An artist from the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, Mona Biswarupa Mohanty, has received the UAE’s coveted “golden visa” or long-term residence visa for 10 years. People who are talented in the fields of arts, creative industries, literature and culture, heritage history and cognitive studies are granted this long-term cultural visa.
“My creative consciousness took shape in childhood as I soaked in the natural beauty and vibrant culture of my birthplace, Odisha, in eastern India. My father is a poet and lyricist. His simple writing style inspired me a lot. I draw my inspiration from my roots and also the culture of all the places I have lived in. Nature, femininity and folk culture inspire me,” Khaleej Times quoted Mohanty as saying.
With a Golden visa, foreigners can live, work and study in the West Asian country with 100 per cent ownership of their business on the UAE’s mainland. They can also live without having a national sponsor.
As per a statement, Mohanty is the first Odia artist to have been granted the UAE’s golden visa.
“I am honoured to have received the Golden Visa. These milestones in life mean a lot. They reassure you that if you follow your heart and put heart and soul, gradually you will be rewarded in more ways than you can imagine,” Mohanty said
“Receiving the Golden visa has strengthened my belief in myself, and if this can inspire other young artists, I’d consider that my biggest contribution. I listened to my heart and took this plunge and being rewarded for it tells me that when you follow your passion and give in your best, good things start happening to you,” she added.
Mohanty, who has been living in Dubai since 2007, worked in the design industry and academic field for about eight years. A self-employed art practitioner registered with the Dubai Economic Department, Mohanty has a diploma in fine arts from the School of Art and Crafts, Baripada. She also has bachelors and masters degrees.
“A long-term residency gives me an opportunity for a more meaningful cultural exchange and possibilities of working on collaborative projects with other artists,” Mohanty was quoted as saying.
“I see this as an opportunity to represent my country and culture and mingle with other cultures to contribute to the ever-growing global cultural heritage,” she further said.
