An exhibition of widely acclaimed Egyptian artist Hossam Dirar’s paintings was recently held at the Zamalek Art Gallery in Cairo. The Cairo-born, Barcelona based, multidisciplinary artist titled his latest collection of paintings, Daydreams. eniGma’s Ezz Al-Turkey sat down with Dirar to discuss the inspirations for his art, his exciting artistic journey and the acclaim he has been receiving both in Egypt and abroad.
Hossam Dirar started out with a degree in Graphic Design from the Faculty of Applied Arts at Helwan University in 2000. After working in graphic design for several years, he switched to painting and eventually left graphic design behind after the 2011 revolution. “My first work as a painter was in 2008. I painted a small collection, which was exhibited at a tiny gallery. It was then that I started to feel a vibe with painting; I began to understand colours and to do more than just sketch. Then, the revolution happened in 2011. It was also a personal revolution for me. Seeing the pictures of the people protesting really inspired me and I decided to shift careers and completely quit graphic design. I’ve dedicated my time to painting ever since.” Dirar reminisces with a smile.
Dirar went on to participate in several exhibitions in Egypt, but it was with the selection of his work for display in Saatchi Gallery Online’s ‘Invest in Art’ exhibit in 2013, that his paintings literally went viral and he began to be recognised internationally. This was particularly significant because, as an Egyptian, he was the only Arab artist among twelve international artists selected.
“At that time, I really got in touch with my technique and started to discover it. I painted using oil colours, which at the time were not used by many artists, as they considered them old fashioned. But I really loved their effect and the way they displayed colours on canvas. I used knives instead of brushes, and that gave my painting thickness, which ultimately made my paintings appear differently in various lighting,” says Dirar.
Dirar believes that art can significantly impact the way that society sees different aspects of life. After choosing Ancient Egypt and the female mind theme for his last solo exhibition, Dirar’s Daydreams collection this year dealt with everyday life and the escapism that goes through people’s subconscious. “My new collection is all about daydreams. I’ve been working on it for about three years. It touches on how sometimes there’s so much going on in people’s lives that they can’t even comprehend it anymore. That ultimately causes them to search for a mental escape, which is where daydreaming comes in. People search for a fictional journey to escape. I try to capture this moment of escapism in this collection,” he explains. The Daydreams exhibition achieved great success, attracting large crowds of art lovers that included figures in the entertainment industry. Actress Salma Abu Deif and singer Lara Scandar, both friends of the artist and admirers of his work, expressed their support through a lovely photo session posing with Dirar, with his paintings as the backdrop.
Dirar’s paintings often reference women and their role in society. His hugely acclaimed 2018 Nefertiti collection which featured the Egyptian queen in modern attire and in different poses, shone a light on the status of women of Egypt. It was a revolutionary collection for Dirar, and it had an important impact on his career. “Our history is the main inspiration for my art. Before embarking on the Nefertiti paintings, I devoted a lot of time reading books about Egyptian history and ancient Egyptian art. The way that ancient Egyptians linked religious symbols with their daily lives is very interesting to me,” says Dirar. In his eyes, history defines modern life; and ancient Egyptian history in particular inspires his paintings. His recent Daydreams paintings also embody references to ancient Egypt, with symbols and figures like the key of life, the ‘Ankh,’ and the wings of Isis making recurring appearances. “Living in Spain has opened my eyes to my culture and background, actually. I’m also so proud that in our Arabic language, everything that has to do with life and the world is addressed in female pronouns,” he adds, proudly demonstrating the subtle reference in the Arabic language to women’s central role in Arab societies.
Dirar, who has been living in Barcelona for several years and has earned an MA in Fine Art from the university there, spent a lot of time travelling around Europe visiting museums and educating himself about art. His travels, while inspiring him immensely, also led to a better understanding of the differences in the techniques of artists from different countries. He also realised that the sun was a very important factor accounting for much of the difference between his art and that of artists from European countries. “When I started exhibiting with other artists, I started to discover what was behind the difference. It was the sun. Living in Egypt made me experience colours differently, because of how pure the sun makes them look. North European artists really liked my colours. However, their own colours were very grey, while I really love working with orange, pink, black and white. My colours are very bright, because that’s how I see the world.” explains Dirar. “The chaos in Egypt, really inspires me. The busy neighbourhood of Maadi, where I grew up, with its clashing, loud environment really reappears a lot in my colour choices,” he adds.
Dirar, whose main style of painting is abstract, gets upset when he hears the phrase, ‘It’s just random scribbling’, muttered by many Egyptians. “I mostly do abstract art. But here in Egypt, people don’t really have a background in this type of art, especially those who have not studied art extensively. Unfortunately, the art culture in Egypt is quite limited, and that’s what I aim to change. I want many more people to experience art and most importantly, to feel it,” he asserts.
While passionately painting in his studio, Dirar makes sure there’s a cacophony of different songs, ranging from Om Kalthoum to Metallica, blasting from his speakers, providing him with the energy he needs to paint. “Before you create art, you feel it. The result can be a painting, a song or words,” affirms Dirar, who also boasts a Master’s in Sound Art from Barcelona and is in the beginning stages of a PhD in that field.
Not planning too far ahead into the future, Dirar likes to live his life day by day and as spontaneously as possible. However, he does admit that there is one dream that he hopes to realise someday. “I really wish I can someday exhibit my paintings at the Grand Egyptian Museum! I have displayed my work at many international museums, but unfortunately, I haven’t had that opportunity in Egypt yet. This would be a chance of a lifetime for me! Egypt hasn’t embraced the idea of displaying modern art inspired by ancient Egypt in its museums yet. While I love working in Europe, I think Egypt is more worthy of my work.”
While he is highly acclaimed by art critics and art lovers alike, Dirar remains delightfully humble and down to earth. He candidly exclaims, “I always wanted this career, but I never thought it was possible. I’m so lucky to be doing what I love, and getting praise for it!”