“My work helps me to find clarity.”
Ideally, every time you find a new artist you love, you’d be able to sit down with them for an hour or so and chat.
That’s not always especially practical, but we’ve got the next best thing. Two regional female artists have opened up about their inspiration and processes, and better yet, they’ve done it on video.
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Meet Meriem Bennani and Basmah Felemban. Read on to learn a little bit more about these talented women.
Hey, if nothing else, this is sure to whet your appetite for Art Dubai 2018…
Meriem Bennani
You’ll find the influence of both Brooklyn and Morocco in Bennani’s work. Born in Rabat and now based in New York, the designer and digital artist merges the two disparate worlds to create one that’s entirely her own invention.
“What I’m interested in is when you’ve established that world… and you are so fluent… you don’t know anymore whether it’s your language or just reality,” she says.
As a keen observer her surroundings, Bennani always has an eye out for elements that could fit into her imagined world.
Basmah Felemnan
Saudi-born artist Femelban’s Islamic faith is evident in her work. She tends to follow her cut, picking up everything from coding to graphic design as it takes her interest.
“I didn’t plan to become an artist, it just happened,” she says. “Everything you give out to the world is a small release.”
“It makes me feel good… I think my work helps me to find clarity.”
Femelban’s spiritual focus in her work brings her peace, she explains.
Art Dubai
We came across these stellar women through the Art Dubai Portraits series, a year-round film series celebrating creators in the region.
Watching these clips (and the rest of them, which you can view here) has us even more excited for the festival’s 2018 programme.
Art Dubai is now in its 12th year, bringing together the work of more than 500 artists from 94 international galleries. It’s a packed programme, to say the least.
Art Dubai 2018 will take place from March 21-24, 2018 at Madinat Jumeirah. Discounted tickets are available at artdubai.ae/tickets
Images: Supplied, Meriem Bennani/Instagram
