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Bahraini artists Fatema AlSada and Rawan Alsairafi have found their calm in the chaos through art and are showcasing their creations until tomorrow.
The exhibition entitled Chaos, staged at Mashq Art Space and Gallery, features an array of paintings from the dynamic duo who have found their own slice of heaven when picking up a brush or even a carving knife to put their emotions on canvas, wood or gypsum.
“We came up with the concept and name of chaos since it is something that we experience in our daily lives and it is something that we all can relate to as life is becoming faster and faster,” said Fatema, a 30-year-old self-taught artist who works in finance by day and lives in Busaiteen. “It is very important not to get lost and entangled in the chaos of life, but instead focus on the good and make the most out of every situation.”
According to Rawan, a 26-year-old interior designer from Sanad, they ‘communicate this caged chaos’ through their art while also showcasing the beauty behind it. “This is why every art piece of mine is different,” Rawan added. “I don’t limit my artistic boundaries and let chaos roam as soon as I get my pencil on the canvas.”
Rawan has eight pieces on show, with the majority solely in acrylic and three pieces created using a mixture of acrylic and spray paint.
She uses different techniques and styles throughout her paintings and people can see how diverse her art is in this exhibition.
“I do not like to limit myself in my art so I don’t stick usually to one specific style unless it is part of a series,” explained the Northumbria University graduate, who has always loved to explore creativity in all aspects. “Each one of my artworks is different and each has a special place in my heart. But, if I had to choose a favourite, it would be the piece called Her Silence as it speaks volumes despite being simple.”
Her Silence is a mix of realism and sketch-style art. “The message it conveys represents an underlying social issue relating to women and each part of the painting represents a different element contributing to it,” she added. “I am very diverse with my art and know no boundaries. I like to keep exploring different forms of creativity.”
Other than canvas paintings, Rawan also creates wood and gypsum carvings as well as street art (wall murals). She is also currently working on a few street projects, both in Bahrain and Oman.
Meanwhile, Fatema’s art is heavily inspired by expressionist and cubist artists. Her signature work consists of vibrant, bold colours, geometric shapes and figures to embody and explore themes related to the process of growth, change and maturity— which is often a reflection of the phases she is going through in her own life.
She is displaying five pieces at the exhibition, of which four are oil paints and one is acrylic.
“Of all the pieces that I have exhibited, my favourite is Gratitude since it shows the complexity of thought and multiple beings and identity within oneself,” said Fatema, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the American University of Sharjah. However, these versions remain serene through the practice of gratitude and meditation which can achieve peace and serenity.
“Furthermore through harmonious, contrasting, and bold composition of colours, I aim to emanate happiness and melancholy to the viewer and take them on a visual journey while exploring the complexity of these themes.”
Fatema is now working on a mixed media series inspired by the elements of nature — wind, air, fire, and earth.
For details, follow @mashqart, @artbyrawana and @fatema_art on Instagram.
