Hello Alia and welcome to NotRandomArt. The current issue is revolving around the problem of communication and identity. Is there any particular way you would describe your identity as an artist but also as a human being in dynamically changing, unstable times? In particular, does your cultural substratum/identity form your aesthetics?
We are living in a time where communication is no longer a revelation of the true self, but rather a marketed, censored, idealized image of the person. Things and people are “fabricated” and truth has become a much harder concept to attain. Being an artist born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, has definitely formed my identity, and being raised in a secular family gives me subjective look on those around me, but also makes me question their perceptions, values and beliefs.
Would you like to tell us something about your artistic as well as life background? What inspired you to be in this artistic point in your life when you are now?
I was always interested in conceptual thinking, and the deeper meaning of life, thus I studied graphic arts, raising therefore the questions in my mind through artistic expressions, whether mixed media or publication. Later on, I decided to pursue my studies in Visual Arts, where I was able to work deeper around the intimate personal relation(s) I develop with people, things and conceptions. Recurring themes in my work are, among others, dreams and memory. I work with diverse mediums, choosing with each project, the one I senses is unsurpassed.
Could you identify a specific artwork that has influenced your artistic practice or has impacted the way you think about your identity as a participant of the visual culture?
I could not specify one artwork, but I am sure many have influenced me…
I am particularly fond of graphic books, of the build up they create from page to page, and by the visual stream of ideas one can have from just looking at unfolding lines, drawing and type.
Since you transform your experiences into your artwork, we are curious, what is the role of memory in your artistic productions? We are particularly interested if you try to achieve a faithful translation of your previous experiences or if you rather use memory as starting point to create.
Memory is a vital player in my work, I am very intuitive, and therefore I depend on experiences and feelings when creating. I am also very interested with the notion of “deja-vu”, of present moments that you’ve already related to, have been through before. These recurring situations that your senses go through, whether through smell, taste, or sound. These instances are at most times an opening into new concepts that I labor in my artwork.
What is the role of technique in your practice? In particular are there any constraints or rules that you follow when creating?
I am a multi-disciplinary artist, and love to venture into new techniques to reach my purpose. My past works have been completely different technique-wise, I have created a video, a sculptural installation, worked with printing, mixed media, and of course painting. The technique I choose for a project is issued from the concept I’m working on, and I find in these multi disciplines an enhanced value in one’s work.
How do you see the relationship between emotional and intellectual perception of your work? In particular, how much do you consider the immersive nature of the viewing experience?
I am very intrigued by the different perceptions around a work of art, and would rather hear what others have to say about my work, than myself talk about it. Perceptive people can tell you sometimes much more than you consciously know when it comes to your work.
Thanks a lot for your time and for sharing your thoughts, Alia. Finally, would you like to tell us readers something about your future projects? How do you see your work evolving?
My current body of work revolves around perception, the act of seeing things - notably here people through flora – each in their own point of view. What is seeing? What is felt? Other than what we have already seen and felt…