Young painters opening doors: Hoyda al-Kibsi speaks about the challenges of becoming an artist in Yemen

Hoyda al Kibsi

Although she is still finishing high school, Hoyda al Kibsi has already proven herself as a promising young painter and a tribute to her mentor Mohammed al-Yemeni.   Despite her youth Hoyda al Kibsi has participated in two exhibitions and approaches her work with a great maturity, thoroughly aware of the challenges present for those wanting to live from their paintings. Full of projects and dreams, al-Kibsi speaks about how the younger generation, of which she is a member, tries to find its way into Yemen’s artistic scene.

Yemen Observer (YO):- Why and when did you start painting? 
Hoyda al-Kibsi (HAQ):- I started to draw a long time ago. I taught myself, I drew on my own, and later I studied fine arts. When I started to study drawing, I took classes with professor Mohammed al-Yemeni, who taught me about anatomy in order to better understand the human body. Later I studied colors and acrylics with him. I combined these studies with my studies at secondary school, which are very important - especially as I am about to finish.  

YO:- What do you want to do once you finish high school? 
HAQ:- I want to continue painting, hold exhibitions, and keep learning. 

YO:- You have participated in two exhibitions to date, could you explain a little about them? 
HAQ:- Yes, I have participated in two exhibitions so far, one in March 2008 at the Modern Yemeni School, and the other last December at the Syrian Cultural Center. In this last exhibition, I exhibited with seven other girls and showed 17 paintings. 

YO:- Is there a specific subject you focus on when you draw? 
HAQ:- I like to draw portraits of people. Everything that is beautiful grabs my attention, anything in general. I also like Yemeni culture as a theme, Queen Bilquis, Maareb…and I like people because in my case, when you see that people are good you want to draw their portraits. Finally, I really enjoy drawing old people’s faces. I also like the Old City, the streets, its people…why? Because that is me, I am that.  

YO:- What is the style that most inspires you? 
HAQ:- I like the style of Yemeni artists, for instance professor al-Yemeni’s style and also that of Adnan Jumman (Yemen Observer 17 February, 2009). I like realism in general because it speaks about reality. 

YO:- What are your sources of inspiration when you work? 
HAQ:- Of course you need ideas to inspire you. You need ideas in order to paint; you need to be in the right mood to create. In my case, I need music. If I am drawing something Yemeni, I need Yemeni music and if I draw something from outside, I need foreign music. If I draw portraits I like to listen to Feiruz. I always need music. 

YO:- What do you think about the current artistic situation in Yemen? 
HAQ:- There are good people, good artists in Yemen. If you know how to draw, you are an artist, this is how people see it. The problem is that art is also considered a secondary thing. In Yemen if you know how to draw portraits, how to draw the exact face of your model, then you are an artist. If you draw in an abstract way, people do not understand. 

YO:- Is art in Yemen mainly reduced to realism? 
HAQ:- No, there are many styles and many subjects portrayed. Each painter paints following their ideas and also their imagination, so there is everything. Some paintings are not understood by people and this is a problem, for instance when I participated in the exhibition held at the Syrian Cultural Center, I worked on realist portraits, but other girls worked on imaginary subjects. When people came they liked the realistic works better, although the rest of the works were creative, imaginary and beautiful.  

YO:- As part of the young generation of Yemeni artists, what do you think of the future of arts in your country? 
HAQ:- The younger generation is studying and this is important, we need to have studies. We need educated people and if people study, the future of Yemen will be better.  

YO:- But is it possible to study fine arts outside Hodeidah or Aden… 
HAQ:- That is true, in Sana’a you can only study graphic art, interior design, design, but not fine arts. Hopefully this will change. In my case, I will study engineering at university and then I would like to work on design, thus continuing with art and drawing. I want to become an artist, but in Sana’a you can only do so without studies in fine arts. That is why I study with professor al-Yemeni, in order to improve. 

YO:- Does being a young female present any specific challenges? 
HAQ:- Thanks to God there are many female artists in Yemen, like the Palestinian Amani al Baba or the renowned Aminah al-Nasiri. Yemeni women have been important throughout history, like Queen Bilquis for instance, and I am thrilled that there are so many female artists in the country. Also, women are more interested in arts than men, they care more, and they focus more. For instance, in Mohammed al-Yemeni’s classes, girls are definitely more focused. 

YO:- What are the positive and negative aspects of being an artist in Yemen? 
HAQ:- The negative side is that there is no real interest in art in Yemen. There are a small number of people that draw well and maybe there are many artists, but not all of them are good. The positive side is that in Yemen, we have a civilization, a heritage, traditions, culture, and I think this is the best thing we have. 

YO:- What are the things you and your generation want to change? 
HAQ:- We need something new, new ideas in art like painting on walls in the streets for instance. We need to try new projects. For example, we worked on masks with professor al-Yemeni. We made models, we filled them, we painted them and then we put them in frames, decorating them with different materials.  

YO:- As a student of Mohammed al-Yemeni, what is the best lesson you have learned from him? 
HAQ:- The best thing I have learned from him was to be confident, to gain confidence in my work. He is the best teacher I have ever had; everyday he tries to give you confidence, to make you get involved in exhibitions, he teaches young people and he is also young so he understands us. Also, he made me teach drawing to children, which was hard, especially the boys. The girls focus more and it was nicer to teach them. 


YO:- What are your future projects? 
HAQ:- I would like to work on drawing for a design company and continue improving my work. Also, I would like to have the chance to study outside Yemen, if I obtain a scholarship to do so.

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