Faiza Saeed: Piecing together a generation of mosaic artists in Bahrain

For thousands of years, mosaics have adorned wall and floor surfaces throughout the Middle East, from mosques and villas to bathhouses.

Revered for its intricacy and beauty, the roots of this unique form of expression can be traced back to the second half of the 3^rd millennium BC in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq).

Having grown up with a passion for art and design, Faiza Saeed is now bringing the ancient decorative art to Bahrain as the country’s first mosaic artist. Assembling small pieces of decorative tile, stone and other materials called tesserae, Saeed creates gorgeous art and home decor creations from tables to wall fixtures that add a pop of culture, color and flair to any interior. She talks to us about her mission to showcase and spread the art of mosaics in Bahrain:

Elan: What inspired you to take on this ancient art form?

Faiza Saeed: I love creating something from nothing; I discovered this by putting together pieces that I collected during different periods of my life together to create something of art. The art and history of mosaics is huge with deep roots. There is a whole school of mosaic art from around the world and that has made me love it ever more.

Mosaic is not very neat, and is, therefore, not very intimidating. It can be very simple yet complex in its design. My first inspiration came during my childhood since I grew up with artist brothers. Emma Biggs and Gaudi in Barcelona were also huge inspirations to me.

I learned contemporary mosaic art from Emma Biggs in UK, the Byzantine classis mosaic technique with Luciana Notturni in Italy and micro mosaic with Saad Romani in Egypt.

Elan: What makes mosaic art unique?

FS: Mosaic is one of the oldest forms of art; it is ancient and starts with a civilization. People started structuring their cities with mosaic, they used pebbles that they shaped and colored, for instance Pompeii. People can embrace and learn mosaic, you do not have to be a talented artist to learn this form of art, you can also reutilize pieces that you love in your pieces.

Elan: Tell us about Faiza Saeed Mosaics. Do you see mosaic art becoming popular in Bahrain?

FS: I love abstract art, and I am moving through that direction with my designs, which normally reflects my internal state. I use 3-D art and mixed media.

I started off creating pieces with traditional subjects. Now I have moved on to more modern and sophisticated subjects. To evolve, you must reach a state where you are happy and content with the quality of your work. My philosophy is that you really need to understand mosaic to do that. I did that by visualizing and reading a lot about the art. These kinds of mosaics document history and therein lies the true beauty of the art. I love both modern and contemporary art, but I really respect the history that is built on and around mosaics that can still be found in museums.

I also visited a lot of mosaic galleries around the world to help me learn and create my own creative vision.

Elan: What do you want people to take away from your mosaic work?

FS: I love it when people look at my mosaic pieces as art pieces and not only ordinary pieces. This kind of art can be seen as an art or a functional piece at home that people are proud to own and showcase.

Elan: Tell us about your experience with legendary British mosaic artist Emma Biggs. What was the biggest takeaway lesson from your lessons with her?

FS: When I was visiting the Tate Contemporary Museum in London, I found a book by Emma Biggs that really inspired me by teaching me how to work on mosaics and use the materials. It was a big challenge for me to follow the directions step by step.

I, then, decided to attend a workshop in London that just turned out to be by Emma Biggs. I learned a lot from her, specifically how to grow as an artist, how to start art workshops, lectures, and outdoor projects, and even write books to teach others and create full awareness about the art.

I also loved how she used shape and simple colors in her pieces to create geometric designs that deliver a certain message.

Elan: Some see mosaic as a craft; others see it as an art. Which category do you believe it falls under?

FS: Mosaic artists are called mosaists, I believe that mosaic is a craft because there is a specific technique to follow. It is more like an art merged with a craft rather than the other way around.

Elan: Tell us about your workshops to train a new generation of mosaic artists in Bahrain.

FS: We conduct mosaic workshops on a monthly basis for people starting at age 15 and have already covered around 200 people in the last three years. We have a plan to reach out to different schools and communities to make it more accessible to inspire and teach the new generation

Elan: What are some of the challenges of creating and promoting mosaic art in Bahrain?

FS: Collaborating with more artists in Bahrain is a challenge. Another one is sourcing raw materials for my work in the region.

Elan: Which is your favorite piece so far?

FS: I am currently working on a 2D piece about Ghazza which is currently one of my favorite pieces. Other pieces that I love are the red flower, which has a special place in my heart being my first piece, along with the female shark piece and blue mosque of Istanbul.

Elan: What advice would you give to an aspiring artist in the region?

FS: To promote their work, participate and show their art in communities, exhibitions and workshops and be part of a community rather that always working solo.