“Come
into my inner world,” Hesham Malik invites the viewer as he taps on his
memories and embellishes them with hope and imagination. “We all have memories,
some good, some bad. As an artist I am blessed with my colours and my
imagination,” confides this Dubai-based artist, whose art work arises only
after experiencing a particular path of life, be it the people, the feelings,
nature and love. “If my work closely relates anything, it is ‘Life’. All my
inspiration and imagination comes from Life itself. It comes from the people I
meet in different places. The magic of how people view and what they think of
life itself is inspiring. The best part of Dubai is the 200 plus nationalities
living in the city. Along with the inspiration and imagination, classical music
and the natural sound of waves or the sound of water plays a supporting role in
my creativity,” reveals Hesham who also uses photography to help him recall
certain feelings. Working with mix media and modern techniques on canvas
sometimes embellished with objects and calligraphy, he finds it equally
engaging to create modern sculptures and installations.
Working
in an amalgam of styles, Hesham nevertheless paints mainly in abstract style
that contains hints of figures, animals and sometimes musical instruments. “My
work is left deliberately vague so that the viewer can engage in it,” he
confesses. Now a coveted artist whose art works are sold at a million USD –
with a recent one being picked up at USD 8.1 million at Paris recently,
Hesham’s works are exhibited at some of the best venues in New York, London,
Berlin, Toronto, Dubai, Zürich, Munich and Mumbai.
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His
latest oeuvre of work, ‘Embellished’, relates to a deeply personal memory.
“‘Embellished’ has to do with all the days I have spent in Goa. My beautiful
mother was born in Bargaon, Goa. My grandparents lived at house 102 at
Backleamvaddo, Palki Road, Cuncolim. I was to surprise my grandmother by
inviting her for the opening of this show. However, I lost her a few weeks ago
and have dedicated the show to the celebration of the life she lived In Goa and
to the wonderful memories I have had during my childhood holidays here,” he
reveals.
However,
his paintings circumvent the realistic. “It was much more interesting and
challenging to create a combination of abstract and figurative with designs
over the finished art work. I am interested in the events of life which provide
me a gateway to a parallel world that generates associations, invites me to
identify with people and triggers memories of events in my own life.
‘Embellished’ is all about the colours, the people and the décor I experience
in Goa,” he explains.
“Life
in general is beautiful,” avers this business student turned artist whose immensely
creative imagination continues to captivate.
(Hesham
Malik’s ‘Embellished’ will be inaugurated on February 13, 2015 at 7pm at Carpe
Diem, Majorda)
