‘I’ve been called provocative and volcanic, and guess what? I love it. I’d rather be that than normal.’ Whatever you think of him, Jalal Luqman is undeniably an artist and a showman, not to mention a bubbling ball of enthusiasm, equally charming, enigmatic and confrontational. He is also the owner of Abu Dhabi’s Ghaf Art Gallery and the creative mastermind behind Jalal’s Art Trip.
Back in February, Jalal took 12 non-exhibiting, locally based artists, hailing from a variety of backgrounds, ages, artistic styles and nationalities, out into the desert to the abandoned town of Jazirat Al Hamra in Ras Al Khaimah. The aim: to put together a selling exhibition of work inspired by the trip.
Since then they have met regularly to discuss and critique each other’s developing pieces. It is a diverse group, and the meetings are good-humoured, if, at times, nervous affairs. Interest ebbs and flows across the three hours. First up is Waleed Al-Tamimi, an Iraqi digital artist and full-time designer at Abu Dhabi Media Company; next comes a British-Indian woman by the name of Panna Taher, a trained pharmacist and full-time mother; she is followed by a young Emirati student, Fatima Al Shamsi. Each one stands up to present their work and bravely face the fickle crowd.
The group is by no means in the thrall of its benefactor. Jalal coaxes, coaches and questions, but also urges them to ‘jump in and attack me anytime’ – and they do. The star maker isn’t just making artists, he’s making egos; ones prepared to weather the public buffeting that is the life of a professional artist. But, for now, the group is its own harshest critic.
For example, a young Emirati girl stands up to exhibit her work, a digital map of the town, and soon receives a wave of conflicting advice from all corners of the room. ‘Don’t let them influence you to change what you’re doing,’ Jalal advises. ‘I’m not changing anything,’ comes the slight, if bullish, response. An artist is born.
It’s not about arrogance, but having the capability to stand up and explain (or in most cases defend) your work. ‘Sometimes presentation is 70 per cent of the sale,’ says Jalal. ‘I once walked into an exhibition and saw these amazing paintings, but as soon as I talked to the artist I hated them: it was all so shallow. I asked her why she chose her titles, and she went: “I don’t know.” If she’d given me all that artist bull or exhibited some kind of salesmanship, she might have had a sale. But, to me, the paintings became just home decoration – the same value as something from Ikea. Paintings have to have a personality.’
It is the eternal question: what makes an artist? Talent, a dash of showmanship, Jalal agrees; but the gallery owner has one fundamental acid test: ‘The difference between a hobbyist and an exhibited artist is the value of their paintings.’
Needless to say, the group disagree. A chance comment made by guru Julal about one of his young Emirati artists (affectionately known as ‘Chicken’) sparks a 20-minute impassioned debate about being true to your art, which soon becomes a thesis on artistic suffering versus commercial success. The group are quick to bear its fangs on their master – guru gets his wish – but you can see a slight look of exasperation on his face.
Jalal has struggled for 18 years to make a living in a country that, he believes, is at least 100 years behind the West in art education. ‘Art in its nature is honest,’ he says. ‘But you also have to know your market,’ he advises. He draws a distinct line between pandering to the public’s tastes and producing something to a standard that would persuade an aficionado to part with huge sums of cash. ‘But they have to learn the business side of art, as well as the technical aspects,’ he impresses upon me.
At last year’s exhibition, on opening night, every one of his group sold at least one piece of work. Art trip graduates and mother and daughter pair Janine and Julia Ibbini held their first ever solo exhibition at the Ghaf Art Gallery this February. These are the successes, and Jalal sees even more potential in this group.
‘Not everyone here is going to become a professional artist. Not everyone here has to agree with me. If I end up with one person like the Ibbinis, that is a success. You ask me why I do this: I do this for the one or two successes. I don’t want other people to have my excuse and say, “No one helped me.”’
Jalal is no Henry Higgins; this is not the art world’s Pygmalion, but rather an earnest attempt to pass on an artistic legacy. However, whether he will have his dream of creating selling artists remains to be seen. But for sheer enthusiasm alone, he deserves to get his wish.
Jalal’s Art Trip Exhibition is on show at Ghaf Art Gallery from April 5-15
