RIYADH: Saudi-Spanish artist Hana Maatouk has captivated audiences with her surrealist and emotionally charged works, showcased in her first solo exhibition, “Worlds Within,” held at NYC Culture Club last month. Maatouk, who recently completed a four-month residency at Chinatown Soup in New York, uses her art to explore Saudi Arabia’s evolving socio-political landscape and her own memories of growing up in the Kingdom.
The exhibition delved into her exploration of memory, shifting from a personal narrative to a broader investigation of memory’s timeless, transcendent power. One notable piece, Memory from Omra (2022), is a charcoal drawing inspired by her Umrah pilgrimage with her father and brother at the age of 12, reflecting the fleeting, emotional nature of memory.
Maatouk’s work draws heavily from 12th-century Andalusian mystic Ibn Arabi’s concept of divine time and space, and her vibrant visual language channels a combination of abstraction and surrealism, capturing the essence of her experiences. Through her paintings, Maatouk touches on universal themes of identity, cultural heritage, and emotional connection, particularly with her diverse audience.
Having trained in various mediums, including sculpture, installation, and printmaking, Maatouk sees no singular medium defining her work, but rather chooses the language that best conveys the ideas she explores. As she continues to push boundaries, she embraces the fantastical and mythological elements inherent in painting, transforming complex narratives into a visual language that resonates across cultures.
