Unique techniques and innovative approaches inform Aj’s abstracts
- Last updated: June 28, 2025 | 10:08
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
Aj is a self-taught abstract artist based in Dubai. Originally from Paris, she has been shaped by formative periods in Geneva and London. Her practice is rooted in the language of colour, emotion and intuitive movement, creating visual dialogues that exceed verbal expression.
In her art making, she combines a mixed-media process with poured acrylic and oil pastels and follows the natural flow of pigment, while mediating with planned interventions. The interplay of fluidity and precision is a mirror of the human experience itself, according to her — unpredictable, layered, and alive.
For Aj, unpredictability is a necessary input for creativity, serving as a catalyst for transformation. Each of her pieces is a conversation between order and disorder, presence and absence, the seen and the not-yet-seen. Aj’s work draws upon her personal journey across cultures and geographies, while remaining universally relevant.
Her colourful world is not only a reflection of her internal landscapes, but also an invitation for viewers to find their own meaning in the movement of colour and form. Aj speaks to Gulf Today
Have you had formal art training?
No, I am completely self-taught. My journey into art came from a very personal, intuitive place rather than an academic or technical background. I’ve always been drawn to creativity, colour, textures and movement; later in life, painting called me in a way I could no longer resist. The fact that I haven’t had formal training has actually given me freedom. I approach the canvas without boundaries of theory, letting instinct and emotion guide me. My art is a conversation between my inner world and the material; it is not a process dictated by rules.
Why does Abstract attract you?
Abstract art allows me to express what words cannot. Emotions, memories and energies don’t always have clear shapes, but they have weight, movement, and colour. Abstract gives me the freedom to translate the unspoken into something visual. It’s deeply personal, yet universal. Every viewer can bring their own story into my work. For me, abstraction is not about explaining or representing, but about feeling, intuiting, and connecting on a level beyond language.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Inspiration comes from many places: my personal experiences, emotions, the natural world, and often simply from the energy of life itself. Sometimes it’s a memory, sometimes it’s a state of mind. I am particularly inspired by contrasts: stillness and movement, chaos and harmony, light and shadow.
How has travel affected your art?
Travel has been a constant part of my life, and it’s shaped me as both a person and an artist. I was born in Paris, lived in Geneva and London, and now call Dubai home. Every place carries its own energy, colours, light, and emotional rhythm. Being exposed to different cultures, landscapes and people has opened me to diverse ways of seeing and feeling. Dubai, especially, has influenced my work with its contrasts, vibrant pulse and multicultural richness. But even more than specific places, it’s the movement involved in travelling, the constant transition and the idea of shifting perspectives, that deeply resonates with me.
Why do you like colour?
Colour is everything for me. It’s my language, my vocabulary. Each shade carries a vibration, a mood, an energy. Colours can soothe, excite, provoke, or comfort. I use colour to translate feelings that are often too complex or layered to express otherwise. I choose colours based on what I’m feeling at the moment. The way they blend, collide, or separate on the canvas, mirrors the emotional layering of life itself.
Do you use drip technique?
Yes, though I would say my process is a blend of pouring, dripping, and intuitive mark-making. I primarily work with acrylic pouring, allowing the paint to flow and interact freely. I then build upon these fluid layers with oil pastels, adding intentional gestures, lines, and textures. The drip or flow technique allows a certain surrender. I release control and allow the paint to find its own path. That unpredictability is where the magic often happens.
Are you influenced by Jackson Pollock?
Of course, Jackson Pollock’s work has had an enormous influence on abstract art as a whole, especially with his emphasis on movement, gesture, and surrendering to the process. But while I admire his groundbreaking approach, my work follows a different emotional pathway. For me, the pouring and dripping are not only about movement, but also about emotional layering and symbolic expression. My work often carries a more meditative, introspective quality.
Why do you like your work to radiate energy?
Because I believe that energy is what connects us as humans. Even when we cannot articulate our emotions, we feel energy. My work is intended to hold and radiate that vibrational force. Each painting is like a visual talisman capturing, containing, and transmitting emotional frequencies.
How do you assess the art scene of the UAE?
The art scene in the UAE, especially in Dubai, is dynamic and evolving rapidly. It’s a melting pot of cultures, perspectives, and creative voices. What I find inspiring is the openness to diverse forms of expression, from traditional to contemporary, from emerging to established artists. As a self-taught artist, I have found a strong sense of community here, with opportunities for exhibitions, collaborations and dialogues that cross cultural boundaries. The UAE’s unique position as a global crossroads fosters an environment where artists can experiment, connect, and share their visions with an international audience.