Saudi Arabian painter Nasser Almulhim brings his emotions to life through his new exhibition, Shadow Work. Here he speaks to MOJEH about healing through art
When he was a young a boy in high school, Nasser Almulhim suffered from mental health issues. Taking to the paintbrush as a mode of healing, he quickly discovered how art could provide an escape from his past traumas. Today, the Saudi Arabian abstract painter is the latest artist to be snapped up by Tabari Art Space, which will be exhibiting his latest collection, Shadow Work, from February 9 – March 3 at the esteemed DIFC-based gallery.
Bright Pink Chasing Blue Line
“For me, Shadow Work is the ultimate truth you are escaping from, confronting, dealing with or, should I say, the darkness that needs to see the light,” Nasser tells MOJEH. “It’s the garden within you that needs to be taken care of, to allow you to see your seeds blossoming.” Comprised of 10 acrylic on canvas works in both large and small scale, Shadow Work was created to represent the materialisation of thoughts and emotions as they pass through the mind. As such, the exhibition is divided into two distinct groups, the first offering up a feeling of weightlessness and pared-back, minimalist compositions, while the second is charged and chaotic, together creating an amalgamation of the fleeting sources of inspiration that the artist encounters in his daily life. “I was inspired by life,” adds Nasser. “The nature, the beauty and ugliness of it, the dark and light, the sun and moon. The things we see every day but don’t pay attention to.”
The Epic Light In Her Goddess Eyes
Through Shadow Work, Nasser hopes to inspire others going through similar battles, showing how art can be a gateway to healing. “The use of colours in my painting might bring some joy or trigger some hidden trauma, and that’s what I wanted to get across in my work,” he says. “To show people that something as simple as taking a brush and painting on a void canvas can bring ease to our energies within the soul, helping you express your feelings and face their darkness.” It’s most definitely worth a look. Shadow Work, Tabari Art Space, DIFC, February 9 – March 3, 2022. Purchase Nasser’s work here.
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- Words by Naomi Chadderton
