The Yemeni Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the French Embassy and the Cultural French Center in Sana’a, held an exhibition called “Paris and the contemporary Arab art” in the National Museum in Sana’a on Sunday.

The French Embassy  announced it will resume cultural activities after more than a year’s halt due to last year’s uprising.

Ninety paintings of several artists from Northern Africa, the Middle East and Yemen were presented in the exhibition. They presented a view of mutual cultural relations between foreign and Arab artists.

The exhibition lasted from June 11 to 24. About 12 famous artists from different countries participated, among them Yemeni artists Amna Al-Nosairi, Nasser Al-Aswadi and Bushra Al-Mutawakel.

Frank Jules, the French ambassador to Yemen, said the exhibition aims to introduce paintings of the participants to Yemeni audiences and present the art of well-known Yemeni and foreign artists. Moreover, the exhibition aims to exchange experiences between Yemeni and foreign artists.

In the exhibition, Abdallah Awbal, the Yemeni Minister of Culture, said, “The inauguration of the exhibition came within cooperation to deepen relations between Yemen and France, since it was the first exhibition to include paintings of Arab and foreign artists.”

Awbal said the exhibition consolidated the historical relations between Yemen and France, particularly in the cultural and social sides. He praised the efforts exerted by organizers of the exhibition from the Yemeni side and the French side, represented by the Total French Company.

For his part, Ibraheem Abdullah Al-Hadi, secretary general of the National Museum, said that these exhibitions boosted the importance of historical and national identity among the visitors. They also widen the cultural knowledge and contribute to enhancing tourism and culture in Yemen.