Art is subjective. But every artist needs to be given credit where credit is due. And Bahrain has no shortage of talented artists specializing in various mediums. So we thought we could shine a spotlight on some of these artists, in a segment called Local Artist of the Week In Spotlight. Our next feature? A member of Art Attack Krew, Maryam Mansoor.
Maryam is a surrealist and abstract artist. Let’s take a dive into her mind.
Local Artist in the Spotlight
• Could you give our readers a general introduction about yourselves?
My name is Maryam Mansoor, a Bahraini self-taught artist born in 1999, I recently graduated with bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences from university of Bahrain, college of health and sport sciences. Art runs in my family and I’ve always had the artistic hand and mind but didn’t start to practice it seriously and make some art pieces until recently in March 2020 in the beginning of the pandemic. I make many types of art like surreal, abstract sometime, but mainly conceptual because I focus on making something to express myself, my ideas, and deliver a certain message through my art.
• How and Why did you join Art Attack Krew?
I’ve always known ATK because my older brother Isa aka Elsees is a member of the group since it started but I recently joined in December 2021 when I met the leader of the krew, Aref at an art event in Karzakan forest and I have been taking art more seriously ever since.
• Could you tell us a little about your process? How an idea ultimately becomes a finished piece?
As I mentioned I make many types of art but mainly surrealism and conceptual, also I like to paint on canvases more than other mediums. Whenever an idea comes into my mind, or I feel like I want to express something I close my eyes imagine how am I going to create the idea on the canvas, then I start sketching and painting using my acrylic paints while listening to some music.
• Who are the three artists you’d like to be compared to?
Only myself, my old self, and my new self.
•What wouldn’t you do without?
My acrylics and my brushes off course specially the tiny ones for the details.
•What memorable responses have you had to your work?
Well, I don’t normally paint in public, I always do my artwork in my room, but one time when I participated in the art event in Karzakan forest a lot of people passing through were complimenting my painting and telling me how they like the idea of my painting, but one comment that I really can’t forget is when one of the people commented on the details of my painting, I always like the details to be recognized because to me it is what makes the art beautiful and most people only see the big picture.
•What role do you think art plays in society?
Art is a nonverbal expression of people’s ideologies, culture, emotions and so on, it’s the thing that identifies our society. Art connects different people with different languages and different culture together, it is a way of delivering messages to the world without speaking.
•There’s this famous saying, “all good art comes from misery”. Do you agree with that?
I agree of course, for some people art is therapy, they use it to release stress and all their negative energy and emotions. Not only this, but it’s also a way to spread out positive energy too.
•What’s the biggest obstacle you have run into while pursuing art?
To me is lack of experience, and sometimes the fact that I am lazy, and I have to be in the mood to create an art piece which is exhausting because I have a lot on my mind and less on the canvas.
Artiste All The Way!
READ MORE:
This Spot in Bahrain Is Hosting a 10 Hour Music Festival and We Can’t Wait!
READ MORE:
We Asked You What Your Fave Cake Shop in Bahrain Was and Here Are the Top 10
READ MORE:
Celebrate the First Full Moon of 2022 With Yoga at These 3 Spots in Bahrain
