Haider Alzaeem

An Iraqi contemporary artist who travels between Kuwait, Iraq and London, is tackling realism and imagination with vivid lifelike paintings of marine life. Haider Alzaeem sees the mystery of daily life and translates that into his work. Haider said an artist cannot develop without being always active, not only in drawing, but also identifying aspects that need improvement or even change. He said the artist must also have an attentive ear to what those who see his work are saying, in order to go to higher levels, and enhance the standards of his contributions.

Formative artist Haider Al-Zaeem said, there are events that influence his art work, and that the majority is about an event or a story he lived and translated onto canvas as his feelings dictate his brush. He said that there are no shortcuts to success.

Patience, hard work and dedication are the only means to reach the sought after goals and bring dreams into reality. Haider Alzaeem said, it is obvious that art as a whole is evolving very quickly, increasing competition and outstanding works are being introduced.

This proves that both the artist’s and the observer’s tastes matured further, which brings more confidence in the art movement.

Haider who displays a great affinity to ornamental fish, said there are large varieties of beautiful creatures on earth, some can be seen, others can be kept at home, just as beautiful fish that remain under water, with beauty that stun the eye and imagination, and I find it great to embrace an aquarium and have a school of fish that shows a magnificent display of artistic movements, that only brings joy and relaxation. He said fish provides his atelier an artistic atmosphere with all the colors that provoked my brush to draw them and transfer them on the canvas with oil colors.

Haider Alzaeem said the success of art has certain requirements as far as the artistic, intellectual and aesthetic value are concerned, adding that he looks at this work like a son who is growing up and becomes an adult and let him free. Haider concluded that the artist cannot decide who can keep his work, but hopes that whoever keeps it, realize the value of it and give it good care and attention.

By Abdellatif Sharaa