Salama Al Mazrouei is reimagining Emirati heritage through portraiture
Emirati artist Salama Al Mazrouei has spent much of her career painting people. But after years devoted to realistic portraiture, she began looking for ways to push the form in new directions. Gold leaf, magazines, traditional fabrics and other materials associated with Emirati heritage began appearing in her work. Realistically rendered figures remained at the centre, while the spaces around…
Emirati artist Salama Al Mazrouei is reimagining Emirati heritage through her innovative portraiture. After years of focusing on realistic portraits, Al Mazrouei began incorporating elements of Emirati heritage into her work, such as gold leaf, magazines, traditional fabrics, and stylized foliage. Realistic figures remain the focal point, but the surrounding spaces are adorned with patterned surfaces and other decorative elements.
Al Mazrouei aims to bring a new perspective to Emirati heritage, while still expressing her cultural identity.
Her unique approach has garnered international attention, with her work set to be featured in exhibitions in Paris and the XVI Florence Biennale in Italy. Al Mazrouei has participated in over 100 exhibitions in the UAE and abroad, showcasing her oil paintings and mixed media pieces that draw on Emirati identity, memory, femininity, and belonging. She began painting at around 14 or 15, and later pursued art studies at UAE University.
Al Mazrouei's recent work demonstrates her expansion of portraiture, using abstraction alongside realism and mixed media. Her paintings begin with a plan but can evolve into something entirely different, representing the layered life in the UAE in a non-traditional manner. By incorporating raw canvas and various materials, Al Mazrouei pushes the boundaries of traditional portraiture, creating a visual narrative that encompasses the UAE's present and heritage.
Influenced by her extensive experience in the local art scene, Al Mazrouei is observing the rise of digital art among younger Emirati artists. She believes that physical materials and hands-on techniques are essential for creating authentic art. Al Mazrouei advises artists to explore unconventional subjects and presentation methods to stimulate experimentation and innovation in their work.
Her goal is to showcase the progress the UAE has made in the art world and inspire a broader understanding of the nation's cultural identity.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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