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Portrait of a Young Woman as an Artist

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Her tryst with art started with seeing her mom paint, and drawing cartoon images of her classmates. From there she has come a long way, creating exquisite artworks of various kinds, and curating and exhibiting her creations at various exhibitions. BTW speaks to Ramah Al Husseini to learn more about her interesting journey through the magical world of arts and painting.

Tell us briefly about yourself: where you were born and raised, any special childhood memories etc.

I was born and raised in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I had a very happy childhood thanks to my wonderful parents. They’ve encouraged me and my sisters to pursue our interests from such a young age. Because of their support, I knew what I  wanted to do from the age of ten if not even younger. 

I think in 6th grade or maybe 7th, just for fun, I started drawing cartoon characters of me and my friends standing in a group together. Some of my other classmates noticed and asked if I can add them in, and before I knew it, I  ended up drawing my full grade. This became an annual thing, where I  would draw the full class and one of my friends would make photocopies of it for the rest of the grade. I think I still have one or two of them somewhere in the house.

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Tell us briefly how you were initiated into painting and other forms of art.

Well my mother paints, so I was always exposed to painting and art in general from a really young age. I took art class in school very seriously, and I was enrolled in afterschool art classes as well. My memory of my childhood is really faint, but I can still remember some of those art lessons very clearly, what I did and the colors I used. I was very intrigued by art.    

Artist
Ramah Al Husseini

Which are the various media that you have experimented with? Who has been your inspiration?

Luckily because of my art education background I  had the pleasure of experimenting and working with a lot of different art mediums. With the help art professors and artists, I dabbled in film photography, screen printing, as well as sculpting, creating various art installations and much more.

I never really had one person who inspired me. I admire a lot of creative people out there, but I ‘m much more inspired by a specific art piece than an artist and or a specific art form. For example, right now I admire wall art, murals and graffiti, all art works as such really do inspire me, But if I had to pick a piece right now from the top of my head it will be a mural painted in a part of Cairo inhabited by garbage collectors created by Tunisian-French artist known as El Seed.

Which media do you plan to experiment with in the future?

Digital arts, it’s the one thing I haven’t properly experimented with.

What have been the major challenges in your path so far?

The majority sadly do not understand the importance of art, therefore there is a lack of respect towards it, so sadly I still struggle with people, with clients sometimes, because to them they truly think nothing of art.

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Do you feel that a formal training is essential to pursue arts?

Training is always important in any field, that’s how skills grow. Whether it’s personal training or formal that’s up to each person. But achieving a diploma or certificate that comes from formal training always helps people trust your judgement and talent.

Do you want to start-up an institute to train artists in your chosen form of art?

I have and sometimes still do give art lessons, I’m not sure if I’d want to open up an institute, that’s a very big responsibility, but if I ever do, I’ll try to present it the best way I can.

What kind of help and support do you seek to help reach your goal?

Support in general is always needed and will definitely help, even simply showing up to exhibitions and events because showing up to any art related event will start bringing awareness, and being aware is the first step to acknowledgement.

IMG_6154Have you participated/held exhibitions in Bahrain or in any other place? Give us a list of the last few.

Well there are several. Here is a list of a few from them:

  • Curated and participated in Maljas second annual art exhibition: Call Out II. May 2016 currently up until july.
  • JANUARY 2016: Commissioned to create a poster for a play organized by Bahrain LAMDA Centre, school of speech and drama.
  • DECEMBER 2015-JANUARY 2016: Commissioned to paint a wall at fit kitchen restaurant located in Riffaa Bahrain.
  • OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2015: Commissioned to paint a pillar and 5 wood designs at WU restaurant located at Art Rotana Hotel, Amwaj, Bahrain
  • OCTOBER 9th 2015: Donated recycled art to the charitable up-cycled art action and sale presented by Coca-Cola benefiting programs and services of dreams society
  • “Definition”: Group Exhibition at Malja Bahrain. 30 JANUARY 2016
  • “Food and Culture”: Solo Exhibition at the Ministry of Culture, Bahrain. 24 JANUARY 2016

A one day exhibition of my work paired with the food tasting of Bossy Kitchen Creation.

What is your message to aspiring artists of the country?

Don’t let dismissive behavior bring you down or slow you down, keep working on your art, whether it be personal or public, commercial or corporate. Believe in yourself, be confident and then the rest will follow.   

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