Art knows no boundaries, from the deserts of Kuwait to the deserts of New Mexico, Zahra Marwan weaves a tale of two deserts with her nostalgic illustrations. Her beautiful and bubbly personality not only makes you fall in love with her illustrations, but also the stories behind them. At 30-years-old, she has already completed hundreds of illustrations in different mediums, and has just concluded her artist residency at the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre in Kuwait.

Zahra first began painting when one of her brothers had her draw a ninja turtle back when she was just a kid, and when she was in high school, he encouraged her to start taking art classes. “I have three older brothers and I copied everything they did, which I’m sure didn’t make them happy, from Russian literature to taekwondo and drawing,” she says.

When observing her illustrations, you’ll instantly see that a lot of Zahra’s work is inspired by her family roots, and the strong connection she has towards both of her hometowns; Kuwait and New Mexico. She puts it best by posing the question “What is art if not a reflection of your environment?” The repetition of specific imagery is prominently featured in her illustrations. For example, a fish usually represents Kuwait or the sea, “Which someone recently told me in Kuwait is a cliché, but for me, it’s a big part of being Kuwaiti.” Other frequently revisited imagery includes coyotes and a colorful desert, both a reflection of the habitat of New Mexico.

The visual symbols which Zahra employs denote the meaning of family and home, and they surprisingly draw you closer to Zahra’s illustrations. Feelings of nostalgia and longing sweep through the subjects of her ink and watercolors and this is clearly seen and felt in one of her multiple pieces titled “Swimming at midnight.” When Zahra’s parents moved back to Kuwait, she was only 17 years old, and at first, she couldn’t join them because of her education. From a young age, she was far from her parents. “I’d go back and visit them over the summer, and I always loved the sea. My parents maybe not so much, but they make efforts and go swim with me at night since it’s too hot during the day. It’s like searching for fun times,” she says.

Themes of nostalgia, home and day-to-day life form the basis of Zahra’s inspiration, and, in turn, translate into meaningful works of art that move the spectator. During her two month residency at the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Center, Zahra’s project revolved exactly around these topics and presents a reflection on Kuwaiti life, plus the beauty of it. The time she spent at the center was incredible to her, as she says “Every time I would go up the escalator to arrive in the center I’d think ‘WOW! This is so honorable,’ it’s such a beautiful space and right across from the sea, which of course now we know Zahra loves the sea!”

There aren’t many full-time artists in Kuwait, and that is probably because there aren’t many places to enable, or even encourage them to pursue a career in the arts on a full-time basis. But Zahra explained her personal perspective, “I feel like I worked really really hard to turn this sense of poetry, or maybe not even poetry but creating imagery into a way to sustain myself, and if you’re Kuwaiti and you have the economic fortune of being able to live well, why wouldn’t you take the risk?”

Zahra’s upcoming project is a picture book and she will also be participating in an exhibit with the Cultural Center in Venice this month. Take a look at her artwork, and you’ll probably end up being as in-love with it as we ultimately were.

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE

What do you most value about your friends?

Their lightheartedness and the fact that they really listen. Their open hearts and constant availability.

Which living person do you most admire?

Activists on the Arabian Peninsula.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sitting around without worry.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Books and the arts.

What is your most treasured possession?

My independence.

What is your greatest fear?

Death, my own and that of the people I love.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxjE6u2lmhq/

What is your most marked characteristic?

Being personable without restraint in unexpected social circumstances.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Being organized, or a dancer!

What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for?

Being able to do things I’m afraid of.

What is the human trait you most dislike about others?

Hypocrisy.

What is it that you most dislike?

Oppression and discrimination.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I don’t know!

What are your favorite words to live by?

خلي يولي – [Forget about it].

Where would you most like to live?

The urban architecture of 1930’s Kuwait with the Albuquerque leftist mentality. Or maybe Scandinavia in the summer, they seem really eccentric over there.

If you could have any job, what would it be?

Running an independent cinema or bookstore. A diplomat. A flamenco dancer!

What would you consider your greatest achievement?

The beautiful life I’ve created out of my turbulent circumstances. Where I am seems so unlikely considering my personal history.

What do you hope for the future?

A retirement plan.

Follow @zahra_marwan on Instagram, or check out her website www.zahramarwan.com to have a better look at her artwork.