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THURAYA Al-BAQSAMI as a PAINTER
Arabian Lady
| Artist with a cause Born into an artistic family and the granddaughter of a
Kuwaiti architect, Thuraya Al-Baqsami began painting when she was just 10 years old.
Now more than four decades later her paintings clearly reflect an imagination and
love for humanity, with inspiration from variou events continually shaping her life.
" I always have something to say in my
paintings, and I especially like the different roles in Islalruc society of Arab
women," says Al-Baqsami, who writes short stories. children's books and articles, in
additiOh to being an art critic, journalist and magazineillu$trator. Al-Baqsalni
originally begah her academic training at the College of Fine Arts in Cairo, and in 198.1
acquired a Master's Degree in Graphic Book Illustration and Design from the Arts Institute
of Surikov in. Moscow. "It was in Russia that 1 picked up the habit of absolute
cleanliness in my stLrdio. I was taught that the first essential was to have everything
tidy and in its right place," says Al-Baqsanii., who is 'Urrently working on a novel
about her seven years in Moscow as aforeignstudentin.tlle 70s. ;t was her husband Moh~mmed
Al-Qadiri, a fonner diplomat who is now generalmanag~r Qr Al-Baqsami's Ghadir Gallery in.
Kuwait.,~ho
convinced her to study in. the former USSR, and remains an unwavering supporter.
In 1978., while still a student in. Moscow, she held her first solo exhibition. 11.1is was
in Zaire, and Al-Baqsanii later continued her creative work in Senegal, where her husb~nd
was Head of tlle Kuwaiti Diplomatic Mission, and took courses in silk-screen painting,
drawihg, batik and' ceramics. |
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It was in africa that I started
building my artistic personality and have continued to be inspired by the continents
gorgeous landscape and rich flkloric traditions,”she says
Her largely abstract acrylic paintings drenched in vibrant
colours reflecting her joie de vivre’-take three days to one week to complete al baqsami
enjoys using sky blue and turquo ise colours that underline her star sign pisces green and
brown,plus rich brown tones from the use of henna which she discovered while colouring her
hair.
Al baqsami passion for drawings portrait of women , often
inspired by womens faces in old manuscripts reflects concern for the welfare of female
muslim world wide
"I fear some arab women are losing their enthusiasm and
hope for the future. It is lamentable that many voices nowadays are asking them to go back
into the home to care for their children and give up their jobs.the women in my paintings
are not only covering their bodies but are also covering their souls. They are fearful of
losing the freedom to express themselves,” she says.
Proud of the “great progress” Kuwaiti women have made in
literature , science and the arts , albaqsami frequently writes about the segregation of
women in her news paper coloumns
"I am a keen advocate for the political and social
rights of women and am especially proud of my painting where is my right? Which depicts a
mute Kuwaiti woman that is currently hanging in the museum of human rights in Geneva
.”says al baqsami
Another subject close to albaqsami heart and one
extensivelyexplored in her artwork and a books is the 1991 gulf war
Cellar candles, her book about the Iraqi occupation , won a first prize in literature from
the Kuwait foundation for the advancement of |
 Sciences in 1993, and was translated into
English by William Fullerton, a former British Ambassador to Kuwait. The book ,which
includes a story on The Thirst of Abu Sakhir,highlights the bravery and suffering of
Mohammed ,a Kuwaiti POW crammed in a filthy cell in a military detention
center north of Basra. Al-Baqsami's husband was of 10,000 Kuwaitis imprisoned in
Iraq.
" He was luck and managed to return home. We all suffered and every day during the
occupation was horrified.Our three daughters saw him gragged away and we spent seven
months painting 85 sad scenes in sombre colors,which reflected our moods,but helped calm
our fears as well," she says.
Al- Baqsami at the same time produced a painting that was used as an anti-occupation wall
poster.
Terrorism is a new subject currently being portrayed in her
work,with many of her paintings auctioned,with proceeds for charitable
organisations,including UNICEF.
Generally ranging in |
www.ghadirgallerykuwait.com
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