Today we have the pleasure to introduce you to Amna AlFalasi, an Emirati sculptor whose goal is to provoke yet inspire viewers through her artworks. As reflections of social, cultural, and universal values, she sculpts figurative forms that celebrate the strength and the complexity of the human spirit. Working with clay allows her a direct and spontaneous approach in capturing the essence of the figure. Amna is a member of the Emirates Fine Art Society and is a Tandem for Culture Alumni.

Mathqaf: Nice to meet you Amna! Who are you?
Amna: I’m an Emirati visual artist and sculptor whose mission is to create artworks that would inspire the present and future generations. Also, I hope to reinforce emotions of freedom, peace, positivity, compassion, unity, empowerment, hope, beauty, happiness and education through my artworks.

Mathqaf: Where and what did you study?
Amna: Initially, I was a self-taught artist but I wanted to explore and improve my art practice. I took several fine art courses at the Sharjah Art Institute, London College of Fashion, and a sculpture course in Vienna. Also, I worked and studied with established artists such as the Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota.

Mathqaf: Tell us about your practice.
Amna: I’m greatly influenced by the strength and the complexity of the human spirit, the journey to personal transformation, self-discovery and metamorphosis. My initial work was inspired by my childhood traumas, and a personal transformation story. My current artworks and sculptures are a reflection of social, cultural and universal values. Also, some of my illustrations are a social commentary of the current world events and I use lots of symbolism in my work.

Mathqaf: How do you work?
Amna: My inspiration comes from my life, inner emotions and world events. My thought process is to think about what message and impact that I want to create through my sculptures and artworks. When creating new sculptures, I create an initial sketch, from that sketch I create a clay model, and then I create a mold of the clay model. Eventually, the mold is casted in bronze and other materials depending on the subject of my artwork.

Mathqaf: What do you listen to when you work?
Amna: Mowashah Arabic songs, Andrea Bocelli and Lana Del Rey.

Mathqaf: What themes do you pursue?
Amna: My sculptures celebrate human emotions, expressions, metamorphosis and human physicality. Also, my work is abstract and symbolic in nature.

Mathqaf: What work do you most enjoy doing?
Amna: I enjoy the process of creating my sculptures. Also, sharing my artworks with the art community, art lovers and especially the youth as well as creating a dialogue between different communities.

Mathqaf: How has your practice changed over time?
Amna: It has changed dramatically from when I started my practice five years ago. My initial work was inspired by my childhood traumas, and personal transformation story. Once I overcame my personal struggles, I created the “Unity” sculpture which was a declaration of my true essence as an artist. Also, I realized my true message as an artist is to spread positivity, inspiration, unity, peace, love, happiness through my sculptures and artworks.

Mathqaf: Describe a real-life situation that inspired you.
Amna: I was inspired 16 years ago when I stood in front of Gustav Klimt painting “The Kiss” in the Belvedere Museum in Vienna. From that moment I knew that one day I would create artworks that would impact and inspire my community.

Mathqaf: What is your dream project?
Amna: My dream project is to create large scale sculptures and monuments in my country the UAE and around the world.

Mathqaf: What do you do outside your practice?
Amna: I work as an art consultant and advisor for other visual artists. Also, I’m a soprano singer and I’m a member of the “Lentswe “ choir project founded by Sharjah Art Foundation.

Mathqaf: Why do you do what you do?
Amna: I create my artworks and my sculptures to inspire the present and future generations and add value to the art and the culture scene in the UAE.