On Community and Healing: An Interview with Meshaal Alzeer
Meshaal Alzeer is a visual artist from Riyadh. His journey with art began when he was a child who used to draw cartoons and later a teenager drawing on his friends' backpacks. His passion for the arts pushed him to pursue it academically as he holds a Bachelor's degree in fine arts with a visual arts major from the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada.
Meshaal currently explores different themes, such as memory, identity, and personal histories. These themes enable him to reflect on himself as a person and community as a whole.
While in Canada, Meahaal exhibited his work at multiple venues, collaborated with local artists, facilitated art classes and demonstrated workshops at The Reach Art Gallery Museum, and won an Emerging Artist award from the Abbotsford Arts Council in 2017. His main practice includes drawing, painting, installation and mixed media.
Meshaal is now based in Riyadh. He practices his art independently and collaborates with local artists and initiatives that support art and artists.
Untitled / 2019
When and how did you cultivate a relationship with art?
My relationship with art began when I was a child. I drew all the time until I went to study abroad in Canada in 2008. My major initially was business administration. While I was taking classes for this major, I also took different painting, sculpting, printing, and other art-related classes. I tried to balance my passion for the arts with my major in business administration. I wanted to do so without having to change my major because I was worried about the future and career prospects if I ended up studying the arts. I eventually found out that although I was interested in business administration, I didn't want to pursue it academically. I also realized that my passion was in the arts and pursing it academically. So, I changed my major regardless of the challenges I mentioned before.
Did your school focus on the arts? How did its focus (or lack thereof) shape your passion for the arts?
I loved drawing when I was a child. I used to draw cartoon characters like Zorro and Mickey Mouse. I really appreciated art classes in elementary and middle schools. Not everyone appreciated them back in high school, though. That's why most students asked for these classes to be cancelled and replaced with gym classes. Although I liked to play soccer, I got annoyed whenever that happened.
I excelled in the arts and participated in any competitions my school offered. When I was in 10th grade, I used to draw on my friend's backpacks as well. My passion for the arts pushed me to practice it inside and outside school.
Sketchbook Shot
How did art school shape your skills and personal style? Do you think it's necessary to pursue arts academically to be a successful artist?
Majoring in art was beneficial to me. I can't deny that it helped me grow my skills in painting, sculpting, printing, etc. Art schools play a great role in developing these skills in their students, as well as immersing them in the theoretical and academic aspects of art, such as art history and theory and the background of different art movements and the factors shaping them.
I don't think it's necessary for an artist to go to art school to be deemed "creative." But studying it generally does play a crucial role in expanding an artist's horizons and exposing them to things they didn't know about, which could end up helping them develop their personal style and skillset.
Anyone looking at your work for the first time can notice a special style distinguishing it. How did that style evolve, and what movements and artists influence it?
I'm interested in different art movements, and I'm currently researching surrealism and expressionism. I want to note that not one specific movement or artist influenced me — my inspiration comes from different artists regardless of their media of interest and their styles. Some of the contemporary artists who inspire me are Ibrahim Ahmed, Gugliemo Castelli, Johan Van Mullem, Louise Bourgeois, and many more.
Forward / 2020
Since you worked and studied in Canada and Riyadh, how did you navigate both art scenes? Were they different (or not)?
When I was in Canada, I worked at The Reach Gallery Museum in 2017 as a volunteer after graduating, and then I was offered an administrative position there. I was also facilitating art classes and workshops at the same Gallery Museum. I can say that the art scene there is both similar and different to Riyadh's, and the similarities are more than the differences. After working there for years, as well as collaborating with local artists, I noticed that opportunities are abundant – every gallery and museum has different art programs offered more than once a year. These programs invite and target different artists depending on their experience and age. And this is similar to the different opportunities artists in Saudi have.
When I moved back to Riyadh in the Spring of 2019, I noticed that the scene was similar to Canada's and what I was used to there. However, there were some differences when it came to art galleries and their programs that were the result of each country's cultural fabric. I want to note the scene is now booming with initiatives and efforts supporting professional, emerging, and promising artists in Saudi. And I'm excited for what is yet to come.
Untitled / 2020
The themes in your artwork range from identity to personal history. Why these themes specifically? Can you mention specific examples of how they're portrayed in your artwork?
I lived outside Saudi for 11 years. When I came back two years ago, I started focusing on themes like identity. I also started contemplating my childhood, memories, identity, and everything that shaped who I am now. I went through traumatic experiences as a child that impacted my life and personality. And before coming to Saudi, these memories resurfaced for some reason. The lockdown period due to the spread of the corona virus last year gave me the space and time to sit and confront them. It also pushed me to begin looking inward and realize that one can't move forward unless they overcome and begin the journey of healing with what they've been through. Healing is a long process, and there's no "right" or "wrong" way to heal. Healing also differs from one person to another. That's why I began my healing journey during that period through contemplation and art practice, which included reading and researching.
My latest body of work discusses this journey of healing that I'm navigating. I hope I can connect with myself and others who have gone through traumatic experiences in their lives through this series. This journey opened up many doors for growth and creativity. Although this is such a personal topic to publicly discuss, I hope it opens up the same doors for others.
It Is Definitely not a Mirage / 2020
You're involved in social work that spreads art practice among the public. What is the importance of the artist's connection with their community?
The artist and community are two sides of the same coin. I was aware of the importance of community and its development, but I became more aware of it when I lived in a community space with 20 other people from all walks of life. We had a meeting called Feelings Meeting every 2 months. I gathered at that meeting with other residents to discuss our feeling and experiences. It was a safe space to share everything without judgment or discrimination. This meeting made me realize the importance of community, and how the artists' responsibility lies in creating a connection with it that's not solely based on taking but on giving as well.
