When I first saw Jalal Luqman’s art works at an art show in AD two years ago I was mesmerized by his work-the way he combined digital art with other medias like metal simply blew me away! Jalal is known as the father of digital art in uae for a reason-he was the first to step away from traditional painting and experiment with the entire opportunities the digital world gives.
· Your work definitely adds a new dimension to the UAE art scene with its unique and somehow dark style. So what exactly inspires you to create?
My inspiration is usually internal, I see something and paint the feeling that thing gives me, I don’t see a horse and paint a horse, I paint the feeling or the power in the horse, to the point that the finished painting although inspired by a horse may not look anything like a horse.
I am very sensitive to the world around me, and immediately translate feelings and emotions into images in my mind.
· You are known for your digital paintings. Which softwares do you prefer and how long has it taken you to master them?
Throughout the years I have used all kinds of computers and software’s, to the point where some of my paintings go through 9 different programs before they are finally hanging on an exhibition wall. Many people hear digital art and immediately say “photoshop”, well although I use photoshop in my work, I use it to make sure the color calibrations are accurate when the work is sent to be printed, but I do not do the normal copy paste of photographs that the new artists do, I use the knowledge I have in traditional art and drawing to produce my work.
· Does each of your work have its own topic or there is one underlying concept that unites everything you create?
I paint what I feel, if there is a feeling that lingers for a long time, then you will see a series of paintings about the same thing, for example now you will see a complete collection called the love collection, where I discovered love in my paintings, and how I portray it in the figure of a woman, although at the time I thought it would be a single paintings, I found myself painting more and more sensual women, I did not intend to, as my reputation is known to be dark and mysterious, yet the topic of love came out and I just did not fight it, I embraced it, and the people loved it.
· What are the main challenges you face as an artist and how do you overcome them?
The main challenges are maintaining a true message in your art as well as being able to sell the art, these days decorative art is more in demand, people are looking for beautiful art that has to match the sofa or the dining room walls, for me this is a challenge because my work has a deep meaning, and when I produce my work I don’t care what the color of the sofa is.
· How important in your opinion is Art in forming UAE culture?
A level of a country’s level of civilization is measured by the number of cultured and educated people in it, there is no doubt that encouraging art and culture in any society improves the levels of modernity, and civility.
· How can you describe the existing art platform and what changes do you expect in the next 10 years?
I think it is still trying to find it’s identity, and in 10 years it would have become stable, I think currently the only true Emirati art we see is the art that is produced by artists who have been artists before the UAE Art Revolution, because their art has been logically maturing Vs. the new art which in most cases is heavily influenced by outside forces and WASTA.
· You participate in many exhibitions and conferences all over the globe. What opinion people have of Art in the UAE and how is your work accepted?
People all over the world think differently about us, so you can imagine what they think about our art.
But the common misconception people have is that we are all calligraphers, or we all do easy art. Or we are often very conservative, nothing taboo, nothing offensive.
But we cannot blame them, in most cases people have not been properly introduced to our culture or art besides a few Hollywood movies that don’t always portray us in the best way possible, but the world has become much smaller now, and it has become easier, people are becoming more aware of our art.
On another hand there are a few emerging Emirati Artists who are more damaging to the Image of Emirati art who are copying adverts or painting or other painters because they just want to get attention, not knowing that there are experts all over the world who can tell.
· As a co-owner of the Ghaf Gallery in AD what kind of art are you focusing on and how can you describe the artists you work with?
We welcome all kinds of art as long as it is within the guidelines of the UAE Art exhibition laws, which in simple terms is
No frontal nudity
No political images that may offend others
And no religious images that may offend others
We deal with all kinds of artists and every nationality.
· What are the big events or exhibitions happening n the gallery yearly?
The usual art exhibitions from all kinds of artists
Sumayyah’s Ramadan Art Bazaar
Jalal’s Art Trip
ADMAF’s events
University and college events
· You also initiated Jalal’s Art Trip that has given an opportunity to many amateur artists to try their talents and get some experience and exposure. What motivated you to create it?
It was created to help others, and to give a helping hand to those who need help and didn’t get it.
· How do you select the candidates and what does it take to join the trip?
There are certain criteria that a candidate must have
1- They cannot have had a solo before
2- They have to be living long term in the UAE
3- They have not participated in any previous Jalal Art trips
4- Their work must be AMAZING, no hobbyist experiments or silly attempts to trick me into accepting them on the trip.
After that I look at the work, I shortlist, then I conduct interviews with them, then I shortlist again, and then we go on the trip, then I see the preliminary results and set check points, and then shortlist again until the remaining hardcore batch makes it to the exhibition.
· How do the participants evolve through the trip and what awaits them once they complete it?
Everyone evolves differently, I think it is better you ask them
· Have you already developed the “6th sense” that helps you to see which participants will be successful artists and can u spot it in the young emerging artists?
Unfortunately that answer is a yes and a no, because I can see a winner, but it doesn’t mean they will become a winner.
I can see good work, but only through the trip and the workshops will it be proven if the candidate has the skills, drive and ability to continue.
I select people to join the trip, but are they open minded to be inspired by the trip? Are they capable to receive criticism or have they been praised so much that they no longer accept being corrected, I have sadly asked people to leave the trip because they did not perform well in the workshops or did not listen to my guidance.
· What is success in art to you and do you have your own formula of achieving it?
Success means different things to different people; to me it is a combination of popularity, marketability and financial reward.
1- Popular enough to have my art wanted by collectors and buyers and museums.
2- Marketable enough to have a market value that makes me a good investment to my buyers and collectors.
3- And to be able to make a good living from the sales of my art.
· What role social medias play in promoting your work and how do you filter the terabytes of information that surrounds us daily?
Unfortunately local media does not promote artwork at all, it promotes events, but it does not promote the art itself.
· What is the question you do not like being asked and why?
Talk to us about your beginnings, why? Well if you don’t know my beginnings till now then tough luck.There are literally hundreds of articles and links written about my beginnings over the past 20years, and probably in every language.
Another question I think is so ignorant, is when they ask me if my work is a photograph, I mean If there are real images in life that look like my paintings, I will really be worried.
And then is the question from a person who thinks since they installed a pirated copy of photoshop that that gives them the authority to be an expert on digital painting. and they don’t actually ask me they tell me” oh you are very good in photoshop”.· Now could you give an advice to all the upcoming artists?
Be original, don’t steal ideas, be real don’t use baba or mama to make it, stay with it
Be strong and teach others, you have to leave a trail of good along the way
Don’t let big companies and big people trick you into doing work for free, if you don’t know how to secure your rights ask others who are older than you who know how, never be afraid to ask.
· When can we expect to see more of your artwork?
Now I am slowing down, I will concentrate on a few pending issues I had put away for 20 years, now I will spend some time finishing them.
I am working on a book, no solos for another 2-3 years.
to see more of Jalal Luqman's artwor visit his website: http://www.jalal-luqman.com
