"An Artist's Touch": Kuwaiti Visual Arts in the Ministry of Education's Curriculum
In a move reflecting the Ministry of Education’s direction toward instilling a sense of patriotism and introducing new generations to the history, customs, and traditions of the State of Kuwait, the biographies and experiences of several Kuwaiti artists have been included in the Ministry’s curricula within the “Teacher’s Guide” for the intermediate stage for the 2026–2027 academic year, under the slogan “An Artist’s Imprint: We Learn from Artists’ Experiences and Draw Inspiration from Their Creations.”
The project, launched based on this slogan, highlights the artistic experiences of the late artist Ayoub Al-Ayoub, as well as artists Mahmoud Al-Radwan, Abdulaziz Artai, and artist Absam Al-Asfour, in recognition of their artistic contributions and their role in documenting the Kuwaiti environment and heritage, and in strengthening the presence of national identity.
Artist Absam Al-Asfour is a Kuwaiti visual artist belonging to the Impressionist Realist school. She dedicated her experience to documenting Kuwaiti heritage, customs, traditions, and the local environment. Her works are distinguished by their recording of details of old Kuwaiti life, historical landmarks, and folk heritage, employing a style that combines artistic precision with a documentary approach, making her one of the prominent names in the contemporary Kuwaiti visual arts scene.
Exhibitions Evoking Kuwait’s History
Throughout her artistic career, she held three solo exhibitions:
1. “Kuwaiti Days” (2019): Held at the Kuwait National Library, focusing on the marine environment, old crafts, and historical figures.
2. “Memory of Voices” (2019): Held at the Abdulhussein Abdulredha Theatre, documenting 33 Kuwaiti artistic figures, including singers, composers, and lyricists.
3. “Here is Kuwait” (2023): Held in conjunction with Kuwait’s National Day celebrations, featuring 33 paintings documenting Kuwait’s history from the era of Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah to the present.
Artistic and Academic Contributions
Her career has seen local and international participations, most notably representing Al-Mubarakiya Week at the Sharjah Heritage Institute in 2018, and winning first place in the “Visual Perspectives” exhibition in Al-Mubarakiya for her painting “The Date Seller.” She also completed calendars for the Commercial Bank (2021) and the Kuwait Society for Heritage (2023). Her works have been included in research papers, master’s theses, and artistic readings, including the article “The Al-Yaluh Ceremony in Kuwaiti Heritage” by Moroccan writer Al-Mehdad Al-Zubair in “Al-Kuwait” magazine.
Paintings Included in the Teacher’s Guide
The paintings included in the Teacher’s Guide cover diverse models of Kuwaiti architectural and social heritage. These include historical landmarks such as the Seif Palace, the old Ministry of Information building, and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (currently), as well as one of Kuwait’s old neighborhoods (Fereej Al-Ghanim). They also document several popular markets, such as the Gold Market, the Date Market, and the Fish Market.
Artist Absam Al-Asfour expressed her pride and honor at this renewed educational presence, emphasizing that including her works and artistic experience in official curricula represents an artistic, national, and historical responsibility, rather than merely a personal honor. She noted that art can serve as a living document that contributes to enhancing pride in national identity, introducing new generations to the features of Kuwaiti heritage and environment, and preserving national memory amidst the challenges of globalization.
