eL Saeed's 3D visit in Dubai

eL Saeed has taken the Arab world by storm with his impeccable talent of sweeping curves of letters painted astoundingly in freehand and displayed in bold colours. He has revived the elegance of the Arabic language as par with his generation.

Tunisian artist, eL Saeed

Born in Paris as Faouzi Khleefi to Tunisian parents, eL Saeed exquisitely fusions the traditional Arabic calligraphy font with a contemporary style of graffiti, giving it a fresh and vibrant kink. After devoting all his time to this new form of street art, “calligraffiti”, the revolutionary artist has emblazoned the art world with his mark.

His journey began in 2012, when he painted a magnificent minaret of a mosque in Gabes, Tunisia, and his trail of transcendent talent led him all the way to Montreal, Paris, New York, Doha, and recently even to Dubai. His trademark calligraffiti style and an impressive profile as an artist have been skyrocketing ever since. It is not just the style that have captivated the admiration of thousands, but it is also the level of accuracy executed in painting the words that cannot be paralleled without the use of some sort of meticulous instrument or digital programme, and the gripping messages he tries to convey through his artworks.

eL Saeed's calligraffiti on a minaret in Gabes, Tunisia

The painting of the minaret for example bore a verse from the Holy Quran that urges people to celebrate their disparities. This displayed that his artwork was not a notorious act of vandalism but a sincere expression of his thoughts and emotions, which he chooses to portray through art. There is another recurring phrase that he paints in his murals that are donned on several walls during his travels, “Love is the miracle of civilization”.

Saeed finds a surface to make his artwork in every country he travels

For the past year, eL Seed has been residing in Dubai at the Tashkeel studio hub, painting his signature calligraffiti style on several bare walls. He also showcased a splendid exhibition titled ‘Declaration’ that he had been planning since April and working seriously on its execution since June. It was held under the patronage of the Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, where in eL Seed literally stepped up his art to another dimension.

He incorporated 3D effects in his existing style thus forming very large, three-dimensional shapes, making the letters and words of his script-based art, life-size and cascading down walls and curving around corners of the hall, allowing guests to step over, under and around them. it was a surreal experience for the guests as they could literally view his artwork as a four-dimensional sculpture. 

Saeed's debut at Tashkeel studio

Apart form such a vivid experience, the message eL Saeed tried to convey through the visually stunning sculptures was even more inspiring as they bared hints of romanticism for the artist. The words were taken from a poem written by a Syrian poet, Nazir Qabbani, who was renowned for his sensual compositions, and the one eL Saeed chose was a poem that the poet wrote to his wife telling her that her beauty was timeless, and no matter how much she aged; she would always be beautiful in his eyes. eL Saeed seized those words to make a parallel emotional reference to his feeling towards his art – an eternal commitment. He expressed, “This show is a love declaration to calligraphy. It is an ageing art and it deserves to be honored – this poem perfectly matches that idea”.

The exhibition was a massive showcase of his artwork and also his debut in the Dubai art scene, so eL Saeed decided to display a larger-than-life sort of a show. After envisioning the concept, he solicited the help of Bahar Al Bahar, a proficient designer and 3-D specialist in the region, Dima Masoud, an exhibition designer, and also recruited up to 30 carpenters and on-site engineers to assist with the installation of his sculptures. About the experience working on the sets he said, “It was a big struggle but it was a learning experience. This was my first try, so it was really experimental, but I will definitely continue it.”

Saeed developed his calligraffiti artwork as 3D scultptures

The closing of his exhibition however marked the end of his residency in Dubai but paved the way to the next enthusing stage of his career. While sharing his thought about his residency in Dubai he expressed, “When I started this residency, I was very aware of the labels already placed upon me as an Arab street artist, so the goal, ultimately, is to break free of those names. I don’t think I have achieved it yet, but this exhibition, where I have not used spray paint or a brush but created an installation, which is something that I have never done before, is one of the steps and the end of this residency marks a new turn in my artistic career.”

eL Saeed truly portrays the attributes of a true artist, one who never quits or stops in his quest to achieve progress and who is progressive in terms of experimenting with new styles and media. And while having all these qualities he also displays a refreshingly humble temperament. He believes that his art represents him and admits that he is thankful for being born and raised in Paris as it led him to finding and reconnecting with his roots and ultimately reviving the Arabic language through his art.

eL Saeed wishes Eid Mubarak through in his style

Due to this honest representation of him, eL Seed is now among the most esteemed artists of his generation and continues to become more established each day through his work that has inspired a wave of empowerment in the Arab world over the span of just a few years.

Letting the imaginations run wild

Imagination is the highest kite one can fly, and who can have a more vivid imagination than children. Their inquisitive, elastic minds and an incredible spirit of adventure and love for play give them the power to capacitate an infinite spectrum of imagination.

The mind of children is like clay, if moulded correctly it can create brilliance. They are seekers of magic; they look for something thrilling to believe in and to run wild with their imagination. They are fearless in expressing themselves and exploring this attitude is what will develop inspired, creative minds of tomorrow.

A child painting at the Sharjah Children's Biennial

This was the vision behind launching the Sharjah Children’sBiennial a few years ago, which is already in its fourth successful edition this year, and has been able to magnetize budding talent of children displayed in more than 500 artworks from all over the world.

Encompassing the entire stretch of the Sharjah Art Museum, this year’s biennial will be running until February 9 and is an extremely unique and innovative medium of displaying raw, untapped talent of children in the UAE. Being first in the region, this event called for an open worldwide hunt for artworks created by children and made selections from an extensive myriad of submissions.

A display of the many selected artworks at the Sharjah Children's Biennial

Nasir Nasrallah, the biennial curator said, “We worked closely with schools in the UAE and the region, as well as with embassies to reach out internationally. We were really surprised at the quality and talent of the art we received”. This was evident whilst strolling through the exhibition hall that was donned with 550 exquisite artworks of children ranging from ages 5 to 18, from all over the globe – the United States and the Czech Republic to Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.

The theme of this year’s biennial was “Questions” which was interpreted impeccably in the paintings and drawings that were submitted and truly displayed the amplitude of a young child’s imagination, aptly serving the purpose of choosing the theme. As expressed by Nasrallah, “We chose ‘questions’ as the theme because children are naturally curious and want to know as much as possible. We wanted to make the most of that and we wanted them to keep on asking – it is not necessary to get an answer from this show.”

Children engaging in the workshop activities held during the biennial

The artworks submitted for this year’s edition covered a diverse array of topics such as environment, technology, fairy tales, architecture, culture, and language that all at some degree creatively reflected the “questions” theme. These artworks will not be solely stationed at the Art Museum but will be relocated to other venues in Sharjah during the second month of the biennial for greater exposure and awareness among the residents of Sharjah, maybe even the rest of the UAE for developing children’s artistic abilities.   

A display of the many selected artworks at the Sharjah Children's Biennial

The exhibition which has been organized under the patronage of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, the wife of Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah has been divided into six segments – How, Who, What, Where, When, and Why. In the months leading up to the biennial, Nasrallah and his team organized six invigorating workshops, each within its respective category, to guide and mentor the children in the UAE to create artworks that would potentially be selected for display in the exhibition.

The workshops were a medium through which Nasrallah and his team strived to explore deeper into the youth’s talent by organizing several interactive activities. In the “How” segment there were activities that taught the children all about inventing personal codes and painting or drawing their questions on canvases that were later stretched over light boxes. Whereas the “When” segment tried to delve into the concept of time in which prominent Emirati artist, Dr. Najat Makki headed a workshop on old traditions of Emirati families and how to draw inspiration from their inherent culture.

The “Who” segment was all about portraiture and blending with the fast emerging social media by organizing an interactive class on ways to take the best selfie. To keep children engaged and stimulated throughout the workshop an interactive wall was assembled for children to hang empty bottles of water in which they were encouraged to plant seeds. According to Nasrallah, “We had to think of as many ways as possible to keep the children interested and constantly entertained. This wall encourages them to come back again and see how their plants are growing”.

A display of the many selected artworks at the Sharjah Children's Biennial

Apart from the workshops on the six segments there were several other stalls set up to enthuse the young crowd and open their minds to the numerous ways that can be used to express their imagination and artistic creativity. A local perfume company for instance held a workshop to expose children to carious different fragrances and draw their reactions based on it.

Art is not just about drawing or painting, even food is way to express art and creativity, this was encouraged during the exhibition by the pop-up stall built by ‘MUMMUM’, a Saharjah restaurant that is devoted to offering a platform for food prepared by children. Throughout the exhibition the children were guided to opening their minds to other forms of art apart from just drawing or painting, like photography, sculpture, and installations. “This exhibition is by the children and for the children”, expressed Nasrallah and added that, “Art is important for all children, even if they are not going to pursue it in later life, it can help them in any career and with life skills in general”.

The biennial also welcomed the talent of children with disabilities and encouraged their involvement by displaying selected artwork of special needs students and deaf children studying at the Sharjah Humanitarian City.

The biennial proved to be an unprecedented prospect for acquiring an exclusive insight into the mind of young children, our future generation, and how they view the world around them. Looking at the artworks displayed at the biennial it is evident that children are not as naïve today as we may think. They are in fact well aware of the challenges that the world is facing and if given a chance they will can be a valuable resource for communities as they can help discover innovative ways to overcome the challenges.  

A display of the many selected artworks at the Sharjah Children's Biennial

As quoted by Manal Ataya, the director general of Sharjah Museums Department, “The biennial is a wonderful chance to support the children of today on their path to being the leaders of tomorrow. That path includes having opportunities to be creative, to express thoughts and emotions through art, and to make positive long-lasting connections with peers and across cultures.”

Reminiscing Dubai

The proficient Dubai based artist, Kathryn Wilson is slowly making her mark in the art world with her exquisite creative streak and an inherent flare for art. Having grown up in the hot sandy desert scene of Dubai, when she revisited her native home in England’s Lake District as a teenager, the relocation created a surprising reaction of homesickness within her.

Proficient Dubai-based artist, Kathryn Wilson

It was not that she resented being back in the majestic, picturesque countryside of the United Kingdom, it was more like a reminiscence of the cultural lifestyle, the deserts and the wadis of the UAE that lingered in her memories, ones that she latched on to till she decided to move back to Dubai six years ago.

Wilson returned when she was in her mid-20s, and immediately accepted a job as an art teacher at Repton School to keep herself sustained. She soon realized during her term as a teacher at the school that Dubai had evolved radically and was nothing like she had left behind a few years back. She remarked that the experience of returning and witnessing the revolution of the place was absolutely surreal, and in order to make it her home once again she would have to relearn it.

She expressed that this process of trying to refresh her memory of the place is what stimulated her creative streak and led her towards exploring her innate artistic talent. She said,  “When I arrived back in Dubai, it was like coming home, but it was also overwhelming because I knew the place so well but there was so much that was new. I found it inspiring to find my way again and I got hooked on painting and photography specifically during that time.”

Wilson was quick about working towards her goal and displaying her remarkable artistic flare in the art world. It was in 2011; when she managed to host her first solo debut exhibition under the patronage of Al Madina Art Gallery in Muscat, Oman in a temporary space available in the city’s Al Oraimi Centre. The show was titled, “Coffee and Kaleidoscopes” and was a tasteful display of many pieces that Wilsom had been working on since her return to the UAE.

Wilson's one of many paintings at 'Coffee and Kaleidoscopes' 

When asked about how her experience was during her debut show she stated, “My paintings had evolved and I was doing a lot of it and it was very different from anything I’d done before,” and added that, “It was really encouraging to see people appreciating it and buying it at that first exhibition”. Wilson’s journey from there forth was quick paced as she soon became a part of several group shows hosted by Jamjar, Mojo Gallery, and the Abu Dhabi Art Hub.

She has become quite popular in Dubai’s art scene with her work appearing in frequently visited public places like on the mural wall outside the Dubai Ladies Club on Jumeirah Beach Road and also in the lobby of Centurion Star Tower in Deira, the latter being a contracted work prepared in alliance with the renowned, Capsule Arts.

Kathryn Wilson artwork

At present, Wilson, 32, is the director of art at Brighton College Abu Dhabi and is continually making a name in the UAE’s art scene through her phenomenal artworks. She specializes in the abstract form of art with most of her paintings being abstract, flaunting vivid colors and symbolizing the essence of the place that she has loved and cherished during childhood. She explains, “My abstract paintings are like a journey. I sit down having no idea what is going to happen and just let them evolve. When I’m finished, they really remind me of a place I have visited either in Oman or the UAE – usually deserts, wadis, caves or plateaus – they are not realistic but they are my perception and the result of letting my subconscious go.”

Wilson has recently started dabbling with painting waves and capturing the ferocious power of the sea, something she expresses she has concurrently been charmed and petrified by but has inspired her artworks tremendously. Her waves paintings are a significant theme in many of her larger mural works. She also draws inspiration for this subject matter from the beach side view of her Dubai Marina home studio, which overlooks the sea and is in her view every time she sits down to work at her easel.   “There is a sort of flow to my work, which is because painting for me is a way of letting a creative flow continue”, she remarks.

Wilson holds a very optimistic vision for her future as an artist, promising never to abandon painting and says, “I hope to carry on creating in this way and getting involved in more bespoke work and commissions and would also like to gear myself up for another exhibition in the near future.”

Away from homeland...

Immigration is what carves the present face of the world. It is not a new concept as immigration has been prevalent since the historic times when people travelled from one country to another for the purpose of trading goods and labor. Today, people emigrate from their native countries to foreign nations for several reasons such as better employment offers, education, better quality of life and future prospects being the leading influential forces.

However, immigration is not always an easy adjustment for people as they face several economic and socio-cultural challenges and obstacles on arrival. They are expected to embrace the culture and new society in order to live harmoniously and in doing so they have to make alterations to their traditional lifestyle, cultural values, norms, and practices, learn the foreign language, while trying to create a steady financial position in order to sustain their living.

Iraqi artist, Kareem Risan

While some people face an easy transition into the foreign land there are some who have to endure intense hardships, like the Iraqi artist Kareem Risan, whose migration from his homeland to Canada was not a facile feat. He decided to paint his emotions to find peace in himself and in doing so; he splendidly chronicled his migration struggles in an array of paintings unveiled during his December exhibition titled, ‘Steps in Migration’.

Karim Risan's exhibition titled, "Steps in Migration"

In one of Risan’s stirring painting captioned, ‘Entry To Paradise’ you can see a factual pictorial representation of the first step of migration and one can sense the apprehension and ambiguity that a person must feel on arrival to a foreign land, away from their homeland. The painting shows characters lined up, with their arms outstretched and clutching papers in their fists, waiting for an ethereal dressed in white to allow them entry. The presence of the sublime white figure and the caption of the painting could at first glance give the impression that the artist is alluding to a divine dimension but on exploring deeper in to the exhibition it becomes clear that the artist has tried to express his experience of migration. 

Karim Risan's painting captioned, "Entry to Paradise"

On asking Risan to explain his thoughts while creating the artwork he said, “Some people really believe that they will be entering paradise by emigrating to a certain country. But for myself, I did not choose it. I was forced and it was certainly not paradise for me.” He first migrated with his family to Syria, leaving behind their treasured homeland, Iraq, in 2006 amidst the catastrophic scene of war that had his country completely swathed in its dreadful clutches and then ultimately in 2008, they migrated to Canada where they decided to settle for long.

Speaking about his experience of living in Canada and his reactions towards the western society he remarked being shocked at first by the climate and then the culture, he said he was consumed with a myriad of questions that yearned to being explored, and it was his passion for art that filled the void that had developed within him after migrating from his homeland. He said, “The answers have not yet been decided but my questions have profoundly affected my artistic practice”.

Karim Risan's artworks to be displayed at his exhibition titled, "Steps in Migration"

‘Steps in Migration’ was showcased in Dubai’s MeemGallery and despite having worked with them for many years, it is Risan’s first solo debut with the gallery and he admits that all the paintings that have been displayed in the exhibition are the fruit of his dedicated labor of more than a year and he has poured in them, his deepest emotions and struggles. So the show holds a profound personal attachment to him.

Painting exhibited during Risan's 'Steps in Migration' show

He expresses, “All the show is my story. When I left my country and went to Canada, I struggled with many things like language, community, society and my health. I had many problems and my only form of expression was in painting.”

The figures that were drawn in the ‘Entry to Paradise’ painting recur throughout the other paintings of the exhibition; the figures of men and women with vacant faces and wry limbs are mere manifestations of random people undergoing the same experiences as him. But what captivates one’s eye is the manifestation of Risan himself that he has painted in the centre of each image either in the form of a wooden mannequin or as a figure bearing glasses and a green hat.

Painting exhibited during Risan's 'Steps in Migration' show

Every painting created by Risan speaks of his struggle of acclimatizing in the new world, like in the painting captioned, ‘Man is Not Made to Live Below Zero’, he has painted the mannequin of himself losing his limbs and his green hat floating in the top right corner. When asked what he was trying to portray he simply said, “The snow and the freezing ice broke me. And the many question marks in the painting show my confusion.”

Apart from the recurring theme of his struggle to acclimatize, his paintings also convey an prevailing theme of miscommunication as one can interpret in many of his artworks. Like the random presence of microphones, loose wires, and light bulbs that seem to be unlit. This could be the barrier of communication that Risan and many other immigrants like him have to face when they are plunged into a culture completely diverse from their own, having to become proficient in the foreign language or then having to face the discomfort of being misunderstood or ignored.

Risan's painting depicting microphones, loose wires, and light bulbs

At least that is what happened with Risan when he first arrived in Canada, his words went unheard, and his talent remained undetected, a theme he has perfectly typified in another painting captioned, ‘No One Hears Me’. He has drawn his character sitting in the centre of the frame while talking into a microphone, only that the microphone is unplugged and the speech bubble next to his mouth remains empty. It is a very symbolic representation as his character is also drawn bearing two ears on one side of his head, to denote him being a careful listener, however his voice is muted.

Risan's painting captioned, 'No One Hears Me'

In addition to the paintings there is also a fascinating display of ink-on-paper artworks, a deeply personal collection of Risan that he has titled, ‘Memories of Cold Nights’. He remarks these pieces being a creation of the many sleepless nights he endured and the only way he was able to express his feelings as drawing on paper is the only thing that inspired within him a sense of freedom.  He has kept the characters with vacant faces and wry limbs as an echoing motif in these artworks as well that appear to be more amplified in black and white.

Risan's black-and-white illustrations titled, 'Memories of Cold Nights'

“The years I spent in Canada have changed my heart a little, they have pushed me to expressing myself more through my art,” says Risan. The raw sentiment that lays hidden behind his paintings is what makes ‘Steps in Migration’ a riveting experience for not solely the people who have endured similar struggles caused by forced immigration from one’s homeland, but also for anyone with a keen eye for symbolic art.

Art After Dark

James De Valera, aka Break DJ Lobito, a famed music curator and supporter of vinyl culture, and also street art here in the MENA region brought along more than just a bag full of records, he initiated an innovative idea of ‘Art After Dark’.

Break DJ Lobito at his best

Being recently counted amongst the top 5 DJs worldwide and having entertained massive crowds of at least 37,000 people at once, De Valera eagerly took over the DJ job at No 5 Lounge & Bar in the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, situated within the bustling Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

No 5 Lounge & Bar in the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Dubai

After closely working as the co-organizer of the DIFC Art Nights, where the galleries host daily open music evenings and entertain guests with great tunes and food, De Valera was sparked with an ingenious idea of further lengthening the area of the outdoor terrace and thus conceptualizing the idea for Art After Dark.

What casually began as the official after-party for DIFC Art Nights, has now turned into an every Sunday evening event where in an artist exhibits his or her work and partakes in a live performance. De Valera, also provides a kind of artistic compilation for the schedule of events. When asked about how he would explain himself as an artist he states, “I’ve never been the kind of DJ that plays to the crowd or goes down the commercial road, so I have quite a bit of artistic integrity about what I do. I felt that The Ritz-Carlton has always supported art and culture so it was a good match.”

The Sunday evenings at the Ritz-Carlton are drowned in an inspiring creative energy as every week, De Valera chooses a new artist who is allotted the terrace to be used as a gallery space for hosting a solo exhibition in which the artist can display his or her artwork that allows a portrayal of his or her artistic flare, and is also expected to perform a live piece for the guests as an extension of their artistic expression. The emphasis of the Art After Dark event is principally on street art and aerosol artists as De Valera feels they are often represented with bias.

“What’s interesting about aerosol and street art is that galleries often bunch artists together without letting their individual talent show. We want to show the whole history and culture of street art and celebrate its temporary nature by having the show go up and down in one day”, expresses De Valera when asked about what his vision is behind the Art After Dark concept.

De Lavera also goes by his moniker; “Melancholy” claims the Art After Dark show being his first solo debut as an artist, which overwhelmed him into giving his best performance. The artist has received a fine arts degree from the Philippines and expresses that street and aerosol art is good for him and most of his work is greatly inspired from the hip-hop culture. He says, “I was into a Surrealist style, so I still use that but now I work it in with calligraphy and letters. I’m definitely happy to show my work and I think this event is a great idea for people like me.”

De Lavera aka Break DJ Lobito

He is an extremely talented artist, dabbling in several forms of art to express his creativity. He is renowned in the region for being the first to organize a professional international breakdance competition in the emirate and has been a magnetizing force behind launching one of the leading communities for street artists in the Gulf and the entire MENA region through his innovative idea of hosting Art After Dark. All this while he remains the music curator for Art Nights at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and is in the process of collating together local musicians, dancers, and artists as he believes art can be expressed through more than one medium. He also wishes to introduce the Gulf audience to more art nights, Bboy competitions, and music workshops.

He has also started laying the groundwork for his first every begun documentary project where in he aims to explore and display how the regional youth express themselves through art, music and dance, while focusing on the street subcultures which have rapidly surfaced over the past few years and continue to grow everyday. Also, recently he co-founded Raqs Records, which happens to be a Dubai-based record label committed to quality music.