‘Positivity’’: Rowaida Hakim unveiled her signature strips of gold leaf series of paintings.

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

Art is the only way to express my inner feelings like joy, peace, positivity and spread the message of happiness around me. Through paintings, I express my ideas and the result reflects through a range of artworks.

This was stated by Rowaida Hakim, a contemporary artist based in Dubai. She was talking on the sidelines of the unveiling of her signature strips of gold leaf series of paintings “Ramadan and Spring collection” in Dubai on Wednesday.

Rowaida Hakim adopted a special technique to use gold leaf as well as other precious metals like copper and silver to draw a variety of artworks. Her latest collection comprises a series of paintings in which she used her own handwriting rather than borrow someone else style of calligraphy. “My collection includes paintings of Arabic alphabets in a way which not only gives audience a sense of happiness but food for thought as well. Most of the alphabets are drawn to use gold leaf as one cannot find any of my artworks without the traces of any precious metal like gold, copper and silver,” she said.

“These (paintings) are reflections of hope, beauty and the happiness of life,” she said. “I want everyone to feel a sense of love and joy when they look at my paintings.”

She pointed that using gold or any other precious metal gives one a sense of security, comfort and strength.

Hakim has been painting since the age of seven when she first took part in her school painting competition. I helped my friend with one of the painting which won the competition and that piece of art was hung in principal’s office for a whole year. That event taught me two important lessons for the rest of my life. The first was extend help for others before helping yourself and second was to keep painting,” she said.

Since then she has not stopped painting and devised her own style by using different precious metals in her paintings of birds, architecture, people or anything. She has been running her interior design firm where most of her artworks sell while getting orders from all over the world from people who love her style and expressions.

Like her previous works, these new paintings also portray natural scenes, such as floral arrangements, butterflies, the night sky and scenes of springtime. In addition to gold leaf, this time she has also incorporated copper leaf.

She has showcased her works in two solo exhibitions in Dubai and also planning to exhibit her latest artworks in different galleries of European countries.

“I have been painting for a long time and am lucky enough to have my own admirers who not only appreciate my work but also buy for their homes. The two solo exhibitions I did was because my friends requested me  to reach a broader audience. We are fortunate to be in Dubai which is a gateway for the world and people from all corners of the world as well those residing here to understand art,” she said.

Her artworks comprise various themes and expressions and are hung in the homes and offices of locals and expatriate communities in Dubai. She also has foreign clients who ask her to make paintings on their choices of themes and sizes.

The Ramadan Collection will be showcased till May 16 from 10:30 to 3:30pm at Rowaida Interiors JBC 3 Tower, Cluster Y, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai.

Recently, the Dubai International Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition, DIACE, hosted an open discussion by Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library, about the Arabic calligraphy.

Now in its 10th season, the event will feature works by talented calligraphers who will explore the medium in modern and traditional techniques. With a display of art renditions in contemporary designs and styles, it aims to provide more depth and understanding of this medium to visitors.

Organised every two years, the exhibition celebrates calligraphy as one of the most powerful art forms for highlighting the brilliance of the written word and putting forth powerful ideas that are related to Islamic heritage, as well as the region’s cultural and social identity.

DIACE aims to shed light on the use of calligraphy in contemporary design and frame the art form in a modern context to enhance its appeal for today’s Islamic and Arab communities and artists.