Sana'a - Saba: At a time when many young people are creative in inventing and fabricating reasons and justifications for their failure and inability to achieve their ambitions or reach their dreams, Yemeni artist Hiba Al-Faqir proves the exact opposite.
Despite losing her arms in an electrical accident she was exposed to in childhood, Hiba Al-Faqir did not surrender to the consequences of that accident and continued to challenge difficulties and learn to draw with her feet, to prove that possessing determination and will, insistence, challenge and love are all reasons capable of giving you enough strength to conquer despair and melt the impossible, no matter how great its size.
In the Sana'a Gallery for Fine Arts, the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) met the rising artist Hiba Ahmed Al-Faqir, 25 years old, from Al-Bayda Governorate, while she was standing next to her drawings filled with many suggestions and expressions.
Drawing for Heba is a way to express thoughts, feelings and ideas that reflect her deep view of reality and surrounding issues.
Hiba is interested in drawing characters or what is known as portrait drawing, while the Palestinian cause is one of the most prominent issues she works on and occupies a large space in her mind, as it is one of the noblest and most just human issues, if not the most just of all in a time of silence, submission, collusion and conspiracy.
Hiba believes that the works are still continuing to diversify, and that her artistic future is full of addressing many sensitive issues, but the Palestinian cause today represents a pivotal issue, and art is a universal language, and a means of expressing the massacres and horrors that the Palestinian people are exposed to. It is an influential visual language that encapsulates many meanings, and does not need translation, and it is also quickly spread, and everything related to the unjust war on Gaza dominates most of the publications, even if some videos are blocked or banned, the drawings successfully penetrate the ban.
Since art expresses the artist and the society he represents, it is a mirror of what is going on in the minds of peoples, and therefore interest in the issue is a reflection of the popular and societal interest in it.
For Hiba, it is not possible to specify a favorite color for her, and all colors are important in general, and every drawing has its colors and every color has its advantages, according to her, but despite that, she prefers the colors black and green, which express confidence, generosity and the love of helping others.
Hiba says that the reason for losing her arms is due to an electrical accident she was exposed to at a young age, but this accident did not prevent her from continuing to develop herself and practice her hobby despite not receiving support from the relevant authorities, whether material or moral, which would enable her and others to provide more creativity, expressing her hope that creators will receive the necessary attention from those concerned.
Hiba attributes her ability to continue drawing and encourage her to train and continue developing her skills and abilities to her mother, who is keen to be with her in all the events she participates in, and then to her brothers Mohammed and Sami, who provide her with material and moral support, in addition to her uncle Abdul Salam, who never hesitates to motivate and encourage her to continue developing her talent.
Hiba admits that she often went through stages of despair, "especially when she sees that in our country there is not enough encouragement or interest in art like abroad." However, Heba did not give in to despair, and says, "I used to encourage myself and say, 'Surely a day will come when I will reap the fruits of my labor and convey my art to the world.'"
As for the limits of her ambition, Heba adds, "My ambition is limitless. I seek to become a professional and learn various artistic skills such as painting on glass and canvas and others, God willing, and to reach the world and represent the struggling and ambitious Yemeni girl."
For Hiba, there is no painting better than another because each painting has its own aspect, each painting tells a story, a feeling or a specific idea.
Regarding influence, emulation and imitation, she says: "I follow the Messenger of Allah - may Allah bless him and grant him peace - as imitation is the basis of guidance. As for the person present now, no one in particular has influenced me as much as it is a challenge to myself and to society, and I want to prove to society that strength does not come from physical ability, but rather from an indomitable will."
Hiba lives her life very normally and does not face any personal difficulties. Her motto in life is "No life with despair and no despair with life."
As for the most beautiful artwork she has drawn, it is about the women and children of Gaza. Like other visual artists, she still dreams of being an influential figure and representing Yemen in many forums related to drawing. She does not hide her aspiration to obtain a serious support opportunity to study the art of drawing.
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