In 2020 Hussain was given a unique opportunity by the British Council: a commission to develop a research project and exhibition aimed at raising awareness of local climate challenges. The project was part of Climate Change Arts, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Gulf Strategy Fund.
‘I believe that people accept art much more willingly than politics,’ says Hussain. ‘There was an increase in people’s appreciation of visual art in Bahrain after the pandemic, which partly inspired me to undertake the project.’
The first part of the project was a lecture. It was led by Hussain with colleagues from the UK and USA and attended by a diverse crowd of artists, architects and anthropology enthusiasts. The second part, a workshop for young people, was so successful that Hussain was asked to repeat it.
The last part of the project was an exhibition of Hussain’s photography, accompanied by the publication of a 300-page book – the culmination of his life’s work.
Hussain was optimistic about the response to the project, which he saw as a catalyst for change. He hopes that it has inspired people to reconnect with the land and begin planting more trees. And to view farmers and their sacrifices in a new, more appreciative light.
Hussain had to juggle multiple responsibilities while completing the project, which marked a significant milestone in his artistic journey and a substantial improvement from the artist he was a decade ago.
He attributes part of this success to the support of the British Council and to British patience, ‘which doesn’t accept failure or backtracking’.
Hussain’s work is a testament to the power of art to inspire change, transcend language and political boundaries, and cultivate a deeper understanding of the world.
His lens, capturing the reality of farmers’ lives as well as the changing landscape, echoes far beyond the confines of his photographs, leaving an indelible mark on Bahrain's cultural and environmental narrative.
Hussain’s new exhibition is titled The Outing of a Game Hunter.