“You need to stay updated and be in the news to stay relevant at all times. It’s a challenge to do that,” artist Radhika Hamlai remarks wryly when I ask her for an interview.

Emerge, evolve and thrive have been the significant words post-Covid in the Sultanate of Oman. The art world too is learning to adapt and survive, creating a narrative based on personal memories.

A star in her field, Radhika is probably one of the most well-known artists in the Omani art scene.
Her latest works titled ‘Into the Zen’ are being exhibited at the Bait Muzna Gallery in Muscat.

“The exhibition will run for two weeks and it has all my latest works that I have done over the last two years,” she says.

“These are paintings I haven’t done for a long time and I needed Oman to remember me. So I put together everything to host this exhibition. These paintings are colourful, bright and vibrant and it also gives that Zen moment as well. I want people to come and enjoy these works,” says Radhika.

Born in India, Radhika is a self-taught artist and moved to Oman 25 years ago and ever since then, she has been promoting local artists in and around the Gulf region.

“There were hardly any art exhibitions in the past two years due to Covid and I found a good time to do my work. Somebody has to take that decision to start pushing things, and that’s what I did. We will have this more often,” she says.

Radhika, famous for organizing an annual “affordable art fair” exhibition, is excited about the art scenes in Oman. “The support from authorities towards artists is commendable. I am sure it will soon pick up and things will get back to how it was in the past,” she adds with a smile.