Emirati artist Faezeh Mohammed Hassan celebrates national culture in her works

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

In the book Contemporary Art from the Islamic World she edited, Wijdan Ali notes that “in most parts of Africa and Asia, artistic roots go back to a time when people expressed their creativity in handicrafts. In the Arabian Peninsula, the most common crafts were embroidery, weaving, making jewellery in silver and gold, wood work and decorative paintings on boats, walls and the doors of houses and mosques.” The inspiration for colour and subjects in the Gulf, she adds, came from the environment and the impression it left on the people, “sparking a spontaneous interaction between the artisan, his surroundings and his media.”

Ali says that the subjects that mostly influenced painters from the Gulf were the sea, the desert, and their own societies. “One trait is common among most of the artists and that is subject matter,” she underlines. “Regardless of style, most paintings, whether city or landscapes, still life of portraits, realist or surrealist, abstract or calligraphic, unite in their choice of subjects taken from scenes of local everyday life and the indigenous culture.” Which is quite true of the works of Emirati artist Faezeh Mohammed Hassan, who speaks here to Gulf Today.

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Have you had training in art?

Yes, almost two years ago, when I decided to work in art professionally, I had joined workshops with Jack Lee in Abu Dhabi. It supported me in continuing my passion. I believe art is technique plus hard work.

Do you paint from looking at pictures or from observation?

I love plein air art and I enjoy painting live outdoors; it allows me to incorporate details that are not captured in pictures, to make my art more realistic. Seeing art is a great way to learn different techniques and also perspective. Then we can apply what we have learnt in our work and express ourselves in our own style.

  Faezeh Mohammed Hassan at an art event.

What is your favourite colour and why?

I love ochre colour, with some reddish pigment - which is one of the world’s oldest pigments. I feel it symbolises happiness, warmth and the earth itself. I see this colour all over the UAE such as in the desert, in architecture, traditional jewellery, the sun, traditional embroidery, in spices, in Emirati food …

Who are the artists that influenced you?

My favourite artist from 19th century is the French artist Gustave Courbet. I love his works! He used impressionist techniques and was a leader in Realism. Gustave Bauernfeind is my favourite Orientalist artist and recently I painted one of his famous artworks, A Street Scene in Jerusalem. But I drew Palestinian people instead of Jewish persons, in their own land. It was shown in a recent exhibition and I received a certificate of appreciation from the Consul General of Kuwait.

Do you have working hours or do you paint as per your mood?

My studio is in my house in Sharjah and I usually start painting after everyone sleeps, because I need to emotionally connect with my artwork and that’s only possible in solitude. Creation requires you to go inside the depths of yourself, to come up with something noteworthy. Usually, I like to finish my work quickly, because I don’t like my feelings about that particular subject to change. If it takes too long to finish a painting, I discontinue. So sometimes I work till morning to complete a piece.

Why do you like realistic art?

I started by painting Impressionistic works. It was perfect to finish the work outdoors very quickly; it was so alive, to be immersed in rich colours and beautiful light and shadow. Then I began portraits. But it needed more details and I was successful too, I guess. But after meeting Mahmoud Azadnia, my art master and attending a few theory workshops with him, I found I was still in love with old buildings and culture and traditions and I wanted to show the best of them. So I challenged myself with Orientalist art and realistic techniques. And enjoyed every second of it! This is me and what I adore! I have also felt that people connect more with realism and it is more accessible and appealing to a wider audience.

Why do local subjects attract you?

I like to explore my surroundings through curves, size, shapes and colours. I try to not change them, but to complete and enhance the beauty of the environment by my medium. Old places touch my imagination and spirit and I think I can’t be impressed easily by modern objects. I like things are historically deeper; I enjoy investigating abandoned and old places, history, old objects, antiques … for me they have personality, character and soul. I think we should appreciate them and teach new generations to value material from the past.

What are your future plans?

This month, I participated in Vernice Art Fair 2024 (Artisti e Associazioni Culturali in Fiera) in Italy. I am currently working on my collection for my solo art exhibition in the UAE. It contains about 20 artworks on UAE culture and consists of my original artworks from my own photography. It is also inspired by well-known photographers in the books I researched in Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, Dubai. My dream is to be honoured with my artworks being permanently displayed in a museum.