the year that was...

season's greetings . 2020

this post initially started off as a rant about how bad 2020 was. but i think it's pretty clear everyone had an overall awful year. so instead of stating the obvious, i thought i'd share 20 realisations i learnt in 2020:

20 – i survived 2020 and everything this year threw at me! and that's something to be chuffed about i think...

19 – with all the projects that got postponed or canceled, i still had the opportunity to work on projects that are probably some of my favourites (check out earlier posts from this year).

18 – the art/cultural community here are really cliquey. this realisation really made me sad. but all i have to say about it is 'better alone than badly accompanied'.

17 – longevity is key – i'm going to continue making work i want to make, clique and fad free! and i'm confident that i'll be rewarded for it, whether it's tomorrow or when i've left this world behind.

16 – i do really well with being with myself, and realised that it doesn't come easy to many. i hope i continue to be this way...

15 – laughter is the best medicine. and i laughed so much with my sister(s) at home after sharing our daily happenings and comparing receipts about basic people in our community! call it sibling bonding, we enjoy it...

14 – i don't think i can do any more zoom meetings, or attend online art talks that have the same people involved over and over again. 

13 – 2020 brought out the worst in people, including myself. also, people can't differentiate between critique from opinion. and those that perform on social media are really sad. here's paying less attention to unwanted noise in 2021... 

12 – design is so much cooler than art!

11 – someone told me that my work is the positive energy we needed this year. and i love that.

10 – the art residency at the cultural foundation got me excited again about having a studio practise. i can't wait to go back to my studio in dubai and pick up where i left off, and not just prioritise client-based projects.

09 – i like wearing masks. 

08 – i like hanging out with non-art world friends.

07 – i hope people pay attention to my work the same way they're attentive every time i post an online rant!

06 – 2020 was supposed to be the year i celebrated a decade of my practise (and this blog). unfortunately, that didn't happen. maybe i should celebrate in 2021? commemorative 'khalid says dance' tees anyone? or throw an 'everlasting disco' party maybe?!

05 – social media is the bane of humanity's existence. here's to taking a step back from it next year.

04 – i failed prioritising self care this year. 2021 give me the discipline to succeed.

03 – disco never died! thank you jessie ware, róisín murphy & of course, kylie minogue for releasing albums that made the year so much better.

02 – dancing makes me happy, and i will dance again in 2021.

01 – if this year taught me anything, it's that family are who i need the most when everything's falling apart. they're all i have, and i love them so much.

here's to 2021 not being a repeat of this strange year. 2020 was a reset button, and things needed to get really bad for it to get better (i hope). the world is changing so fast – i guess it's all part of this strange journey called life and we're bound to move with these changes to not be left behind. please 2021, whatever you have in store for us, be good to us all.

i end this post with a 'season's greetings' hand stamped print i made for close friends and loved ones – reach out if you'd like one! i might make this an annual end of year tradition. the visuals are from the work i've been creating during my time at the art residency in abu dhabi (more on that in a future post).

season's greetings and a happy new year to everyone. much love...

  

 

dear dance floor

'dear dance floor' mini comic . 2020

here's my contribution to the second edition of 'corniche' – a comics anthology published by the sharjah art foundation. i'm so happy to be included in both anthologies (to read about last year's corniche, click here).

my contribution this year is 'dear dance floor' – a five page mini comic about my longing for going out to dance. this year was the least i've gone out for a night of dancing because of the covid pandemic, and it's been a very difficult realisation to accept. i felt like i wasn't myself at times, and the opportunity to let out the difficulties of a long, hard week on the dance floor had been taken away from me. i'm hearing about how some of my favourite spaces have not survived this strange year, and have closed their doors permanently. i don't want to think about whether there will be any dance floors left once things go back to normal (whenever that may be). since there's no physical dancing happening in my life, i thought it would be a good idea to create a short comic sharing how i feel. i hope whoever sees this enjoys the end result, and finds it relatable in some way. we're all longing for something that's been lost or missing. let's hope these feelings don't last forever.

thank you nasir nasrallah for having me on board once again in this year's 'corniche' alongside some of the most talented illustrators in town! 'corniche' is now available for purchase at the focal point art book fair (shout out to the focal point team for putting on an amazing fair yet again!), and will also be available at the sharjah art foundation's shop once the fair is over.

below is a little gif of 'dear dance floor' in all it's printed glory! make sure to grab a copy. corniche 2020 is a beautiful book to own...

dear dance floor in corniche . 2020

focal point 2020

focal point art book fair e-vite . 2020

my favourite cultural event in the uae is back! the sharjah art foundation's focal point art book fair is back for a third year and i can't wait! it's the only local event that i get excited for all year and i'm so happy the pandemic didn't cancel this too.

just like every year, a selection of local, regional and international publications will be on display and for sale, from both independent and established publishers, ranging from art books, monographs, comics, zines and other forms of alternative publishing. along with the amazing selection of publications to choose from, there will also be a series of free workshops to attend (with limited capacity of participants) and live music.

i am also happy to announce that a selection of my publications will be available for sale at the fair, including old ones and a couple of mini comics i worked on this year – garden gathering and hoof. i'm also included in the second edition of corniche, a comics anthology with contributions from some of the greatest illustrators in town! more on that in a future blog post, but if you want to know more about last year's edition of corniche, check out the link here. below is a teaser of the wraparound cover for this year's edition, with a beautiful illustration by nasir nasrallah.

focal point will be from 16-19 december 2020. with covid safety precautions in place, attending this year requires booking online and choosing a 2 hour slot during the fair hours in order to manage the crowds. so please make sure to do so – book online here. and for more information and details on this year's edition of focal point, head here. see you all there...

corniche 2020 cover (by nasir nasrallah) . 2020 (courtesy of the sharjah art foundation)

the palm tree of life at dubai design week

the palm tree of life at dubai design week . 2020 (image by fatma al mahmoud)

i'm so happy to announce that my textile piece 'the palm tree of life' is being exhibited at this year's edition of dubai design week. this is the second time this piece is shown – the first being in the 'fashcultivate' exhibition last year at 1971 design space, whom the piece was originally commissioned for and is part of their permanent collection.

the 'fashcultivate' exhibition, curated by khulood bint thani and fatma al mahmoud, returns with a new exhibition design by alya alghfeli. dubai design week is from the 9th until 14th november. so make sure to check it out if you can, and keep your social distancing in check! this exhibition has some great fashion and textile pieces on display – photos don't do it justice. the dubai design week edition of 'fashcultivate' is on display in building 5, at dubai design district (d3). for exhibition and venue details, check out the links here and here.

before ending this post, i'd like to thank khulood for her constant support and inviting me to be a part of this exhibition last year. also a huge thank you to fatma, alya and the entire 1971 team for their efforts in installing the show, their constant updates over whatsapps and dm's, and making sure it all looks great for the public to enjoy...

if speech is silver...continued

if speech is silver... (body wrap) . 2019

if speech is silver... (sarong) . 2019

if speech is silver... (shirt) . 2019

if speech is silver... (mask) . 2020

hello november – this strange year is almost coming to a close. hopefully, no more surprises until then...

i'm happy to announce my textile series 'if speech is silver...' will be exhibited once again some time early next year. for those that missed the exhibition and post about this particular textile series, check out last year's post here. in addition to the 3 textile pieces created last year (body wrap, sarong and shirt), i was commissioned to create an additional textile piece for next year's exhibition. keeping with the theme of talismanic textiles, i created a face mask, inspired by the traditional face covering worn around the middle east, commonly known as a 'burqa' or 'battulah'. and just like the previous pieces, i incorporated letters from an ancient script that was among the many languages preceding arabic, titled 'dadanitic' – commonly used in regions around today's saudi arabia. here's a short description about the new edition to the collection:

the tradition of face coverings and wearing masks in the region is deeply prominent, rooted in the region’s history and culture. concealing one’s face happens for various reasons, be it religious, a form of modesty, or protection from various factors including weather. even though covering one’s face in the region is commonly practised amongst women, there are some instances where men cover their face as well.

by adorning the battulah with select letters from the dadanitic script that reference talismanic symbols, the mask will carry properties that protect the wearer when worn. can a mask with symbolic protective powers serve a purpose in today’s world? looking back at 2020, covering one’s face has become extremely prevalent, with mandatory mask wearing a common practise in most parts of the world. there is a sense of pertinence to reviving age-old traditions of wearing talismanic garments for these uncertain times – protection is both a physical and intangible force.

i'm really happy with how the mask turned out. it really does feel talismanic with its combination of patterns, motifs and symbols, pigments and dyes, embroidery and fringe – all carrying talismanic properties based on textile traditions.

stay tuned for a future post announcing the exhibition details. until then, enjoy looking at the complete 'if speech is silver...' collection. this is the first time i photographed my textile works prior to sending them off to exhibit – usually i photograph my works at the show. i have to thank my buddy azim for all his help in assisting with the setup and photography. i should definitely invest more time in photographing future textile works, and maybe invest in a textile display stand!

speak out...

silence kills . 2020

i worked on the illustration above for the lebanese offices of medecins sans frontieres for their #inktober2020 instagram campaign. i've never participated in any inktober activities in the past, but i made the exception on this occasion as it was for a good cause and spreading an important message.

each invited illustrator was assigned a topic to illustrate. i was assigned 'speaking out', which is one of msf's important core beliefs as an independent medical, humanitarian organisation. as msf provides medical aid and support for people in various countries in crisis, they are also vocal about their stance when disagreeing with certain views or politics when helping in a particular country. msf observe neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal humanitarian and medical aid, but neutrality is not synonymous with silence. according to dr. james orbinski, former president of msf, "we are not sure that words can save lives, but we know that silence can certainly kill".

we're seeing examples of people stepping out to voice the wrongs that are happening everywhere. it's important to speak up than stay silent, especially in these times. my illustration is inspired by these acts of speaking out, and shows how one might feel when they're not able to speak the truth. the arabic on the cage loosely translates to 'silence kills'...

thank you msf lebanon for reaching out, and i hope you're happy with the illustration. to know more about msf's approach to speaking out, head to the link here. and check out their instagram page to see the other illustrations in their campaign. i end this post with a process gif to show you where the illustration started and how it evolved into the final you see above.

hoof

hoof . 2019

late last year, i worked on a short comic that was meant to be published in an upcoming comics anthology for release some time this year. unfortunately, because of the covid situation, the publication is on hold until further notice. until then, i wanted to share with you the mini comic i worked on titled 'hoof'!

'hoof' is based off a gazelle like creature that's been in the back of my mind for some time. hoof was conceived during a comic book making workshop i was part of years ago, where i created a more child-friendly version of the character (see 'hoof & fin'). 'hoof' is this mythical creature inspired from folktales from the uae. the realm of emirati folktales is fairly new to me, and have only recently been researching it because of access to stories translated to english (in case you've forgotten, my arabic is quite bad!). there are countless stories of creatures luring in the dark, to scare children and keep them away from wandering off into the desert or away from their homes. this also goes back to the tradition of believing in spirits and djinns which is quite common.

i wanted to create a short story inspired from these local traditions of folktales and storytelling, as well as the action packed superhero comics i grew up reading. 'hoof' in short, is about not believing everything you hear. sometimes, what you're told to fear or believe is bad, might not be as bad as you think. 

i hope to develop the world of 'hoof', and create an epic comic about his adventures, where he comes from, and the colourful characters he meets along the way. i just hope i get to do it someday. until then, i hope you enjoy this short story.

off to the cultural foundation...

the cultural foundation i . 2015 (for 'emirati expressions:conventions of arts')

hello october! i am happy to announce that i'm off to abu dhabi for the next three months for an artist residency at the cultural foundation. i was supposed to start my residency earlier in the year, but between working on a few projects, which later got canceled because of the pandemic, and then the immediate lockdown, i was able to push my residency for the last three months of 2020. let's hope things don't get worse and not lead to another lockdown. 

the reason i applied to be a part of the residency was because i wanted to concentrate on making work without having to follow any briefs or exhibition themes. i've prioritised a lot of client based projects of late for the obvious reason of being financially self-sufficient. because of this, i haven't been able to focus on a studio practise that's explorative or just making work for myself. i'm hoping the residency allows for me to be playful and explore ideas and projects i have yet to come up with. i also think the residency will be a great opportunity to really have some time to myself, away from distractions of home, friends, social media and the depressing news of the world. 

i plan to share my artist residency experience, as well any projects that come my way. the next three months should be exciting, so stay tuned.

blue's rules

'blue's rules' covid-19 safety illustrations for warehouse 421 . 2020

we're in september and the world still hasn't been rid of coronavirus! numbers seem to be increasing locally, and the news around the world isn't getting better. it seems like the world has gone mad, and it's all too much to cope with at times. but i'd like to think that our earth is going through some changes, and things need to get worse for it to get better.

projects like these, however, make coping with bad news slightly easier. with warehouse 421 finally reopening after it's abrupt closure in march due to the covid-19 pandemic, i was commissioned by the team to work on a series of covid-19 safety precaution illustrations for the space, informing guests on how to behave when occupying the premises. the team wanted something fun and cartoony, similar to my mini comic 'garden gathering'. we came up with the idea of having a mascot showing me around the warehouse, explaining the rules that need to be followed. the mascot is none other than blue – warehouse 421 manager faisal's pet dog! as an active occupant of the warehouse, it made sense to have blue as my illustrated dog guide, walking me through the rules as we navigate ourselves around the warehouse.

i really like how these illustrations turned out, and i can't wait to see their application around warehouse 421 in person. if you're visiting warehouse 421, make sure to check them out in person. and make be sure to follow blue's rules! thank you warehouse 421 for the opportunity.

covid-19 artist relief print sale round 2

'gulf photo plus covid-19 artist relief print sale round 2' announcement . 2020 (image courtesy of gpp)

'eviction' for 'gulf photo plus covid-19 artist relief print sale round 2' . 2020 (image courtesy of gpp)

eviction . 2020

i'm so happy to announce my participation in round 2 of the gulf photo plus 'covid-19 artist relief print sale', in collaboration with 6:3 collective. the print sale aims to support those in the creative community that have been impacted by the covid-19 pandemic. these have been very tough times for people everywhere, and many in the local creative community have been struggling over the last few months with projects postponed or entirely canceled.

i worked on a new illustration titled 'eviction' of some emptied out architecture i spotted in sharjah that'll probably be demolished at some point in time. i found it beautiful, and thought it would be a great opportunity to illustrate it for the print sale. i hope the illustration generates interest, and people purchase it. i guarantee it will look great in your homes!

'eviction' is priced at aed 350, and measures at 15 x 10 in. if my print isn't what you fancy, there's plenty of other beautiful prints to choose from, created by some of the most talented uae-based graphic designers and illustrators. it's truly an honour to be showcased alongside many of my peers and closest friends.

please head to the 'covid-19 artist relief print sale' page here. the sale will be live until october, so get to shopping now! whether it's for yourself or presents for others, your purchases will truly help those involved.

masking out

mask exploration . 2020

it's officially summer! 

in addition to the first half of the year being an absolute mind****, we now have to bear the scorching heat with half our faces covered thanks to coronavirus. funny enough, before the world moved into mandatory mask wearing, i've been wanting to work on masks as part of my textile practise. so far, i've worked on textile projects for adorning the human body (capes, wraps). i want to continue these explorations through mask making.

concealing one's face comes in various forms and practises found in many cultures around the world. it holds great significance in the arab world, wearing masks or face coverings for various reasons – religious or spiritual, adhering to certain weather conditions, or as a way of dressing conservatively. there is a rich history behind mask wearing rooted in nomadic traditions which have carried through to contemporary face coverings we see today.

i'm interested in exploring masks as a tool for expression. with your face concealed, how can you convey emotion? in many tribal ceremonies, costumes and masks are worn to exaggerate movement and expression, sometimes transforming the wearer to present someone otherworldly and magical. i find these traditions so fascinating and want to explore these practises in my works.

the short gif above shows my first attempt at making a mask that comes alive with movement. it's made from a used medical face mask and multi-coloured ribbons. this is very much a prototype, introducing myself with the process of constructing a mask. i had so much fun making it, and loved the results when wearing it. i felt like i was dancing again, the mask exaggerating my movement.

i'm definitely excited for making more masks in the near future so stay tuned. until then, enjoy the gif above, and notice how my glasses fly off my face! thank you azim al ghussein for taking these photos under the summer sun, and helping me find my glasses hidden in the bushes...

kleaning out my kloset

'kleaning out my kloset' logo . 2020

i'd like to announce a new project i'm setting up titled 'kleaning out my kloset'. 

over the last few months, i've been struggling with trying to clean my room and make a proper living space for myself. my bedroom has been in an embarrassingly bad state since my early twenties, and i haven't been successful in cleaning it up since! but in recent attempts during the covid lockdown, i began clearing out my cupboard, and noticed the amount of t-shirts i've collected over the years.

i've always loved t-shirts. it's become a sort of uniform, wearing a graphic tee on a daily basis. if i'm not wearing one, you know something is wrong! my t-shirts are a reflection of my interests – i love rocking a tee of one of my favourite pop stars, or of characters from comics or tv shows i've grown to love. i wish i kept every t-shirt i wore since i was a kid. i still recall some of my favourite t-shirts in high school which were either discarded or donated once i outgrew them. which is why i've been collecting all my t-shirts over the last couple of decades. some have been difficult to let go of, and some were kept in hopes that i'd be able to wear them again someday.

i've always received compliments over the t-shirts i've worn. i'd like to think i've acquired quite a strong collection of tees. i'm slowly rediscovering many forgotten t-shirts as i clean out my closet, carefully folding and storing them in appropriate boxes, archiving them since i have no plans of getting rid of them anytime soon. with that in mind, i decided to create an instagram account sharing my collection of t-shirts online. i hope it becomes a digital archive and resource that's accessible to other t-shirt aficionados out there. 

without further ado, here's 'kleaning out my kloset'. please do follow the account if it interests you. i'll be posting tees on a regular basis so stay tuned. i hope this will be fun!

kylie minogue is really hard to draw!

kylie minogue . 2020

it's the 28th of may which means it's kylie minogue's birthday!
i remember watching ‘can’t get you out of my head’ for the first time in a c&a store in prague, summer 2001. i was mesmerised by the song and music video. in university, i repeatedly drew the final scene of the video during my bus rides back home. kylie dancing on a rooftop to the chorus was so iconic to me. 19 years later, i thought i’d draw it again this year on the occasion of her birthday. i must say i like how it turned out, but my goodness kylie minogue is so hard to draw!

those who know me know how much of a fan i am of ms. minogue. i have to thank my sisters, who listened to her music around me during the late 80s & early 90s. my fandom came to fruition by the end of the 90s during my final years in high school. when her seventh studio album ‘light years’ was released, i was officially team kylie! her music has been a constant in my life, and got me through the best and worst of times – listening to her songs while stressed in the studio, chilling at home, or singing loudly in my car.
in addition to the music, her collaborations with william baker and tony hung have always been a point of reference and inspiration to me, influencing my work in some form or another. her music videos, album artworks, stage designs and costumes are some of the best examples of art and design in contemporary music and pop culture.

i’ve never met kylie, but i’ve watched her perform ten times so far – my first was at the x tour in Madrid, 2008. i hope i could meet her one day (universe, please see this and work your magic!). until then, i hope this post crosses kylie’s path. and if it does, i hope she likes what she sees.

thank you for the music, the entertainment, the inspiration, and for sharing the same initials as me! can’t wait for what’s next. until then, happy birthday kylie minogue.

garden gathering

'garden gathering' mini comic . 2020

 

illustrations for 'garden gathering' mini comic . 2020 

i write this post as ramadan slowly comes to a close. and what a strange ramadan it's been. i'm still quarantined at home, with the occasional stepping out for running errands. ramadan is usually filled with gatherings amongst friends and family, yet this year no one has been able to do so. and for those not following social distancing rules have faced the consequences – news reports mention cases where communal gatherings have occurred and those in attendance were exposed to the virus. so ramadan this year has been quite intimate and simple for me – staying at home for most of the time, and experiencing it with just my mother and sister.

in terms of making work, i feel a momentum slowly picking up again. since my last post, i've been drawing more, and had the opportunity to work on a couple of illustration-based projects, one being the mini comic you see above. titled 'garden gathering', this short story is about longing for interaction with the outside world, and making new friends where you least expect it. here's a quick description:

my time of late involves staring into the distance from my balcony at home, missing the outside world and the people i interact with. and yet, i've made new friends during my time indoors – a lovely pigeon who stops by for a break at my window, and a cat who's made the outdoor garden her new home. we keep each other company every afternoon, until we part ways in anticipation of gathering again the next day.

'garden gathering' was originally commissioned for warehouse 421's "jam'atna" series, in collaboration with artist and educator rania jishi of naqd critique, and independent consultant and creative nahla tabaa. "jam'atna", which translates to 'our gathering', invited a group of artists to interpret what gathering and being together means during these quarantined times, especially during the month of ramadan. i'm really happy with the final result of the mini comic, and can't thank the team behind "jam'atna" for the opportunity. it definitely sparked my drive to create once again, and i hope i can keep the momentum going. if you'd like to have a look at the other "jam'atna" contributions, head to the highlights section on warehouse 421's instagram page. 

until the next post, stay safe, healthy and indoors.