Magda Malkoun in her studio.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Magda Malkoun is a multi-faceted artist based in Dubai. Her body of work consists of figurative and abstract art inspired by conflicts and the bonds one creates while in displacement. “I was always fascinated by the endless oscillation of the human condition,” she says.

“Studying what makes us who we are and how nations thrive or fail. Sometimes what starts out as destructive, becomes a rousing manifesto of hope and growth, and offers a sense of perspective about the inevitability of a new order.”

Influenced by inspirations as diverse as Kahlil Gibran, Gustav Klimt, Modigliani and Picasso, she has won the Best Emerging Artist Award at World Art Dubai in 2021. She has exhibited her work in World Art Dubai, DIFC; Al Murabbaa Arts Festival Ajman; Van de Goudenberg Art Gallery Dubai; Dubai Culture’s NFT first physical exhibition in Al Safa Art & Design Library and at MORROW collective’s Gateway to the Metaverse show at the House of Wisdom, Sharjah (Mar. 24 – Apr. 15).

Her work has been acquired by art enthusiasts and collectors in Lebanon, the UAE and France. They are also exhibited in Ajman Museum as part of their permanent collection. She builds her answers to Gulf Today  

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Why does creative disruption attract you as an artist?

It all started when I saw the destroyed buildings of Beirut recently and it wasn’t the first time; I have seen it all my life. I was mostly inspired by the resilience of Beirut, as a city that has been destroyed more than 10 times over the decades and rebuilt repeatedly.

Resilience has become part of the city’s DNA and it reminded me of the resilience of women – I wanted to celebrate that to give homage to this city and to its women who keep standing strong and fighting, despite the loss, the grief and the broken heart.

I started collecting photos as part of my own healing after these events and started to build them one by one to feel that I am rebuilding or helping in a way to rebuild the city. It gave me hope to see that we can rebuild something beautiful out of destruction: this was my message of hope through my work. 

Do you work for the market, for yourself, for both? How does the personal become the artistic?

My creative work comes solely from within. I am strong believer that artists must be closely connected to their soul and their thoughts, and understand themselves deeply to be able to create. As a Lebanese, born during the war in 1982 and living through the years, witnessing a war every 10 years, till the recent devastating blast of August 4, 2020. For sure, this has impacted my work. Also, I have lived in the UAE for the past 17 years - and this has inspired me equally. 

 Magda Malkoun’s artwork titled AUDACITY.

How can the artist balance creativity and disruption?

Each artist reacts to disruption in a different way. Disruption creates a shock and a void; it’s almost like a wake-up call. This void creates a possibility of change, and a blank canvas to create something new. It’s how you learn and how you impact and inspire others that really matters.

What are the elements that defines your work exhibited at the House of Wisdom?

My exhibited works at House of Wisdom are titled HOPE and AUDACITY. The portraits are in mixed media on canvas made of a blend of acrylic paint sand, and collage, painstakingly organised photos from various experiences, images of places, and the people we’ve met in our life journey. The physical paintings were turned into NFT animations, highlighting the dreamy movement of a female figure that brought these emotions to life.

What are the opportunities NFTs provide an artist?

This tech provides multiple opportunities to artists. It is in a creative sense first and foremost; while we are beginning to see sculptures in NFTs, holograms and animated artworks, I feel we are still only scratching the surface of how creatively we can expand using this technology. From an industry standpoint, NFTs have opened the doors to artists to be exhibited on a global platform, bringing access to both artists and collectors to communicate directly. Having said that, the role of galleries and curators is more than ever still valid as the art world, whether physically or digitally, need to be curated to preserve its value and authenticity.

What have you learnt from your inspirations - Gibran, Modigliani, Klimt and Picasso?

While Modigliani with his sensual female portraits, Klimt with his highly decorative style and Picasso with his distorted cubist portraits have impacted my art practice indirectly, I am most inspired by Gibran Kahlil Gibran. My first series of the Beirut portrait was inspired by his quote: “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars”.

Your works are a favourite of exhibitors and collectors. What makes them so?

I create my work with honesty and portray real emotions that I feel, and this might have impacted the collectors that are drawn to my art. I want to give hope to people and show human emotions and a strong message that I genuinely believe in, and this might have been the reason. I have collectors from different nationalities such as Lebanese, French, Saudi, Jordanian and Emirati, to name a few.