
Certificate of Appreciation, Government of Um Al Quwain, Municipality Department, UAE, 2 June 2016
Certificate of Appreciation of Contribution and Successful Participation at the Sharjah Art Museum, UAE, 22 January to 8 February 2002
Certificate of Recognition, Emirates Fine Art Society, UAE, 18 to 26 March 2001
Certificate of Appreciation, Fujairah Government, UAE, 24 to 26 October 2001
Certificate of Appreciation, El Mina Municipality, Lebanon, 26 February 1999
Certificate of Gratitude and Appreciation, Minister of Culture & Higher Education, 26 February 1999
Certificate of Appreciation, UNESCO Cultural Council of Southern Lebanon, 1 to 3 April 1998
Sport Awards
Certificate & medal of completion, Dubai Marathon, 2005
Medal of completion, the RAK 10km run, 2006
Medal of completion, the RAK 10km run, 2007
Medal of completion, the RAK 10km run, 2008
Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2009
Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2010
Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2011
Medal of completion, the RAK 10km run, 2012
Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2013
Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2014
Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2015
Certificate & medal of completion, the RAK Half Marathon, 2016