Bahraini artist Zainab Al Sabba gives voice to everyday objects at exhibition
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com
Report by Mohammed Darwish
Words, as vessels of emotion, transcend their mere definition, a truth evident in the work of guest artist, Zainab Al Sabba, twice honoured with the audience award at the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition.
An architect by day, she devotes her evenings to the arts. Her artistic journey began with a penchant for the abstract shapes of Arabic letters. She refined her calligraphy skills through persistent practice, ultimately developing a unique style of her own.
“Driven by a passion for innovation, I was drawn to freestyle calligraphy — a domain offering a broad canvas for my ideas and their integration with conceptual art,” she remarked to The Daily Tribune.
This personal style has transformed into a recognisable brand, with her pieces becoming sought-after collectibles available on her website.
Significant figure
Al Sabba’s foray into conceptual art was fuelled by a vivid imagination and extensive exploration of early 20th-century revolutionary art movements, establishing her as a significant figure in this field. Her monochro- matic works often feature everyday objects reimagined in thought-provoking ways.
One notable piece, which depicts cloth hangers cascading down a wall, symbolises “psychological unrest and perturbation,” earning her both the Audience Award and third place at the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition.
In 2022, Al Sabba’s solo exhibition in Sharjah, titled “Lines”, presented black text on black lines against transparent acrylics, commenting on the elusiveness of meaning.
This approach echoes Jacques Derrida’s assertion that “There is nothing outside the text,” inviting viewers to seek meaning both within and beyond the visible.
Conceptual work
“My experience in conceptual work extends my literary journey in prose, as I believe conceptual and experimental art can embody the sentiments in my work and provide it with additional dimensions, never allowing my medium to constrain me,” Al Sabba stated.
“Creating an artistic identity is a journey of maturation, akin not to a linear path but to a rollercoaster of life’s vicissitudes, marked by overcoming conflicting feelings of cynicism, coming of age, and loneliness,” she noted.
“Emotions, vast and profound, defy complete representation through material art forms. Yet, I strive to convey at least a fragment of these feelings through varied means, aiming to ensure that emotions are duly acknowledged by examining the concept from multiple angles,” she added.
Diverse interpretations
Al Sabba observes that Bahraini society has a deep and nuanced understanding of conceptual art and finds joy in observing the diverse interpretations viewers bring to her work.
In conclusion, she affirmed, “My goal is to build a rich language that conveys ideas beyond ordinary understanding.
I’m still searching for the deeper truths of art, striving to communicate what isn’t immediately apparent to most.” Later this week, Al Sabba will be engaging in an artistic project for The Media Majlis at Northwestern University in Qatar.
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