The halls of the Fairmont Bab al Bahr are a-sparkle with crystal radiance, and it’s all thanks to Imajaz – the collaboration between Italian artist Ima Caforio and UAE based artist Jasim Ahmed. Ima is a Conservatory Pianoforte graduate, and a creative visual artist, musician and trained classical singer. Jasim used to assist a local jewellery maker after school as a child, and is now an artist who works with luxury products. We caught up with them to talk about the exhibition, working with crystal and Madonna.
Is this the first time you guys are collaborating?
Jasim: As Imajaz? Yes it is.
How did you meet?
Ima: We were introduced by a mutual friend while Jasim was on vacation in Florencee. He was immersing himself in Italian culture, style and way of living.
Jasim: Meeting an artist like Ima and talking about her journey around the world and how each place gave her new ways of looking at things and new ideas for her work, gave me the confidence to express my artistic inner soul.
How long have you been incorporating crystals into your artwork?
Ima: Since the beginning of Imajaz. Before meeting Jasim, who had a brief stint with jewelry industry, I was a solo artist specializing in oil and acrylics. It was the idea of incorporating diamonds in art that lead to an experimental collaboration and work with crystals.
This is not only a joint exhibition, but the artworks are also jointly created by both of you. How do you decide who does what?
Ima: There is not really a decision, each of us works on what he/she does best. At the beginning I did initial sketches and Jasim helped with background and then placed the stones. But now the roles started to interchange.
Is there a new fad for crystal art-work after Rihanna blew £100,000 on a crystal Marilyn Monroe portrait? Or was she the one that jumped on the bandwagon?
Jasim: Artists are always searching for new and interesting materials to work with and crystal sparkles has always been a source of fascination for many. I guess the idea of bringing a painting alive with nothing else but slightest amount of light, and the excitement of adding a modern twist to traditional mosaic, triggered some artists to incorporate crystals in their work.
You guys have got a Monroe too, haven’t you?
Ima: Yes, we do. Funny enough, it’s exactly like the one Rihanna had commissioned. Marilyn was the very first piece we completed together, first child of Imajaz. Before Monroe, we experimented with material and it took us a while until we were happy with the result. So the first time we applied our technique and saw it come to life was the Marilyn Monroe painting. A true labour of love. It will always be very special to us.
What about the Madonna, is that a tribute to her visit? Or was she conceived as part of the Crystal Legends series?
Ima: Well, Madonna was always part of Crystal Legends and we have many more legends lined up. It was kind of natural progression to make Queen of Pop once we finished King of Pop, Michel Jackson.
Jasim: When we heard that she is coming in town, Ima was like, ‘Here we go again.’ She just keeps running into Madonna around the world. First time Ima met her in San Remo festival and the last time in Los Angeles where Ima’s hair was covered with crystals. You can imagine with all that Californian sun how it looked. So Madonna stopped and was like, ‘I like your hair!’
We understand there’s a charity aspect to the exhibition. Can you tell us about this?
Ima: We helped to raise funds for Future Centre for Special Needs on many occasions. Special needs kids are always in our hearts. We are donate 20 percent of all proceed from the sales of the exhibited pieces to the Centre.
The crystals work very well in some of the works (we’re thinking the Venetian masks in particular) were there any pieces that had you thinking ‘ummm, that didn’t turn out how I’d envisioned’?
Jasim: Not really. We brainstorm a lot about where crystals will work best. It is not just meaningless placement of stones. But there are times when we have to remove crystals and start with new pattern. Just like with paint you don’t know what will work until it’s in front of you.
The Journey: From Italy’s Treasures to Jewels of Arabia is on display until July 3 at Fairmont Bab al Bahr (02 654 3333).
