Interactive workshop at Sharjah International Book Fair turns the works of Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Kahlo into an exciting learning experiences

Sharjah, November 9, 2025

Young art enthusiasts at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025) discovered the joy of bringing classic paintings to life during the Living Art workshop, where the world of French Impressionist Claude Monet met the imagination of children.

Led by artist and film production expert Sarah Mizhar, the session introduced participants to Monet’s Water Lilies before handing them black-and-white sketches to reinterpret in colour. Using crayons, colour pencils, and pink fabric flowers, the workshop participants recreated the iconic artwork in 3D, blending creativity with a touch of tactile realism.

“The children are turning Monet’s Lilies into 3D art. Through this workshop they learn about the painter and his technique,” explained Mizhar. “Each day, we introduce a different artist — from Van Gogh’s Starry Night to Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring and Frida Kahlo’s self-portrait. The idea is to let children recreate key details using different materials such as textured paper, thread, and fabric.”

The Living Art series is part of SIBF’s diverse cultural and creative programme, which runs for 12 days at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme Between You and a Book. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the fair features more than 300 cultural events, 158 Arab and international guests, over 750 workshops in Arabic and English, and 85 live performances from 12 countries.

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