One look at the works of Warda Al-Kandari instantly reveals an artist with a distinctive edge. Each and every painting begins with an expression of black ink. Unplanned, and without a prior sketch to practice. From there, shapes start to form and develop with a concept, all under Warda’s vision. She’s not only a unique artist, but Warda has also recently launched a jewelry brand under the name Sacra Mvlier, which means Sacred Woman, in Latin.

Warda describes her art best as minimal and abstract, it is also inspired by solitude, philosophy and conceptual perspectives. Every painting is done and constructed with ink, and it is the main material she uses for most of her paintings. But as a passionate experimenter, Warda has introduced new elements to her pages, including leather, and hints of color here and there.

“Starting a piece generally takes me into a meditative mode with my morning coffee, it creates a spiritual connection with the black blocks that comes naturally without sketching before,” says Warda. It’s all in the details too, hidden messages in between geometric shapes are hardly ever seen from afar unless you take a closer look at them. The surprise plus the joy of discovering them is quite pleasing, especially when there are hardly any descriptions for the viewer to follow.

Warda herself is not a fan of describing her artwork, but when it’s required at galleries and exhibitions, she tries as much as she can to keep it brief. “I don’t force a description; I see it as a limitation [to both the artist and the audience]. I love mystery at the end of the day. Reality is so rigid, where would the playfulness of it all go?” she says.

Even though most of Warda’s paintings are driven by life experiences, she continues to include unique features, she also describes her aesthetic as “Very distinct geometrical profiles of humans, animals, and other objects.” The amount of patience that goes into the creation of her work is also clearly seen within Warda’s art because she immediately starts with ink and it’s quite restricting when it comes to erasing any mistakes that might occur. If anyhing, It actually pushes her to start everything all over again to present us with a final flawless art piece.

But there’s more to the artist than art. Only recently, Warda has launched the first collection of her jewelry brand Sacra Mvlier. She strongly believes in creating special pieces that would last a lifetime, jewelry that would create a certain connection, to eventually garner a piece that would define you, just like a weapon would. Jewelry is often taken for granted in that perspective, it’s a statement piece that needs to be worn powerfully.

This is why Warda created a line that represents powerful feminine and masculine energies, where one would be able to relate to. It took her almost two and a half years of studying and researching every aspect before launching her debut jewelry line. From manufacturing and production, where she decided that the jewlry pieces need to be strictly handmade, to collecting important elements such as stones from her travels.

The philosophy behind Sacra Mvlier stems from the concept of origins; the point at which something comes into existence, “The start of shapes, squares, triangles. The origins of these geometric shapes and how they develop, evolve, and what can be done with them in an art form,” explains Warda. The first collection, “MEGALITH” is an exploration of the virility of stones in the construction of potent objects and the persistence of ruins. If you have noticed already, the name of the brand includes the Roman number seven, “VII”, which inevitably relates back to the designs, where if they are to be repeated, it will only occur seven times. It is also Warda’s favorite number, to her it’s universal.

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The pieces are all formed in 18K gold material, with beautiful stones that Warda herself collected in her travels. The collection includes different shapes of necklaces, rings, and earrings, each represents power and raw elegance at its best. Warda says “Whenever someone wants to take a piece, it becomes their own. It’s not just about the appearance of the pieces, it’s related to the energies of the metal, the skin, the body. To me, it even affects the scent. I’m very conscious about these details.”

From witnessing the extraction of thoughts on to black ink on white paper, to the limitless use of raw yet elegant shapes in jewelry, we personally cannot wait to see what will the next piece from Warda be.

TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE

How would your mother describe you in one word?

Rebellious.

How would you describe your mother in one word?

Strong.

What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked?

Nothing crosses my mind.

What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

Dove next to a shark and found myself getting closer to it although we were told we shouldn’t.

What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented?

A German word – VERSTEHEN by Wilhelm Dilthey. It means a special kind of understanding, studying every aspect of an experience. This requires sensitivity, wisdom and emotional intelligence.

Where would you like to live?

I travel a lot. So, I’m fine with Kuwait for now.

What is your dream retirement location?

Italy – Mexico – Bahrain.

What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind?

Hell is other people – by Jean Paul Sartre.

Which animal best describes your perfect partner, be it in business, or in life?

A dog.

Do you miss anything from your childhood and if so, what is it?

My time in silence and intensity of observing.

If you could change your name, to what would you change it?

I would keep my name.

How would you describe your handshake, in one word?

Firm and trustworthy.

What is the toughest part of your character?

Rigidity, rationality, and frankness.

Who is your favorite historical figure?

Spinoza — Martin Heidegger — Camus.

What in the world do you least desire?

Fake poses and judgments.

What do you think is lacking in the world, which [if there were more of it] would make the world a better place?

Openness and tolerance.

Why do you think most people who do, like you?

People would like that I’m into openness, adventures. I’m rational so people who are logical would find an ease dealing with me. They would appreciate that I’m disciplined and I respect time. Straightforward. Also a spiritual appreciator of aesthetics and playful, mystical matters.

Finish this sentence: “Happiness is…”

Acceptance of the temporal states of the mind.

For more information or updates on Warda’s latest works, follow @wardaknd and @sacramvlier on Instagram.