Corniche 5

The Corniche programme provides a platform for artists and illustrators specialising in comics who are presently practising in the UAE and the broader GCC region. Through various community-led exchanges and workshops, it acts as a resource for identifying illustrators and comic artists for community-centred projects and initiatives at the Foundation. The latest iteration of Corniche expands on previous editions by sourcing comics and narratives from artists based throughout the GCC region. In the accompanying publication, artists share their stories exploring heritage, science fiction, fantasy, metaphysics, dreams and myths.
Working alongside Sharjah Art Foundation’s Community Team, the fifty-two contributing artists of 2023 included Nada Abulmagd, Sarah Ahmed, Aysha AlHamrani, Asmaa Alhosani, Mohammad Alhussaini, Mohamed AlJneibi, Zainab Almahdi, Hessa Almarzooqi, Khuloud Almhairi, Maryam Almheiri, Amna Alnaqbi, Maryam Alqubaiti, Zahiyah Alraddadi, Eman AlRaesi, Mohammad Alshaibani, Shaikha AlShamsi, Shama Alsuwaidi, Hessa Altamimi, Hessa Alzarooni, Adnan Arif, Mohammed Al Attar, Mai Ayman Awwad, Mattia Gambardella, Azim Al Ghussein, Hari, Alia Al Hammadi, Ibtihaj Al Harthi, Taif Jaddah, Noor Al Khamiri, Khalid Al Khawar, Manar Laham, Khalid Mezaina, Amal Al Muhairi, Rafiaa Al Nassar, Mayed Al Nuaimi, Darrel Perkins, Wafa Rashed, Aya Saad Khalid, Khadija Al Saeedi, Amna Al Saleh, Mitali Sampat, Aisha Al Shamsi, Alaa Sharabi, Ahmed Soliman, stardust, Ibrahim Suwaid, Mezna Suwaidan, Salam Swaid, Tawfik, Dina Tawil, Nora Zeid and Ziliz.

The cover art by Nasir Nasrallah was inspired by a wooden boat called Qasimia that was docked at Sharjah Corniche. The illustration integrates elements from the surrounding streets and Bait Obaid Al Shamsi, a heritage site in Sharjah’s historical quarter, where contributing artists met regularly in the summer of 2023. Nasrallah’s rendition of the wooden boat characterises the comic anthology and how it has significantly evolved throughout its journey to include the individuals and their stories that comprise this project.