2023-10-22 06:03:02
Every plastic experience has its own characteristics, and every artist has his own passion and distinction. So what if you combine heritage and modernity, and the nation is present with all its symbols? Leaders, women, horses, falcons, and heritage are the ones distinguished by the Emirati plastic artist Latifa Bint Issa, who believes that the artist It carries a message, and the artist must present his country to the world, and she confirms: “Art is…
Every plastic experience has its own characteristics, and every artist has his own passion and distinction. So what if you combine heritage and modernity, and the nation is present with all its symbols? Leaders, women, horses, falcons, and heritage are the ones distinguished by the Emirati plastic artist Latifa Bint Issa, who believes that the artist It carries a message, and the artist must present his homeland to the world, and she confirms: “Art is a world that opened spiritual doors for me, an encounter with myself and the universe. Every painting takes me to a door; To knock on the doors of existence.. About experience and cultural references, Zahrat Al Khaleej met the artist Latifa, and this dialogue was with her:
How did you enter the world of fine art? I was born in the city of Abu Dhabi, and grew up in a family full of art. Most of my family members have a talent for drawing and beautiful calligraphy. Colors were my passion, and chalk, and everything that left an artistic impression. I used to draw on a wall, or paper, or anything. That’s why it was not for nothing that my paintings decorated the walls of the classroom, the hallways and corridors of my school, even my homework notebook, which I used to decorate with flowers, and from here I continued in my specialty. University degree to interior design, emphasizing the concept of beauty and art together, in addition to scientific studies. I was able to combine art and scientific studies, in “Leadership, Management and Strategy,” and business administration, and obtained a master’s degree. Perhaps I am lucky because I was raised in this family. My mother appreciates art, and my brother encourages me to participate and travel, so that I can always be present, inside and outside the country.
Tell us regarding the impact of school on encouraging creativity, and what painting surprised your teachers with? School is a platform for creativity, dialogue, and communication with community messages. It opened a path for me, which I continue to this day with unparalleled passion. In the primary stage, I was a friend of the drawing teacher, and I continued the path in the middle stage, as I was in the “Al-Quds” school, and at that time I was asked to draw a painting for the school administration, a painting for women, during which I approached the faces of Emirati women wearing the burqa, and practicing the profession of talli, which is a handicraft for fashion. . The amazement of the teacher’s eyes is still in front of me. Perhaps this work was the first indication of my talent. I sent the painting to participate in an art competition at the school level, and the win was my share, which gave me motivation to continue on the path. I created, spontaneously and childishly, a sustainable painting, because I painted it on the skin and used colors from the environment, so the smell of color mixed with the smell of the skin is still present in my memory. After that, the activities continued, and I participated in the “No to Drugs” awareness workshop at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, and I won first place, and I was honored with a gift from “Mother of the Emirates.”
Hybrid art
Every artist has his own creative imprint. Where do you get your inspiration from, and how did you employ your culture in decoration and composition? I tried to have my own mark, so I used what is called “hybrid art,” and combined, with a modern dimension, design and drawing. I introduced mirrors to my works and the reflection they carry that pours into the visual language. In addition to crystal and glass, it combines heritage and modernity, and this fits perfectly into the concept of sustainability. There is no doubt that reading, following works of art, stories, novels, cinema, and music nourish the imagination. This is why I consider the artist a true ambassador for his country.
They say: “Once you become an artist, you have to learn how to accept criticism.” How do you deal with criticism? Any criticism is real interest, as it is a reading of the artistic work and a shedding light on what we do. The most important challenge I faced was changing society’s stereotyped image of the artist. I was wondering how some people cannot differentiate between a drawing and a picture. The artist has a special sensitivity, and beauty is everything we see in our beloved homeland. Everything is drawn, including palm trees and architecture. Hence comes the role of the artist, and his responsibility, to spread the vocabulary of place and environment.
What do you think of the fine art movement in the Emirates? It is natural for the plastic movement to flourish in a country where everything calls for beauty. In every exhibition and activity, there must be a corner for art, such as: book fairs, hunting and equestrian events, maritime heritage festivals, and many others, in addition to the presence of the Louvre Museum and a lighthouse. Saadiyat, all of this is a fertile environment for art. Here cultures, peoples, and elites come together. I must point out what was done by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the State, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Office, as His Highness issued an order to the concerned authorities, to put A new item in its own regulations is supporting artists, and this is an honorable and beautiful thing. For example, there are artists who have reached the international level, such as: Fatima Lootah, Najat Makki, Fayza Mubarak, Hashel Al-Lamki, Muhammad Kazem, and the mural artist Shafa Ghaddar, and many artists who have participated in international biennials, which reflects the country’s status and its continuing and influential presence in the world. Various international art events, to introduce the Emirati and Arab identity to the international art audience. Regarding my experience, I displayed my works in front of various tourists at the Emirates Palace, this cultural place.
The spirit of the place
From which aesthetic horizons does your inspiration come? Inspiration is a divine nature, to which culture and imagination are added, and most importantly the spirit of the place, and the high sense of color, nature, and details, and this was reflected in my painting “Mother of the Emirates,” as Her Highness is a role model for us all, and the painting of the late Sheikha Salama bint Butti, who is the mother of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, may God bless them both, which I drew following reading regarding it. In fact, there are women who cannot help but leave an impression on me. I do not neglect nature because of its strong influence on me, as I draw inspiration from it from the depth of color, the color of desert sand, with its gradations of colors and shapes, in addition to the color of the sky, the sea, and fashion. I like to say that decoration taught me color gradation and fantasy, and this is also reflected in my work.
What are the most prominent symbols of your visual language, and how do you create their plastic meaning? I focused a lot on the art of portraiture, of sheikhs and people who left a mark on life and history, in addition to environmental symbols, such as: falcons, horses, palm trees, and marine creatures, and other works in which I employed decorative art and drawing flowers and trees.
Your work seems to focus on horses. Tell us regarding this experience! I am a lover of horses, and I used to ride them as a child, and I acquired a culture regarding horses and their types, through attending festivals, visiting stables, and reading poetry as well, from the time of Imru’ al-Qays until now, “Deceitful, fleeing, coming, planning together.” This is poetry that reflected the movement of the horse. That’s why I tried to draw horses in multiple situations, in addition to drawing Arabian horses, and the stories behind them.
Fingers of passion and color
Can emotions be translated through visual art? Any art starts from feeling, feeling, love, and conscience, in addition to the technique of color and lines, to embody any situation.
Who have you influenced… locally, Arably, and globally? I draw my inspiration from historical and heritage books, as well as from visual images of historical figures and events. There are artists whose composition and color techniques I admire very much, such as: the artist Abdul Qader Al-Rayes, Faisal Abdul Qader, and Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Maghlouth from Saudi Arabia, and there are others. As for Western art, I am far from it, because I am of Arab heritage.
In light of artificial intelligence and technology.. How do you employ visual language and colors? I have not yet worked with artificial intelligence systems, and I have no problem trying them out. I believe that a true artist cannot abandon his physical and spiritual sense to connect with reality in his paintings. As for the art whose owners rely on artificial intelligence, it is modern art, and a type of applied “digital” or decorative arts. It is said that technology will control everything, but I believe that the artist, like the poet, will remain with his voice and feelings, the highest expression, and I do not fear for the future of artists, and the evidence is that international museums are a platform for the presence of art, the most important names, and the paintings painted with the fingertips of passion and color.
1697956385
#Latifa #Bint #Issa #UAE #fertile #environment #arts