Step into the studio of Maitha Abdalla (Instagram), and you enter a living canvas. Forget static easels and mute palettes. Here, creation is a performance, a dialogue between artist and material, where emotions take centre stage and the paintbrush becomes an extension of self. Abdalla, an Emirati artist who defies categorization, isn’t simply creating art – she’s inhabiting it. Her practice transcends mediums, weaving stories of identity, memory, and tradition through painting, sculpture, and performance. Abdalla isn’t afraid to delve into the shadows, confronting vulnerability with a powerful rawness.
Inspired by a lifelong love of stories, Maitha Abdalla began crafting narratives as a child. These tales soon birthed vivid characters who leaped from the page, inspiring her to explore sculpture, painting, and performance art, showcasing the power of storytelling.
Power takes on a new meaning when Maitha Abdalla enters the conversation. Her definition isn’t about outward displays of dominance, but rather the quiet strength found in vulnerability. This philosophy is captured in her simple yet profound statement: “I think being able to feel.” When asked what power means to her, Abdalla embraces the full spectrum of human emotions, welcoming not just the joy and excitement, but also the pain, sadness, and everything else that colours the human experience
The key, she explains, lies not just in experiencing emotions, but in navigating them. There’s a power, she suggests, in questioning the depths of sadness and the reasons behind them. This introspective process allows her to not just weather a storm, but to emerge with a newfound clarity.
Abdalla emphasises that every emotion, from joy to despair, holds the potential to be a source of creation. By learning to extract creative energy from all aspects of the human experience, she transforms the full spectrum of emotions into art. In this way, Abdalla pushes back against the romanticised notion of the suffering artist. She doesn’t believe in seeking out pain for the sake of art; instead, she advocates for embracing the entirety of the human experience. It’s this ability to navigate and find creative power in every emotion that defines her not just as an artist, but as a powerful individual who redefines strength through vulnerability.
“Even though I was drawn to stories at a young age,” Abdalla explains, “it wasn’t until my early twenties that I truly explored cinema and theatre.” She describes attending film festivals, then seeking out the scripts of the movies that resonated with her. “I loved reading the scripts,” she continues, “and seeing how the characters played out on the page. That’s when my practice began to shift.”
This shift involved a change in her creative process. She moved away from crafting novels and short stories, instead focusing on creating scenes reminiscent of theatrical productions or film scripts. She would meticulously develop these scenes, detailing the characters and their actions, essentially building a written foundation for the visual art she would create later. “It’s like a bridge,” she concludes, “that allows me to move from words to visuals.”
The story comes first. Her creative process begins with crafting a narrative. Instead of writing it down, however, now she often translates it into a theatrical performance with characters embodying her emotional landscape. These characters grapple with extremes – sin and forgiveness, right and wrong – reflecting the polarities of human experience. Her artistic expressions, whether paintings or performances, often juxtapose confined spaces with expansive landscapes, mirroring the internal struggles she explores.
These contrasting ideas come together as metaphors woven into characters. They might be drawn together, locked in conflict, or sharing an intimate space. She might translate them into 3D models or stage a performance to explore their dynamics.
The studio is her starting point. She envisions her work as a grand performance. The studio transforms into a stage where she breathes life into these characters as sculptures on the canvas. The finished piece, she explains, is almost a byproduct of the story itself. It’s a visual record of the exhaustion, the performance, the play that has already unfolded within the studio walls.
Unfazed by specific mediums, planning is eschewed in favour of improvisation, music and scents set the scene, while Abdalla herself becomes a tool, using her body to paint and sculpt directly onto the canvas in a deeply physical approach. The artist thrives on this lack of control – her fingers paintbrushes, ensuring an uninterrupted connection between artist and artwork, focusing on maintaining energy throughout the process results in deeply tactile pieces.
In the world of Maitha Abdalla, human figures co-exist with a menagerie of animal characters, each imbued with profound meaning. This unique blend of human and animal forms transcends mere aesthetics, serving as a powerful language for emotions.
“A lot of these animals hold metaphors to different things,” the artist explains. “Like the rooster, you see the rooster a lot in my work. And to me, it’s a sign for right, light, and forgiveness.”
This symbolism draws upon regional beliefs that depict the rooster as a creature capable of perceiving angels. Juxtaposed against this symbol of purity is the pig, representing sin and moral transgression. By bringing these contrasting figures together, Abdalla constructs narratives that delve into a spectrum of human experiences. The rooster and pig might be depicted locked in fierce combat, reflecting internal struggles. Alternatively, they could appear in an intimate setting, like a bathroom hinting at a complex relationship. This interplay of opposites serves as a visual metaphor, conveying a range of emotions and conflicts.
While Abdalla’s work draws upon regional folklore and its symbolic creatures, it also transcends it. The artist says that these metaphors are springboards for personal expression. The depicted scenes are infused with the artist’s lived experiences and emotional landscape, filtered through the lens of their present reality. Thus, these animal characters become a bridge, connecting the artist’s cultural heritage with their own unique perspective.
“I feel like as women in the UAE, we’re extremely empowered, more than how we are perceived in the West,” she says. Within the UAE’s art scene, she thrives in a climate that empowers female creators. However, her travels abroad seemed to box her in. During residencies in London and Paris, she felt a constant pressure to conform to a prefabricated image of the oppressed Arab woman artist who seeks artistic freedom outside her home country. This perception deeply frustrated Abdalla. For her, travel is a fundamental aspect of the artistic experience, a means to gather inspiration and broaden her perspective. She emphasises that her artistic practice flourished for a decade within the UAE before these residencies, a testament to the robust support for the arts in her home nation. Ultimately, while her identity as an Emirati woman shapes her experiences, it does not dictate the boundaries of her artistic expression. Her artistic vision transcends categorization. “Sometimes to me,” she says, “being put in a box is what limits an artist.” Her unwavering desire is for her work to speak for itself, unconstrained by the limitations of labels. Her core message is clear: She refuses to be confined by any limiting stereotypes.
Consistent with her own artistic philosophy of defying limitations, Maitha Abdalla’s advice to aspiring artists is refreshingly straightforward. “Find your story and let it be interesting,” she urges. The key lies in identifying a narrative that resonates deeply with you, a story you won’t tire of sharing. Authenticity is paramount. “Don’t be scared to tell that story,” she says. Ultimately, her message is a call to embrace individuality and let your unique creative voice ring out.
Despite her aversion to planning, Abdalla has a clear vision for her artistic evolution. Fueled by a desire to push boundaries, she sets her sights on the world of theatre. Her ambition is to incorporate movement and performance more deeply into her artistic practice. “I would like to get more into theatre,” she declares, “To try to use my body a lot, go more into performance.” This isn’t entirely new territory – however, she acknowledges a lack of formal training in theatrical movement. This natural progression from her current artistic approach holds promise, and it’s a journey she’s eager to embark on. “I will,” she confirms enthusiastically, “I mean, soon.”
Maitha Abdalla is one to watch thanks to her unique blend of symbolism, uninhibited creative process, and powerful performances. Unafraid to challenge limitations, she thrives on defying expectations and pushing boundaries. Now, looking towards the world of theatre and a commitment to further hone her physical expressiveness, the future holds immense promise. As she embarks on this exciting artistic evolution, one can’t help but be curious about the new territories she will explore, both geographically and creatively.
The dazzling jewellery adorning the artist throughout this editorial is courtesy of Piaget
For more stories of art and artists, like this interview with Maitha Abdalla, visit our arts and culture pages.
