Expressions in Sketches
Kuwait - Ithra Map, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, 2022, Courtesy of the artist.
Said Zahra Al-Mahdi
is a Kuwaiti artist, writer, musician, and filmmaker who loves to capture her ideas in all forms of art. She is known for her creativity and sketches illustrating the human body from her unique point of view.
Her art captures her philosophy and explores the connections between all kinds of everyday mundane objects around us. She is also known for her debut graphic novel titled ‘We, The Borrowed’ (2016), and an online mini-series titled ‘Rant’ or "حلطومة" in which she discusses a variety of topics by including visual and audio art that she creates. In our exclusive interview with this unique artist, we get to know Al-Mahdi's ideas and thoughts about art, sketching, and her source of inspiration.
From the artist solo exhibition, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, 2016, Courtesy of the artist.
From the artist solo exhibition, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, 2016, Courtesy of the artist.
Ever since Zahra was a child, she always found herself taking things apart to understand how they worked.
"As a child, I've been a tinkerer," she said. She enjoyed finding connections between things that appeared to be completely different. She was skilled at drawing, sculpting, and designing, which helped her tell her stories from her own point of view later in life.
When Zahra was growing up, she was mainly influenced by Bill Nye the Science Guy and Jame's Burke's Connections. She also took inspiration from a long list of Western filmmakers, such as Michel Gondry, Agnes Varda, the Coen Brothers, and Lars von Trier, who all had significant impact on helping her express herself freely. Most of these influences can be seen in the composition of her artworks, beginning from her sketches to her mini-series on YouTube.
When asked about the meaning of art, Zahra describes it as "a method in which ideas are conveyed." She considers art "the best way to adapt my ideas." It is how she illustrates the connections she makes with the world around her, and how her sense of humor is expressed.
When it comes to sketching, Zahra believes that it is a very forgiving medium "no matter how unrealistic, it has the ability to make any shape visually appealing. Cross-hatching, in particular, is something that I've gotten used to since I could draw something that is disproportionate and get away with it,” she explained.
From the artist solo exhibition, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, 2016, Courtesy of the artist.
Looking at Zahra's art, it is noticeable that every detail in the artwork she makes was meant to provoke some sort of feeling. She usually focuses on certain subjects, such as human anatomy, when she draws. "I find it interesting that the human body, the closest thing to us, could easily become alien and even repulsive with very minute changes; such as the lack of pupils in the eyes, wounds, internal organs, and odd poses," she said.
"I like to explore the variations in these subjects in different forms, as well as seeing what interactions these pieces instigate. Other people's reactions to what each person defines as strange is very interesting to me,” She added.
Solo 2, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, 2014, Courtesy of the artist.
Zahra is currently working on a painting series. "I have no idea what I'll do with it after it's completed,” she told Ithraeyat magazine. She had stopped doing fine arts exhibitions and focused on her online video series titled حلطومة which translates into "rant."
"It's a short video that encompasses all of my skills and interests in audio/visual form. I try to present philosophical concepts and make them as accessible and entertaining as possible.”
It will be interesting to see where Zahra Al-Mahdi’s creativity will take her, and the kinds of emotions and connections we as her audience form with her unique art.
Untitled, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, Courtesy of the artist.
Untitled, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, Courtesy of the artist.
Untitled, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, Courtesy of the artist.
Untitled, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, Courtesy of the artist.
Untitled, by Zahra Al-Mahdi, Courtesy of the artist.
