AM Interview: Faeze Mohammed

INTERVIEWED BY: ANA STJELJA

ALIA MUNDI MAGAZINE

A blog for cultural diversity

• 
• Alia Mundi Magazine Blog

AM Interview: Faeze Mohammed

Faeze Mohammed

What inspired you to pursue a career in art, and how has your Emirati heritage influenced your artistic style?

In the UAE, we have the best leaders, as well as the well-spoken Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, who once said about staying motivated: “I don’t like to see someone who does not have a hobby, sport, or passion in life.” He has inspired me. The UAE has a rich culture and heritage that reflects traditional Arab values. Culture has a major influence on our lives in many ways. It shapes our values, beliefs, and behaviors, and I’m honored and proud to be part of this heritage.

How do you personally define art, and what does it mean to you on a deeper level? Can you share a specific moment or experience that solidified your passion for art and its significance in your life?

  

For me art is like food for my soul , it’s my time , my solitude that I’m myself , the time  I can create anything that I can’t say it by words ,the time that no one is allowed to ruin it , the time of healing , the time of sound that no one can hear it but me , the time that when my hand is tired I kiss it and touch it softly to not give up , the time when I’m sleepy I wash my face and I remember myself hey you have goals to reach and I believe I can touch the sky and make myself proud.

Are there any particular artists or art movements that have influenced your perspective on art, and if so, how have they shaped your own artistic journey?

I started pursuing art professionally three years ago, beginning with impressionist techniques. Over time, I explored various styles and techniques, including portraiture. However, it was when I challenged myself with orientalist art that I believe I found my true passion. I thoroughly enjoy this style. My first attempt at orientalist art involved replicating a work by Gustave Bauernfiend. I exhibited this artwork with the Kuwait embassy. Additionally, I created another orientalist piece, also inspired by Bauernfiend, who happens to be my favorite orientalist artist from Germany. I am fascinated by how Western artists perceive Eastern people and Middle Eastern life. Their bold colors, portrayal of the richness of Eastern lands, and historical narratives captivate me.

What emotions or messages do you aim to evoke through your artwork, and how do you hope viewers interpret your pieces?

I usually begin my artworks when I feel fully prepared and am in my comfort zone. I enjoy following my brush and immersing myself deeply in the mixture of oil colors. If my mind wanders or if different thoughts arise, I take a break and return when I feel ready. Sometimes, if I’m not happy or in the right mood, I refrain from adding new elements to my work and instead focus on refining the details of existing parts. I prefer not to create a new piece with negative energy as I believe it can impact the overall mood of the artwork. My goal is to transmit positive feelings to the viewer, and I’m confident that someone who looks deeply at an artwork can sense the artist’s mood. For me, art isn’t just about lines, light, and shadows; it’s a reflection of the artist’s soul.

As a female artist from Sharjah, what challenges have you faced in the art world, and how have you overcome them?

In Sharjah, art exhibitions are well-organized, free, and they hold a high regard for artists. Similarly, in other emirates of the UAE, the government supports local artists and residents. However, private galleries can be expensive, and I believe that participating in a few exhibitions is sufficient for any artist to connect with the audience.

In what ways do you believe your art contributes to the cultural landscape of Sharjah and the wider UAE?

As an impressionist artist, I have been focusing on drawing landscapes and historical places in the UAE. I have created over 20 artworks, primarily outdoor paintings done en plein air. However, with my newfound passion for a new style of painting, I am excited to blend orientalist art from the past with UAE culture. You will soon see the results of this exploration.

Can you tell us about any specific cultural or societal themes and topics that you explore in your artwork, particularly related to Emirati culture? How do you balance preserving traditional Emirati artistic techniques with exploring contemporary art forms and trends? 

This is a great question, but I can’t provide a complete answer at the moment. This is precisely what I’m aiming to achieve with my new collection. You will soon see how orientalism and history are mixed with UAE cultural themes.

How do you engage with the local community in Sharjah through your art, and what impact do you hope to have on your audience?

I have participated in numerous group exhibitions in the UAE, gaining valuable experience through these opportunities. I particularly admire the art community in Sharjah, which boasts a rich history dating back thousands of years. This emirate has evolved into a hub for art, literature, music, and traditions, supporting every artist within its borders.

Sharjah, with its cultural essence, sees robust support from various art organizations. Occasionally, I attend the openings of new exhibitions as a guest, appreciating the organized structure of events hosted by the Sharjah Art Society.

Can you share any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had while exhibiting your art, both locally and internationally? What exhibitions are you mostly proud of? 

My participation in a group exhibition with the Breathe Creativity Group for UAE National Day was incredibly memorable for me. While we were arranging and displaying artworks from various participants, a young couple stopped by my artwork and asked, ‘Is this your work?’ They purchased it before the exhibition even began.

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re particularly excited about, and how do they reflect your artistic vision and goals?

I’m currently working on my collection for my first solo exhibition, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. The collection comprises large artworks, all revolving around the same theme and story.

I’m aiming to complete the collection before summer. Some pieces of my artwork draw inspiration from my favorite orientalist artists, while others are original works based on my own photography and imagination, with a similar style of orientalism

What advice would you give to aspiring female artists, especially those from Sharjah or the UAE, who are looking to establish themselves in the art world?

If you feel that your soul is searching for something meaningful, step into the world of art and embrace a new lifestyle that fulfills your desires in a unique way, something no one else can do for you.

It’s never too late to embark on a new journey, especially in art. You don’t need formal art education to begin, and age is irrelevant. What matters is your dedication, hard work, and love for what you do. Every woman, regardless of age, can start her artistic journey if she finds joy in creating.

If you’re ready to dive in, seek out a good mentor to learn various techniques. Give yourself time to improve and never give up. Don’t just follow trends; instead, discover your passion and strive to enhance it through hard work.

INTERVIEWED BY: ANA STJELJA

PHOTO: PRIVATE ARCHIVE

Gustavo Gac-Artigas, Chile

Chilean writer, poet, novelist, and playwright living in the US since 1992. He is a corresponding member of the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española (ANLE), and a regular contributor of opinion articles for Le Monde Diplomatique, Chilean edition, Impacto La­tino, NY, El Desconcierto, Chile, TodoLiteratura, Spain, and Letralia. His poetry has been published in numer­ous magazines and anthologies in the United States, France and Latin America and partially translated into English, French and Romanian.

As a poet, he has participated in International Festivals and poetry readings in Paris, the United States, Colom­bia, Guatemala, Mexico, India, and Costa Rica, among others.

Awards:

Honored Poet of the 17th Hispanic/Latino Book Fair Queens, 2023

Finalist International Latino Book Award 2018: category “best fiction book in translation Spanish to English” for Y todos éramos actores, un siglo de luz y sombra (2016) /And All of Us Were Actors, A Century of Light and Shadow translated by Andrea G. Labinger.

Poetry Park Award, Rotterdam, 1989 for “Dr. Zamenhofstraat”

Publications

Poetry

Si lo hubiera sabido… Valparaíso Ediciones. España, Colombia, 2024.

Y aún queda espacio en mi mochila. Puerto Rico. Editorial LaCriba, 2024.

POŞTA POEZIEI/El correo de la poesía. Ruma­nia. Editorial Kult, 2023, translated by Car­men Bulzan.

Un poète dans la ville / Un poeta en la ciudad. Paris, Éditions l’Harmattan, 2023, translated by Priscilla Gac-Artigas.

Invocación de confines/Invocarea limitei. Chile, Inde­pendent­ly Poetry, 2024, translated by Carmen Bulzan.

Un poète dans la ville /un poeta en la ciudad. París, L’Harmattan, 2024, translated by Priscilla Gac-Artigas.

Desde el fondo del tintero: Dalibá, la brujita del Caribe (París 1982), ExIliadas (Rotterdam 1988). HLCCNY, 2023.

hombre de américa/man of the americas. Nueva York Poetry Press, NY, 2022, translated by Priscilla Gac-Artigas y Andrea G. Labinger.

deseos / longings / j’aimerais tant. Ediciones Nue­vo Espacio, 2020, translated by Andrea G. Labinger, English, and Priscilla Gac-Artigas, French.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Gac-Artigas

I ASK FOR FORGIVENESS

.

without your permission

i stole part of your lives

.

without your permission

i allowed myself to relive an instant of your loves

.

without your permission

i took over your feelings

.

without your permission

i tried to decipher your secrets

.

without your permission

i witnessed the birth and death of a love

.

without your permission

i allowed myself to capture your tears

.

without your permission

i brought you into my home and my dreams

.

without your permission

i read your letters before they were written

.

without your permission

i spied on you to invade your thoughts

.

i ask for forgiveness

without your permission

today i am addressing you

Translated by Priscilla Gac-Artigas

Fulbright Scholar, Full member of the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española (ANLE), corresponding member of the Real Academia (RAE), professor of Latin American literature at Monmouth University, NJ, USA. Translator of poetry into French and English.

_______

CHRONOS

                exhausted by the passage of time

                i wondered which of the letters

                would be the first to disappear

.

                i knew that the moment would come

.

                and with it these things would vanish: 

                a date

                a face

                a name

                a memory

.

                on that day i would begin to die

.

                slowly i would advance toward my birth

                toward the image of a suitcase traveling through the air

                toward my cradle

                the first of my deaths

.

                perhaps in an old black and white photo

                the face of a first love will remain

                but the face beside it will slowly disappear

                and i will ask, who is that strange woman

                and why does she appear in my dreams

.

                early every morning

                in a sort of conjuration

                i look over the letters that defy me

                from my keyboard

                while i wonder

                which will be the first to disappear

                and with it

                from one oblivion to another

.

                my first memories

.

                the source of my writing

_____

Translated by Andrea G. Labinger

Professor emerita of Spanish at the University of La Verne, holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and specializes in translating Latin American Literature. Three of her novel translations were finalists in the PEN Literary Competition.

Marsha Solomon, USA: “Seven Sisters”

Pleiades

Seven Sisters

Seven sisters luminous
In blue white light
Stars dance and sparkle
On a cold winter night
In wondrous gaze
Our women join in the
Mythical phrase
An asterism of beauty
Becoming one thousands of stars
And strength so very far
We cling to the dome of sight
Celebrating women’s beautiful light.

MARSHA SOLOMON, USA

Marsha Solomon (USA) has been living and working as a painter and a poet in New York. Her work has been presented in museums and galleries in the US and Europe, and has been the subject of many exhibitions.
www.marshasolomon.com

“TO MY VALENTINE” poem by Stanley H. Barkan, USA

TO MY VALENTINE

14 February 2024

Sometimes when it’s dusk or twilight,

the in-between time,

between light and dark,

dark and light,

I think of you

when we first met.

.

My friend Ira, stunt flyer roommate

at the U of M, and I

came as blind dates

for you and your sister, Bonnie.

.

As the door at East 2nd Street opened,

I saw through some long poles

a row of white teeth,

smiles on the faces of three young ladies:

you, your sister, and a girlfriend.

.

We went out for a movie

and/or a restaurant,

I can’t remember which,

and talked about ourselves.

.

You were so cute with your Mia Farrow haircut,

your skirt and blouse, revealing 

how well-developed you were

in all the right places.

.

I knew right then, especially,

when saying good night, 

I pinched your bottom,

and you didn’t object,

that you were my kind of Brooklyn,

but not a Flatbush, girl,

the kind of girl

my mother and father would love,

the girl who’d be my basherte ,

the mother of our children,

and a real partner for life.

.

And now, more than half a century later,

you’ve fulfilled my every dream

for what you were and are and always will be

from tohu va bohu till the End of Days

—my best ever Valentine.

Stanley

Anila Bukhari (Pakistan): “True Happiness”

” True Happiness”

In search of true happiness, I wander,

A state of mind misunderstood by all,

For humans crave what they deem as joy,

In cars, partners, friends, or dreamlike realms.

.

But happiness, dear souls, hides deep within,

Within the caverns of your mind and heart,

Not found in fleeting wishes, desires unmet,

But in acceptance of life’s every part.

.

Reflect, my friends, on this profound truth,

That happiness eludes those who seek,

For wanting a partner, gaining a mate,

Brings fleeting joy, a momentary peek.

.

True happiness, not a transient glimmer,

Is found in accepting life’s blessed embrace,

With all its ups and downs, its joys and pains,

In gratitude, find solace and true grace.

.

So, pause and ponder, for it is not in things,

In fulfilling desires, where happiness thrives,

But in accepting what you have been blessed with,

And embracing what you lack, your soul shall thrive.

.

Unveil the veil of misconception, my friends,

And let true happiness fill your being,

For it resides not in external attainments,

But in surrendering, and truly seeing.

.

Open your hearts, let go of the chase,

And feel the bliss of life in its every hue,

For in acceptance lies the key to lasting joy,

In embracing all, find the happiness that’s true.

.

Anila Bukhari

______

Anila Bukhari, an incredible young girls’ education activist and award-winning humanitarian, has truly inspired many. At the age of 10, she began her writing journey, and by the age of 20, she had already authored 11 books! Her passion for raising awareness about girls’ education, especially for blind individuals, and her focus on combating forced and child marriages is commendable. Through her project “Girls Shine,” Anila’s impactful work has reached 50 countries. Her books have been published not only in the USA but also in many other countries. Her poetry, translated into 20 different languages, has touched hearts worldwide. Anila’s dedication goes beyond writing. She created a YouTube channel called “Refugee Voice,” providing a platform for global refugees to share their life stories. Additionally, she established the “Butterfly Global Teachers Club,” implementing projects in schools worldwide, including art classes for women’s empowerment and combating child marriage. Anila’s efforts extend to refugee camps, where she has published a book based on poetry from those residing there, showcasing their talent and amplifying their voices on social media. Her impact as an inspiring leader is evident through her 200+ articles and her recognition with the International Excellence Award from the House of Parliament in London, where she competed against 800 other applicants. Anila’s ultimate goal is to provide education to every orphan and street child while ensuring the safety of girls from forced marriages. Anila Bukhari’s journey is truly remarkable, and her unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in the world is an inspiration to us all.

SPIRIT CAPTIVE, JERUSALEM IN POETRY, PROSE AND PAINTINGS by Helen Bar-Lev

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CKKPXJY8
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 98 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8350926507
• Expected publication: December 31, 2023
• Publisher: BookBaby

https://store.bookbaby.com/book/spirit-captive

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spirit-captive-helen-bar-lev/1144183231

https://www.amazon.sg/Spirit-Captive-Jerusalem-Poetry-Paintings/dp/B0CKKPXJY8

Spirit Captive, Jerusalem in Poetry, Prose and Paintings is the impressive collection of poems, short stories, memories and artworks that Helen Bar-Lev  presents to us as a real declaration of love to Jerusalem.

Emily Dickinson wrote “Not knowing when the dawn will come I open every door” and this is what Helen seems to do here: ready and open to numerous opportunities to profess her unending dedication to the city she so deeply loves: the result is a sense of universal – sometimes suffering – beauty that permeates us.

Lidia Chiarelli, Italy

Lidia Chiarelli: “THE BEST POETS & TRANSLATORS PRIZE”

Published in Bangladesh and in China:

THE DAILY GLOBAL NATION INDEPENDENT-DHAKA

Page setup, photo setup by Editor Sabyasachi Nazrul

Published

Wednesday 29.11

Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Congratulations to all The International Best Poet and Translator Prizes Winning Poets and translators, Lidia Chiarelli, Zhang Zhi, Iris Calif, Brent Olov, Kang Byeong Chang, Yang Jijun, Kesheb Keshab Sigdel, Armain Vegahermain, Sabyasachi Nazrul

Their poems will surely hypnotise the readers of International Newspaper The Daily Global Nation Independent.

May poetry win the hearts of the people!

__________________________________________________________________

孟加拉国英文报推出2023最佳诗人暨翻译家得主专辑

本刊达卡讯  孟加拉国时政新闻英文大报《Global Nation Daily》，于2023年11月29日在第三版《世界文学》专栏，推出了“2023年度国际最佳诗人暨翻译家”（PRIZES 2023: The International Best Poets & Translators）所有获奖者的彩照和十位获奖诗人的英文诗、小传，2023年度国际最佳诗人暨翻译家得主分别来自意大利、亚美尼亚、卡塔尔、瑞典、韩国、以色列、中国、尼泊尔、阿尔巴尼亚、孟加拉国、俄罗斯、吉尔吉斯斯坦、黑山共和国等。

该报四开八版，系孟加拉国最具影响力的英文时政新闻报。

          国际诗歌翻译研究中心（IPTRC）

          混语版《国际诗歌翻译》杂志社

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzI3MjM3MjQ0NA%3D%3D&mid=2247491347&idx=1&sn=612c59d024cff3af6fff5b6eb24a547c&chksm=eb32d8a0dc4551b6726eac8a711eda5dd7b3c8370eb1b656983467b5cc62f7e4009c1eb40f9d&token=1569008671&lang=zh_CN&fbclid=IwAR31cZINmp_gnbAVFXJmsaIySDCKN4-9D6HAnaMYeRMtElkDHNwIREiCKI4#rd

OSSI DI SEPPIA 30th Edition – FREE POETRY COMPETITION

PARTICIPATION RULES

SUBMISSIONS via email only with a word doc. attachment:

ossidiseppiapoesia@gmail.com

DEADLINE JANUARY 7 2024

SINGLE POEM SECTION A

Participants must send ONE UNPUBLISHED TEXT, free in theme and number of lines, in a single copy.

COLLECTION OF POEMS SECTION B

Participants must send a minimum of THREE to a maximum of SEVEN unpublished poems, free in theme and number of lines, in a single copy.

Participation is open to any living author of any nationality.

  Texts in English, French, Spanish are also accepted, without the obligation of translation, although a translation is welcome.

  Foreign authors of languages other than those mentioned above are invited to send the text(s) translated into English.

THE WORKS OF THE TOP FOUR CLASSIFIED AUTHORS OF THE TWO SECTIONS WILL FORM AN ANTHOLOGY IN PDF/EPUB FORMAT (PLUS SOME PAPER COPIES, WHICH WILL BE SENT TO THE LIBRARIES OF THE LIGURIA REGION.)

Authors who are awarded the prestigious Grand Jury Prize will be sent a certificate to their e-mail address in  JEPG format -, with “author’s name” and printable at their own convenience in the weight).

The poems will be evaluated by a jury of indisputable profile: Claudio Damiani, Mauro Ferrari and Lamberto Garzia as coordinator of the same (under the supervision of Giuseppe Conte, Tomaso Kemeny and Stefano Zecchi, examiners of the works in the historic First Edition, Year 1993) , whose judgment is final, who will have the opportunity to read the texts almost simultaneously after they have been sent by the participant, since the Secretariat will immediately forward the attachments.

The award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday,  February  17, 2024  at 17.30, at the historic Villa Boselli in Arma di Taggia.

For further information please contact only, by e-mail, to the following:

ossidiseppiapoesia@gmail.com

Lidia Chiarelli receives the first prize in China: THE BEST POETS & TRANSLATORS category

Lidia Charelli’s poems are published in the Anthology of International Poets -China 2023

當代國際優秀詩人選集（之八十五）

antologia-cina-2023-e795b6e4bba3e59c8be99a9be584aae7a780e8a9a9e4babae981b8e99b86e4b98b85-e894a1e6bea4e6b091-1Download