The Australian artist will showcase 20 abstract pieces themed around gardens alongside his distinctive ArtEnergy workshops, with part of the proceeds of sales of his art pieces going to charity. The ArtEnergy program was developed by Hogan as a team-building platform with both educational and therapeutic value, and has proven popular with Forbes Global 2000 corporations and hotel groups in Australasia.
“I was driven to abstraction. There were enough artists painting well-behaved landscapes and marine images without me adding to the list. Rather, I feel I contribute a contemporary slant through my depiction of these macro images. In essence, I reduce simple images to a series of spots and stripes,” Hogan said.
The resultant compositions are striking paintings and sculptures that invite multiple interpretations. A seasoned artist, acknowledged for mixing contemporary original designs with the realities of the commercial world, Hogan has had his corporate design collections appearing in five star hotels and resorts globally.
Hogan’s participation was announced at a Press Conference held on Wednesday by Shaikha Maram Bint Isa Al Khalifa, General Coordinator of BIGS. Organised by the National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD), BIGS aims to promote agribusiness sector opportunities in Bahrain. It is expected to be attended by more than 20,000 visitors, including VIPs, architects, consultants, developers, and other industry professionals, as well as hobbyists and retail consumers.
BIGS takes place from 28th February to 2nd March, 2013 at the Bahrain International Convention and Exhibition Centre, with more than 120 participants showcasing their goods on a total exhibiting space of 7,050 square metres, the largest in the show’s history. It is being held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and supported by His Majesty’s Wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who is President of NIAD.
“We have also set up a Farmers Market to showcase the products of six leading farms in the Kingdom and give visitors a taste of the produce available locally. BIGS will also feature experts who can give visitors advice on keeping gardens and cultivating seasonal plants in Bahrain. We are also setting up a play area for children with activities centered on gardening, with the aim of instilling a love of nature in them from a young age,” Shaikha Maram, said.
“BIGS will also host the Bahrain Garden Club’s 48th Annual Flower and Vegetable Show, with the results of the competition due to be announced at a closed ceremony on the eve of event (27th Feb), including the coveted ‘Best Garden’ prize.”
“All BIGS’s activities are in line with NIAD’s wider strategy of helping Bahrain move towards achieving food self-sufficiency and increasing the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP of the Kingdom,” Shaikha Maram said.
The event’s theme stands Investing in Agriculture is sponsored by the National Bank of Bahrain (NBB). The bank already lends support to the agricultural sector through its BD100 million Gheda Fund, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, which invests in feasible projects and technologies in the sectors of agriculture, dairy, fish, livestock and poultry, and others.
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), with the financial support of the Islamic Development Bank, will showcase more than 40 companies from around the world under its umbrella, including exhibitors from Sudan, Lebanon, Uganda, Tunisia, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Italy and China. UNIDO will also coordinate a series of technical workshops to present the latest agriculture techniques and technologies.
This is in addition to exhibitors from Japan, China, Australia, France and Slovakia, who are exhibiting independently of UNIDO.
NIAD was launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka in March 2010 with the aim of unifying efforts to develop the agricultural industry in Bahrain so that it can contribute to Bahrain’s advancement economically, socially and environmentally. Her Royal Highness chairs its consultative council and personally oversees the progress of all activities along with distinguished representatives of the public and private sectors.
The show will be held from 10am to 9pm daily. Tickets are 500 fils per adult, with free entrance for children.