y c a g e L e h T of Art
PEOPLE | interview
Guest artist at Bahrain’s recent Love & Inspire Art Exhibition, Mariam Fakhro spotlights generations: past and future. She tells Behnaz Sanjana all about it.
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f the artists that belong to Bahrain’s womb, Mariam Fakhro’s is a celebrated name. Wielding her paint brush to create captivating canvases sincethe early 80s; her artworks have graced international and local exhibitions and art galleries over four decades. “Art is my voice and the constant practice that I go back to all the time,” says Mariam. “It's amazing for me to look back and see how many experiences I have had being an artist, travelling and participating in international shows, and being part of the vibrant and active art community in Bahrain.” Speaking of which, Bahrain’s art scene sung a paean to the everlasting mother-child bond by way of the ‘Love & Inspire’ Art Exhibition, dedicated to Bahrain Mother’s Day last month. Organised by Art Fusions Studio Bahrain group of artists in collaboration with Fosbis Design and Marketing, it was momentous for Mariam; she had the opportunity to participate along with her daughter, Farah, and grandchildren, Ali, aged 12 and Nayla, eight. “I'm so proud of my children and grandchildren, they are my truest artwork,” she says, evidently exhilarated. “I am happy that they share my love for creativity and have found a medium to express their thoughts and feelings through art.”
The love for fine art has drawn the three generations in a tighter union, giving them something special to share. Mariam says: “Farah and I always discuss our work with each other, giving helpful feedback, criticism and honest opinions to keep growing and improving. My grandkids, from a very young age, would wander into my studio and look at what I'm doing and ask questions. It's wonderful to be a role model for them, to see them liking and following the same path. Of course, they have their own unique style and voice, and that's exciting to see.” This was evident from their exhibits – while Nayla’s ‘Desert Child’ was acrylic on canvas, Ali’s ‘Classic Car’ was mix water-colour on paper. “They are uniquely talented, and I see them both being very artistic in their future studies and careers,” says the doting grandmother. “Ali was very happy to have sold his piece. It inspired them to keep producing work and realise what they are capable of.” Daughter Farah’s ‘Seated Figure’ is the back of a woman deep in thought, explains Mariam. “It is the story of every human being, but women in particular pause when they are trying to fix something and reflect first rather than rushing into fixing the problem. That is what that moment is.The sister painting is entitled Meditation; a circular abstract depicting a meditative state. They find the solution; they become the solution.” ‘The Yellow Thobe’, a striking portrayal of a Bahraini woman, is the opus of the renowned artist herself. “She's dressed up and burning incense for a very special occasion. I see in her my grandmother in her twenties, doing just that. She passed away in child birth, when my father was quite young. I wanted to depict what I imagined she looked like from the few stories I heard from him,” says Mariam, turning her thoughts to a generation past. Returning to her present and future, Mariam says: “It was a special opportunity for us to show our work together and we hope to do it again. It's a wonderful bond for me to have with my children.”
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April 2021
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