Kuwaiti artist traces nostalgia, heritage post oil discovery

Kuwaiti artist traces nostalgia, heritage post oil discovery

By Ghadeer Ghloum

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti designer Hanadi Al-Marzouq is showcasing her artwork in “Traces of Nostalgia”, a multidisciplinary exhibition where she expresses the changes that took place in Kuwait after the discovery of oil.

Marzouq’s art pieces revolve around preserving Kuwait’s heritage that is fading away after the country’s rapid modernization. Five of her artworks that shift between Kuwait’s past and present are displayed at the exhibition: The Trace, The Prophecy, The Awakening, Inception and Anthropocene.  The exhibition opened at Sadu House on April 29, 2023 and will continue until May 6, 2023. During the exhibition, Marzouq told Kuwait Times about her artworks and highlighted the significance of each pieces.

The Trace, 2023: Mixed media installation

Marzouq said ‘The Trace’ is an installation that deconstructs the language of traditional symbols found in Sadu textiles, embracing them as functional motifs rather than mere ornaments that are devoid of any purpose. The central part of this installation is a tire, a symbol of the consumerist mindset, manufactured from recycled rubber whose tracks reveal ephemeral Sadu impressions on the sand. This installation invites the viewer to reflect on our lost heritage, capturing fleeting moments before they disappear from our landscape.

The Prophecy, 2023: Mixed media sculpture

Describing ‘The Prophecy’,