img src="/myfiles/Images/2015/05/23/art_big.jpg" class='article-photo' width="500" alt=""I identify myself with art" Introducing Omani artist Alia Al Farsi" /
Mariam Nihal Saudi Gazette
Born in Muscat, Oman, Alia Al Farsi's first solo exhibition was recently held at Dubai's Empty Quarter Gallery last month. She then went on to exhibit her work at the Venice Biennale on 6th of May as part of an official collateral event of the biennale. Al Farsi's work will be displayed at Art Basel between 18-21st June and Vienna on 22nd July in the Folks Museum. Al Farsi was raised in a supportive environment that led her to achieve all she has today.
She told Saudi Gazette her parents played a huge role in her success story. “Although no one in my family had a career in art, yet my father was an art lover. He always supported me to achieve my dreams. My Omani cultural heritage is an integral part of art and it influences all the pieces through colors, traditions. Poetry and literature have influenced Al Farsi a great deal. “Portraits are an important part of my work and a main interest as a spiritual aspect, however I enjoy experimenting and have also created furniture pieces with paintings which are close to my heart.”
Al Farsi said art in the past had an integral role in shaping the personality of society, but due to technology, this has changed in the last few decades. “There were salons for literature and gatherings of artists at a common scene especially in large cities. The revolution of technology instead of bringing us closer created a distance, as if each was living on an isolated island.
What I want is to change this, or rather, I aspire to change through art, bridging the gap between civilizations. Large task indeed, as most of my friends say, yet I like challenges.”
She said art has evolved over time. “This is evident through my art; if you look at my technique in the last 15 years it had evolved to what it is now. It is natural to change through time. As we are young our perception of life differs totally from that when we mature.” So what is it that she personally dislikes about the art world? “Honestly the art world has become very commercial and based on trends, something that I feel is more like fashion rather than art. I wish this could change.”
Al Farsi's artwork involves spirituality as the main theme with hints of Omani flavors. She is infatuated with the unconventional definition of beauty and the beauty in the discarded and rejected. Talking about her favorite artwork, she said: “All works carry a bit of my soul in them and I love them all. However, if I am to choose just one painting then I guess I will choose ‘Zenith of Solitude' - exhibited in my first solo exhibition in Muscat. This painting has a rich story to draw us to spirituality as the lady in the painting achieves her highest self and is free like a monk while overcoming challenges and her baggage in life only to reach the highest point known as Zenith. The lady's austerity brings in bliss even though in solitude. The Man asks her to forgive, but she feels empowered to discover her highest point and joy in solitude. The painting as quoted by an art critic ‘transformed the viewer sacredly taking him/her on a journey of purification and serenity'.”
