The lobby of the Bahrain Financial Harbor, west tower, is now featuring a new exhibition called Inspiration, which features the work of promising Bahraini artist Salwa Al Moayyed, who’s professional background includes 12 years of work as a journalist and then a freelance writer and a published author.
Walking through her vibrant oil paintings, each bursting with meaning, from sophism, to nature, to depression and diversity, it is clear that Al Moayyed is an artist to watch. BTW spoke with her about her art career during the opening of the exhibit on Tuesday, January 24, in the west tower of the Harbor.
Can you tell us how you started your career as an artist?
I started in 1983 by coincidence. I drew three watercolor paintings and I saw that my colors drew a lot of compliments from people, so I felt that I could do more. I started learning from a Spanish teacher named Raquel Doran Klieg and I began to work on my technique.
My first paintings focused on realistic pictures, for example, I drew scenery that I liked.
My teacher noticed that I was strong in colors and in light and shadow. So, I kept going, eventually moving on to draw how I felt and to creating abstract paintings that represent emotions like depression and struggles in marriage. But I wasn’t very confident in my abstract work.
I gained that confidence after studying at the Higher Institute of Applied Arts [in Egypt] for four years.
When was your first art exhibit?
Two years ago at the Arts Center.
Tell our readers about your current exhibit Inspirations. When did you start to work on it and how did you develop the concept?
First of all, I appreciate the plan that the Bahrain Financial Harbor put in motion, to encourage Bahraini artists. They offered me the lobby to exhibit my work for free and they will not take any percentage from the sales of my paintings. I intended to donate the proceeds from the sales to children battling cancer.
How much time does each painting take to finish?
It depends really. The ones I work on outside, take a day or two. However, the ones I work on at home, they always take longer. Truthfully, I get really stressed when I am working. I took up art to relax my nerves, but creativity as a whole is exhausting.
You mentioned that life with creativity can be a burden, but what is your life without it?
Creativity is exhausting, but I don’t feel happy unless I am being creating anything else doesn’t bring me much joy. Even when I get money, I know that this is for material things, cars, jewelry, but again they don’t bring me happiness or mean that much to me. I love books, drawing and coloring. These are my hobbies.
How do you rate the development of your artistic technique?
I use the knife pallet now more than before. I also have more courage to
try creating work that doesn’t focus on physical representation. My hand
works and works and then shapes comes out. I feel that these come from within. Maybe I love to ride horses, but I never did, so a horse might pop
out in my painting.
What are your artistic ambitions for the future?
I will try to spread my work outside of Bahrain and go to the UAE, Austria. I would also like to go to France. Anything I do, I try to master. This endeavor was not a hobby for me, I took it on as a profession and I have hopes to develop my skills.
This is the 11th exhibition being hosted at the building as a part of the Art at the Harbour series. It is a monthly series, the main goal behind which is supporting art in Bahrain.
The expo will continue for a month in the Harbour Tower West Lobby, after which it will be shifted to the Harbour Tower East Lobby for another month. About 26 pieces will be on display and only 7 of which will be on for sale. The artist will donate all the fund raised from selling the art pieces to children with cancer.