Art in Bahrain

Bahrain is home to rich tradition of arts and crafts. We can see the architectural excellence from the wooden balconies of the houses in Muharraq and the Awadiya area of Manama apart from the fine plasterwork seen in older houses and mosques with its repetitive geometric and Islamic motifs. The large dhows displayed near the Pearl Roundabout are the main attractions of the tourists. Once upon a time, dhow building was a thriving and respected craft in Bahrain which carved the way of pearling and fishing industry.

Bahrain has a legacy of extensive handicraft with captivating artworks which includes paintings, sculptures, photography, potteries and glasswares. The famous Bahrain National Museum in Manama exhibits the age-old art and relics of Bahrain. An array of art work such as ivory figurines, copper articles, pottery, and gold rings captivate the tourists around the world. From this spectrum of artifacts, one can see the cultural influence of several countries from outside. The traditional jewelry also bears the testimony of the artistic skills of the people in Bahrain.

In the souks, there are many shops selling traditional handicrafts. You can take time off and visit the village of A'ali known for pottery or you can head to Karbabad where you will see many craftsmen weaving palm splits into baskets, dining mats, chicken coops, and date baskets. Bani Jamra village is another place where you will find see weavers making abbayas (cloaks) for women and sarongs for men. You can also drop in at Adliya and Manama to see beautiful carpets and exquisite Persian rugs. Spare your time for a visit to Bani Jamra and see weavers working on their manual looms. Throughout the country artisans are occupied in gold working, tinsmithing, and textile making to sell their makes at small shops or the Souk al-Arabaa (“Wednesday Market”) in Manama.

The Heritage Village located outside the Bahrain National Museum holds a festival every year to encourage skilled crafts like pottery, textiles, and other handicrafts. The heritage village aims at supporting the artisans by giving them opportunities to showcase their creations and talents.

Bahrain also established Al Jasra Handicrafts Centre in 1990 with the aim to sustain and promote the traditional Bahraini handicraft industries. In this Centre, the Bahraini craftsmen make marvelous art works of great magnificence and exceptional quality and the tourists are captivated by the amazing artifacts instilling a unique feeling in them with the praise of Bahraini tradition. Nowadays, many additions have been made to this Centre which include handmade palm leaves paper, embroidery, stained glass, Arabic calligraphy, woodwork, gypsum and iron products.

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