Khalid Mezaina
Twenty five year old Emirati artist Khalid Mezaina began his career at a very early age. Being an avid comic book collector and having a passion for illustration at a very young age made him realize that the design world was something he had to be a part of. After graduating from the American University of Sharjah in 2006, with a Bachelor's in Visual Communication, Khalid began participating in a number of group exhibitions in the UAE and internationally.
Khalid's works represent his inspirations including comic books, and also music, people and street art. He always begins an artwork as a hand drawn illustration on paper, which is then scanned to digitally enhance the illustration, either with colour or adding elements to further allow the work to communicate even more. His work's are usually based on a particular mood, communicating social and/or personal messages, or just pure fun. Many of his current works involve experimenting with culture and representing it in an unconventional manner. This is done by creating visually illustrative pieces, which represent Emirati culture in a cool, 'pop' and unconventional manner, allowing viewers to embrace the beauty of Arabic traditions, while living in a vibrant, modern metropolis. Its representation is formed due to the fast, bright world we all share, bringing in influences from everyday life; colour, iconography and other interactions encountered.
'I would like my work to inspire others the way design has inspired me. Also, if the work enables an audience to smile when viewing it, then I believe my work has been successful.'
