7 Questions with Nour Hassan - Magazine Issue02

Nour Hassan is a painter featured in Al-Tiba9 magazine ISSUE02, interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj about her painting series Water.

Nour’s inspiration is derived from mundane situations, experiences, and thoughts. As Louise Bourgeois declares “Art is not about art. Art is about life, and that sums it up”. Nour Hassan’s process is mostly informed by an idea, once established, she explores executing it without limiting herself to a style or brushstroke.

Please describe the intention behind your art. How do you successfully express this intention?

I aim to have a conversation with the viewer, to make them feel or think something. If I am not able to achieve this, then I don’t consider the work successful. I have no magic formula. But one of the ways is to be very, very honest with myself, when I can do that, then almost always I know I will connect with at least one viewer. That to me is a success.

Can you talk a little about your formative years as an artist?

I was painting commissioned works only. After doing that for a few years, I decided to focus on the work I wanted to produce for the public. It became more important to produce art that matters to me than to just get paid.

Your paintings are mostly portraits and in this series, your subjects are underwater. Your process starts by taking photographs, and then you paint them to represent reality in your own way. Could you describe this process? Based on your work, how does painting point to different focus than photography?

Correct, I begin with a photoshoot that captures what I want to say, then I produce the painting. I’m obsessed with detail; a detail that can only be observed using a photo reference. When I paint from life, I am not able to focus so much on detail, the model moves, and the light changes. I am also too much or a realist to imagine detail or create fantasy. “How does painting point to different focus than photography?” of course this has been an ongoing question since that start of photorealism, I can only answer it with more questions. Does a photograph have the same impact as a painting? If I was to paint an impression of what I see from life, does that make me a better artist? Why paint from life when you can just take a photo of it – why paint at all?

How do you construct your photography to reach this difference? Where did you get your imagery from (What, If any, sources did you use)?

In photography you get effects that you can’t get in life-painting, for example; pixelation, blurring, fisheye lens, etc. When taking a photo, I am making a conscious decision to include certain effects, then I include these effects in my painting because they support my concept. For example, in the water series, the detail of the water ripples/reflections can only be studied using a photo reference. My imagery is my own, I do the photoshoot, it’s all part of the artwork.

What current series are you working on?

I am continuing with the water series

What is your favorite genre of music to listen to while working?

Blues. But lately its been podcasts or audiobooks.

Do you have any upcoming shows or collaborations?

Once I complete the water series I would like to put together a show, I’ll keep you updated!