Winners of “Translation” and “Fine Arts” announced

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award announced this year’s Winner for Translation to be Dr. Albert Habib Mutlaq from Lebanon for his book “The Animal Encyclopedia” (by Lebanon Bookshop, Beirut 2009 – translated from the original “Animal Encyclopedia by Dorling-Kindlersley Publishing, London.) The Award’s Secretary General, Rashed Al Oraimi, elaborated that the Advisory Council’s decision was due to the scientific and educational value of the encyclopedia. “The winner used a specialized yet uncomplicated style of writing that makes the Encyclopedia a valuable, easy and joyful resource to Arab readers of all ages.” Al Oraimi elaborated. “Dr. Mutlaq employed accurate scientific terminologies in an accessible and understandable structure that resulted in a well-crafted reference to last for decades” he continued. The Secretary General also announced Dr. Iyad Al Husseini from Iraq the winner of Fine Arts category for his book “the Art of Design” (Published by Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Information 2009). Al Oraimi explains that the winner sets out his ideas about visual, graphic and industrial design and the role it plays in the objects we use everyday, depicting design as beautiful, functional and accessible. “The winner’s analysis between the aesthetic production and its employment in the industry through various forms leads to a utilitarian philosophy of Fine Arts”, Al Oraimi elaborated. The winners of the remaining Award categories will be announced throughout the coming weeks, to be followed by a grand ceremony to celebrate the winning achievements on Wednesday 3rd of March 2010 at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, parallel to the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.