Alex: Hello Ehab, thanks for taking the time to chat a bit about art.
First of all, what inspires you the most?
Ehab: Thanks for having me, Alex.
I would say that I am not particular driven towards specific artists.
Actually, artists like you, who have certain ideas which they want to establish artistically inspire me the most - like your chapters project for example.
A: Oh, thank you so much. I’m really glad you like my style & ideas. I‘m a huge fan of your art as well - it creates a certain feeling of timelessness & motion to me. I approach your Colors & Cities challenge as blurry geometrics, city silhouettes which build inside my head like you bring the fundament and lead your audience to finalize the city in their heads. It really inspires me.
Do you have any specific artists you admire?
E: If I have to name one, I would say Mondrian. I really like his style.
A: That‘s nice, I like him as well although I have troubles imagining a bigger picture behind his artworks. Do you think that abstract art can have a specific meaning spectators could elaborate?
E: Perceiving art is an individual process, which makes it so hard to determine where abstract art actually begins. I‘d say yes, it can have specific meaning but it doesn‘t need to. Since each mind and perception is different and art is open to interpretation, perception leads to different results, which shouldn‘t be binary limited to right and wrong. Sometimes, realism can even have an absence of emotion, where the art itself values around the skill of the artist rather than the thoughts and motif of the artwork.
A: A lovely open way to approach art and its interpretation, which I‘d like to emphasis on. Indeed, I share your opinion. To me, abstract artworks have a deeper sense of expression, it is more about experiencing the mind of the artist. Hyperrealistic art on the other hand is exceptional as well, it just doesn’t move me that much compared to for example your abstract works. The core of this way of thinking seems to be perception and therefore thoughts in general - How do you try to translate your thoughts into your work?
E: The key is expressing the emotions you currently have. Go with the mood and let it flow. Let it flow and let it do the work. Everything you do is emphasizing this spontaneous process.
If your mind is able to catch the unconditional and uncontrolled thoughts and translate them into a painting, viewers will later most likely be able to experience the certain emotions you felt in your work - hence your feeling of experienced motion & timelessness regarding my work.
A: Absolutely, I have a pretty similar approach to music, at least when it is about melodies and harmonies. I guess my chapters project is a pretty good example of a hybrid of what we were talking about; on the one hand, I do have certain thoughts behind the individual chapters and respectively the sounds but when it is about the feeling I want to create, the inner emotion of the composition, it is all about the spontaneous and uncontrolled process.
E: Yes, that’s what we were writing about a while ago. I’m pretty amazed by this project, tell me and fellow readers more about it.
A: Yeah, sure.
The chapters EP is meant to represent the story of humanity by creating a sonic journey of four chapters in time our species went (and goes) through:
Ancient times in the forests where we discovered how to use fire as well as modern times in a developed society full of technology and synthetics. In terms of vinyl, the A side contains organic based records and the B side becomes more synthetic and fast-paced to visualize the timeline of humanity and its development.
The first part is out now via the Amsterdam based record label Whirling Wolf Recordings on all platforms and contains the first two chapters, namely Arbor and Primo Igne. While Arbor („Tree“ in latin) represents the beauty of untouched nature, part II Primo Igne („First Fire“) represents the start of an ever-developing society. The „first fire“ is widely seen as the certain starting point of our society and was therefore an important chapter in our history.
E: And there will be a release of Chapter III and IV in the near future as well, haha.
A: Exactly - and I’m so stoked to have you onboard on this journey. Chapter III - representing the Industrialization - is finally finished and Chapter IV is currently in work. The moment I saw your series „Tour in the City 2020“ on Instagram, I immediately knew that I need one of this works as the cover artwork for my second Chapters release. One work - namely Challenge Day 93 - really moved me so I had to write you a PM.
E: Thank you so much, I’m glad you like this work and I’m happy to be part of this.
A: That’s awesome! I will post the artwork beneath our chat and would like to thank you so much for taking the time to chat. I’m glad that you are part of the chapters project and wish you the best, Ehab!
E: Thanks Alex, you’re welcome. I’m happy to be part of Chapters and look forward to the release!
Check out Ehab Omaro's amazing art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehabomaroart/?hl=de
