The 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) which is happening at Expo Centre Sharjah has been holding numerous workshops to convey the message of reuse and recycle to mitigate environmental degradation and promote sustainable solutions. One such workshop is “Tin Can Plants” conducted by artist Sara Mezher.
Boys from Emirates National School Sharjah were in attendance early in the morning and raring to try their artistic skills. They were given tin cans, acrylic paint, water, painting brush and potting soil to prepare a miniature container for plants.
Blue, black and green paint gave the tins a new life, and each had the stamp of its creator’s personality. In about 15 minutes, the boys painted the cans according to their fancy, with a little help and guidance from the trainer, and filled it with soil to take home as a memento of their time at SIBF 2024..
Art instructor Mezher explained: “The kids are given recycled corn cans and we teach them how to paint it on the outside and then use it for planting. This way they have a customised plant pot. The fun part is the painting, and through this workshop, they learn about recycling and to turn any item at home into art.”
SIBF 2024, which will run until November 17, has opened its doors to over 2,520 publishers from 112 countries, and is celebrating Morocco as the Guest of Honour. The 12-day cultural extravaganza, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, is themed ‘It Starts with a Book’, and has in store 1,357 activities for children and adults alike. SIBF 2024 is presenting a comprehensive programme of 600 workshops for various age groups, including 465 sessions for adults and children and 135 for early childhood, covering heritage, media, entrepreneurship, technology, environment, arts, life skills, and creative writing.