"Ebru is more than art. It is also a poetry , a soft melody"- these words welcome anyone interested in this beautiful Turkish Art on the website of one of the most famous artists alive Hikmet Barutcugil. But let me tell you the story from the very beginning.

          My journey started when I first heard about the traditional Turkish art of Ebru at the Les Art Turcs gallery that offers various experiences to the visitors of Istanbul. I say just a few paintings that were created with the "paper marbling" technique and illustrated beautiful flowers. I understood very little of the creation process but loved the effect of the art works that indeed resembled natural stones and marbles.

       When I arrived home, I started my research about the technique, its history, materials used and the process itself. No words could explain it the way a video on youtube did. I was mesmerized by the simple transformations and the play of colour and imagination. It was not just any painting. An exciting story was told in front of me, the final painting being its logical ending and the final dot. A memory of a unique experience reflecting the fine art traditions of the ottoman empire.

             

             Determined to see this "miracle" in real life, my capoeira friends Priya, Marwan and I met on a beautiful sunny May day and went for a walk in the heart of Istanbul. We all knew each other back from UAE, where we belong to different capoeira clubs and but here were merely three souls looking to learn more bout the city and ways people express themselves. They were quite curious to see what Ebru was and we spend some good time trying to find the  Caferiye Medresesi where for the first time in our lives we were shown the beautiful process of Ebru creation by the talented artist Caskan.

         The following day I had an even more exciting journey- I was to visit Ebristan and meet the famous artist Hikmet Barutcugil himself! He was kind enough to welcome me and my friend and show the studio and let us see the final stage of the Ebru course he was conducting. With the help of many notes, maps and bus numbers, getting lost a bit and me falling and scratching my knees and ripping my favourite pants, we managed to find the beautiful place.

              The artist greeted us, we introduced ourselves and were offered some coffee and immediately started exploring the art space. A group of ladies were also waiting for their class to start and everyone welcomed us with a "Merhaba" and a warm smile. Now let me tell you more about the artist.

            Barutcugil has studied both in Turkey and abroad, mastering his skills and has participated in hundreds of exhibitions worldwide. His art work has been recognized by many art lovers and he has inspired many art students through his work at the art universities in Turkey. Yet the most fascinating thing about him is how humble he is regardless the fame and the workflow he has, he tries his best to keep the tradition of Ebru alive and share the knowledge through his books or workshops.

                  That day was the final class were students were shown how to transfer their Ebru paintings to the board and decorated with ebru borders for a better presentation.

                   

          All the students were listening very carefully, some making notes and discussing what colour frame went best with the painting.

          Mr Hikmet was showing how every step was to be taken with care and attention and it was simply amazing just to watch his experienced hands guide us through.

           I also enjoyed taking a few photos of the course participants. Every one of these gorgeous women just radiated contentment and reflected the warm energy of the Teacher. They all used the techniques they learnt and expressed their own personality through their work.

            Then the sample painting was finished -it looked even more beautiful with borders and everyone was inspired to start their own right after the tea break.

         We took our time to make a few snaps, Marwan exploring the finished work and the mixed media art ...

...and me posing with Mr Hikmet's assistant Miki, a  sweet talented girl from Osaka, Japan.

        Then we joined everyone in the garden, where everyone was chatting casually and discussing what they learnt and their plans(well i am totally making this up as i do not understand Turkish that well hehe). We felt at home and it was a great way to finish our little art adventure and say bye to all of our new friends!

          It was a very interesting trip and I learnt a lot. Yet I realise, this is just the beginning and the real magic of Ebru is still awaiting ahead of me.

~~~Interview with Jalal Luqman-Maestro of Digital Oils and Founder of Jalal's Art Trip~~~

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 “6^th 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

~~~Interview with emarati digital artist Sumayyah Al Suwaidi~~~

•  How and where did the art journey start for you?
• I believe it started in 1996, when I had my first computer and I used to watch my cousin who was studying Graphic design back then and I was so fascinated!!! That I had to install Photoshop on my computer and started teaching myself how to use it J
• What’s the main message of your work?
• My work is too personal; it’s all about my day to day life, the things I go through! Which I am sure many people have gone through too! So each artwork touches the viewer in a certain way, it reminds them of a situation that happened with a friend or a family member, or even with a loved one. So I can say my work is so close to the heart.

•  What media/techniques are your favorite and why?
• Well I am a digital artist so it’s my favorite medium but at the moment I am working on my first ever 2 mixed media pieces, I cant wait to see the final look of the artworks, I have to say I am very excited J

• Who would you be if u were not an artist. What other fields have u considered?
• Well I am not only an artist I am also a curator, I have curated some group and open call art exhibitions. Add to that, I am also an entrepreneur, I own a multi brand boutique called “Grafika” based in Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi, and because I am so in love with fashion, I have ventured in the fashion design field and I will be launching my first collection by the end of this month at Grafika.
• Many artists know Sumayyah Alsuwaidi as both a successful artist and an enthusiastic art curator. What made you want to organize the shows and what kind of artists are you looking for?
• I am always looking for something new! New blood in art! And the best way to get to know who’s out there is by having these open call exhibitions, you meet new people in the field, you connect with the society, you help people over come their fear in exhibiting their artworks for the first time and you support artists who never had any sort of support in their life.

• As a curator what are you looking in an artist besides creativity?
• I am looking for something original, something different, something that easily people can praise, and artists who have such work I end up inviting them to take part in my group exhibitions, such as my Ramadan Art Bazaar which takes place every Ramadan and this year I will be curating my 4^th Ramadan Bazaar.
• How important is it for a UAE raised artist to know history and culture of the region?
• It’s crucial as it’s the key to get through every Emirati and also it’s important to explain our history and culture to the expatriates and the visitors of the country.
• What makes middle eastern art special in your opinion?
• I believe it’s the subjects we tackle, the objects we use in our work. If it was calligraphy, or the deserts, sand dunes or camels and horses. I guess it’s the Arabic touch in the artworks that makes it special. But my work has nothing Arabic in it. Maybe just the Arabic calligraphy and wordings which I started using in my art in 2006. so people when they see my artworks then see me, they are always shocked J
• Please tell us more about your Art Bazaar project. What’s the idea of it and who it targets?
• One day I was walking in the mall and all the big brands like Christian Dior and YSL where on 50% sale, so I was thinking why not have original artworks once a year sell at a lower price than usual, because then more people will get to collect and buy art from some of their favorite artists. I know many people who want to buy original artworks but they can’t afford it. So the Ramadan Bazaar helps people collect original artworks rather than buying cheap copies.
• Could you tell us more about your recently published book. What caused its birth. Should every piece of your artwork be viewed in a certain context or it can alone represent itself/single concept?
• I believe I am at a stage in my artist career where I should have a documentation of my art and a book does that. The book I published is available online, so anyone from any part of the world can order it, and it includes 20 artworks, my biography and my 2010 list of exhibitions.
• My artworks represent themselves as each one can tell you a story on its own, you do not need any explanation as the best thing is when you interpret the artwork on your own way.
• What’s the process of creating your art? Do you visualize it first?
• Sometimes it starts with a vision or an idea, and then I create a very basic sketch of where every element would go in the artwork after that I start the process on the computer. I use 5 different software’s to create my art, but sometimes I only use 1 software for the entire artwork so at the end it all depends on what I need exactly to complete the idea of the artwork.
• What in your opinion can be biggest challenges in becoming an artist and what advice could you give for the upcoming talent?
• Upcoming artists need to be original; they should experiment as much as they need until they find their trademark, until they find what makes their art unique and makes it stand out. They should try to take part in as many art exhibitions as possible so their name would spread and more people would recognize their art.

 To see more artworks please visit www.sumayyahalsuwaidi.com